2025 Nuclear Opportunities Workshop (NOW)
2025-07-22 - 2025-07-23 | Knoxville Convention Center
NOW is ETEC’s Nuclear Opportunities Workshop, Tennessee’s premier nuclear industry conference focused on all things nuclear: fission, fusion, isotopes, environmental management, AI in nuclear, workforce and more. For the past seven years it has been a place to learn about industry developments, business opportunities, and advancements in research and technologies. Attendees can network and engage with experts from Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and its contractors, as well as a diverse array of small and large private-industry companies showcasing projects and technological capabilities.

Knoxville | Tech Architecture: AI for Enterprise
2025-07-31 17:00 - 18:00 (America/New_York) | CGI Offices, 900 South Gay Street, Suite 1000, Knoxville
Join Knoxville-area tech architecture professionals to connect and explore the challenges and opportunities of AI integration.

THE WORKS Accelerator Demo Day
2025-08-20 16:00 - 19:00 | The Square Room, 4 Market Square, Knoxville
Founders pitch to a packed house of investors, mentors, and peers.
Location: The Square Room
Date: August 20th, 2025
4PM: Doors open
4:30PM: Opening Remarks from Mayor Kincannon – and company pitches
6-7PM: Happy Hour
RSVP LINK:https://www.tickettailor.com/events/knoxvilleentrepreneurcenter/1790523

2025 Spark Cleantech Accelerator Cohort Welcome Reception
2025-08-27 08:30 - 10:00 | Seminar Room of the Joint Institute for Advanced Materials on the UT Research Park at Cherokee Farm
Join the Spark Innovation Center and the Knoxville Chamber of Commerce as we welcome the newest Spark Cleantech Accelerator and Innovation Crossroads cohorts to our entrepreneurial ecosystem!

Knoxville | Women in Tech Networking Happy Hour
2025-08-28 16:30 - 18:30 | Carolina Ale House, 9045 Kingston Pike, Knoxville
Make new connections with Knoxville’s women in tech community! We’ll be gathering for a laidback happy hour at Carolina Ale House.

Anderson Center | Vol Court - How to come up with an idea
2025-09-03 16:00 - 17:30 | University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Vol Court features three entrepreneurial workshops, a business idea pitch competition, $3,000 in cash prizes, and a wealth of learning opportunities. The sessions are open to all UT, Knoxville students and eocystsme partners.
Session 1: On Campus, HBB634

Startup Studio Demo Day
2025-09-05 10:00 - 12:00 | 121 Tech Hub, 121 E Jackson Ave, Knoxville, TN 37915
Friday, September 5th 10am-12pm @ 121 Tech Hub
The Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation invites the community to attend the 2025 Startup Studio Demo Day.

3686 Entrepreneurship Conference
2025-09-08 - 2025-09-10 | Cannery Hall, Nashville
3686 brings hundreds of innovators, startup founders, investors, and more from across the country to Nashville. 2025’s conference promises high-impact connections and additional focus on networking and AI-powered one-on-one matchmaking, alongside thought leader speakers and timely panels exploring top issues and challenges shaping the landscape.

Anderson Center | Vol Court - How to create a plan for your idea
2025-09-10 16:00 - 17:30 | University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Vol Court features three entrepreneurial workshops, a business idea pitch competition, $3,000 in cash prizes, and a wealth of learning opportunities. The sessions are open to all UT, Knoxville students and eocystsme partners.
Session 2: On Campus, HBB634

865 Fest
2025-09-16 08:30 - 18:00 | Bridgewater Place, 205 Bridgewater Road, Knoxville
865 Fest is a full-day entrepreneurial event hosting visionary keynotes, premier pitch competitions, thought-provoking panels, and much more to explore how big ideas move from concept to reality. Gather alongside Knoxville’s brightest founders, investors, executives and business leaders for insights on transformative tech, bold business moves and regional success stories.
Doors will open at 8:30 a.m. for a networking breakfast and registration. Programming will begin at 9 a.m. EST. Lunch will be provided.
At the event, six Knoxville startups will pitch before a live audience and panel of judges in hopes of winning the Judges’ Choice Award and the Crowd Favorite Award, totaling $15,000 in cash prizes.
Emerging entrepreneurs will also showcase their ideas in a student pitch competition for a cash prize, presented by the Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
This year, programming will include featured panel discussions and interactive breakout sessions designed to spark ideas, foster collaboration, and celebrate innovation in our region.

Anderson Center | Vol Court - How to present your idea
2025-09-17 16:00 - 17:30 | University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Vol Court features three entrepreneurial workshops, a business idea pitch competition, $3,000 in cash prizes, and a wealth of learning opportunities. The sessions are open to all UT, Knoxville students and eocystsme partners.
Session 3: On Campus, LIB 213

Anderson Center | Founder Friday
2025-09-19 09:00 - 10:00 | 121 Tech Hub, 121 E Jackson Ave, Knoxville, TN 37915
Founder Fridays is a speaker series at 121 Tech Hub, hosted by Haseeb “HQ” Qureshi, that brings entrepreneurs to share the moments, mindsets, and challenges that have shaped their journeys. This session features Simba Jonga, UT alum and founder/CEO of Laborup, which uses AI to address the U.S. labor crisis by connecting manufacturers with skilled, vetted workers.

Anderson Center | Vol Court - Pitch Night
2025-09-24 16:00 - 18:00 | University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Vol Court features three entrepreneurial workshops, a business idea pitch competition, $3,000 in cash prizes, and a wealth of learning opportunities. The sessions are open to all UT, Knoxville students and eocystsme partners.
Session 4: On campus, LIB 213

Women in Tech Expo: Grow Better Together
2025-09-26 09:00 - 18:00 | Knoxville Convention Center
The Knoxville Technology Council’s Women in Tech are hosting the third annual Women in Tech Expo: Grow Better Together!
Join a diverse group of talented women and invest in your personal & professional growth with a variety of motivating workshops, networking, keynote presentation, and more!
Your ticket includes:

Professional speakers sharing professional & personal growth advice
Breakfast
Lunch
Happy Hour
Networking with peers and local leaders
Professional Headshot
Women in Tech swag
Prize giveaways from local vendors

Keynote speaker Erika Gerdes will bring energy, motivation, and inspiration with her presentation “Finding the Star Within Yourself.” Erika has helped hundreds of professionals at top companies accelerate their success while feeling great doing it. She started her career at Google, leading and growing a top global partnership by 300% before leaving to start her company as a single mom with two young children. It is her life’s work to help others break free from self-imposed limitations and step fully into the careers, lives, and impact they truly want.

Endeavor Summit for Young Professionals
2025-10-02 08:00 - 15:30 | Bridgewater Place, 205 Bridgewater Road, Knoxville
Presented by Bank of America, this high-energy event hosted by the Knoxville Chamber empowers emerging leaders to grow personally, professionally, and civically. Hear from compelling speakers, connect with like-minded peers, and be inspired to invest in your future—and the future of our region.

2025 Women Connect LIVE Conference in Franklin
2025-10-17 09:00 - 18:00 | The Factory, 230 Franklin Road
Welcome to Women Connect LIVE 2025: CONNECTED
Are You Ready to Elevate Your Business, Mindset, and Network?
Join us for Women Connect LIVE 2025, a transformational women’s business conference happening on Friday, October 17, 2025, at Liberty Hall in The Factory at Franklin, TN. This full-day experience is designed to help female entrepreneurs, professionals, and business leaders take their next step toward success.
Surround yourself with ambitious, growth-minded women who are ready to learn, connect, and expand their businesses and careers. Expect inspiring speakers, high-impact networking opportunities, and actionable insights to help you thrive.
Don’t miss this opportunity to invest in yourself and be part of a powerful community of women making moves. Please watch this video.
What You’ll Experience
Inspiring Speakers & Actionable Strategies
Learn from top business leaders, entrepreneurs, and personal development experts who are redefining success. Our dynamic keynotes, panel discussions, and fireside chats are packed with real-world strategies, leadership insights, and fresh perspectives to help you grow your business, refine your skills, and elevate your impact.
Meaningful Networking & Genuine Connections
Expand your circle with like-minded, growth-focused women who understand your journey. Women Connect LIVE is more than just networking—it’s about building authentic relationships that lead to opportunities, collaborations, and long-term success. Get ready for high-impact networking that goes beyond business cards and handshakes.
A Day Dedicated to Your Growth
This event isn’t just about your business—it’s about you. Step away from the daily grind and take a powerful pause to invest in your personal and professional growth. Gain valuable insights, practical strategies, and the confidence to navigate challenges, embrace opportunities, and thrive in today’s business landscape.

The Studio Nashville for C-Suite Leaders
2025-10-27 - 2025-10-29 | Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, 222 Rep. John Lewis Way, Nashville, Tennessee, 37203, United States
The Studio is where the world’s most influential executives come together to shape the future. With a global network of over 19,000 C-suite leaders—including CIOs, CTOs, CISOs, CDOs, and CMOs—this award-winning series is a global platform for bold ideas, transformative partnerships, and industry-defining leadership.

Why attend?

Across three transformative days, The Studio Nashville delivers the perfect mix of leadership insights and immersive experiences. From thought-provoking discussions and cutting-edge tools to once-in-a-lifetime moments, every detail is designed to spark ideas—and real connections.
The event culminates in the Global C-suite Awards, celebrating the trailblazing leaders shaping the future of business. Whether you’re a CIO, CISO, CDO or CMO, The Studio will challenge your thinking, grow your network, and energise your leadership journey.

'Yes-Worthy' Loans - Learning to write strong applications
2025-10-28 11:30 - 13:00 | First Bank, 5537 Kingston Pike, 37919
Presented by FirstBank, small business owners will learn exactly what it takes to turn a loan application into a confident “yes.”

In this workshop, we’ll cover:

Understand what lenders look for when evaluating applications

Create a simple checklist of the financial documents, numbers, and details that make or break an application

Discover common red flags that cause loan denials

Practice key sections of a strong application

Leave with a clear next step, whether you’re applying tomorrow or planning ahead for future financing.

Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development Governor's Conference 2025
2025-11-04 - 2025-11-05 | Embassy Suites, Murfreesboro
The conference is a networking opportunity for business leaders, community members, elected officials, workforce officials, and economic developers to discuss and promote business and community development efforts across the state.

Coffee & Conversations | Meet the new CEO of the Oak Ridge Chamber
2025-11-04 08:00 - 09:00 | 201 Cafe and Wine Bar, 201 Jackson Square, Oak Ridge, Tennessee
Join the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce as they welcome a new President and Chief Executive Officer, Tamara Fleischhaker.
This special Coffee & Commerce will be a Welcome Breakfast Reception, honoring Tamara as she steps into her leadership role.
Attendees can enjoy coffee, conversation, and connection. Guests will enjoy a full catering spread from our hosts, as well as hear brief remarks from Tamara and local community leaders as we look ahead to the future of the Chamber and our shared commitment to strengthening Oak Ridge’s business community.
Tuesday, November 48:00 – 9:00 a.m.201 Café and Wine Bar | 201 Jackson Square

Morning Momentum: Student Startups from the Anderson Center
2025-11-05 08:30 - 09:30 | Maple Hall, 414 South Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902
Morning Momentum is back, and at a brand new venue! This monthly series takes place every first Wednesday at 8:30 AM at Maple Hall. It’s designed to help small business owners tackle growth-related challenges by presenting real issues to seasoned business leaders for immediate feedback.
This month, we’re featuring two student entrepreneurs from the University of Tennessee’s Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Each is in the early stages of launching a startup and will share their biggest challenges in building momentum—from defining their business model to finding the right team and resources. Attendees will have the opportunity to offer feedback, share experiences, and help these emerging founders take the next step toward success.
Morning momentum will foster mentor relationships, spur innovation, and propel companies forward.
If you, or someone you know could benefit from presenting at Morning Momentum, apply here!
*Light breakfast and coffee will be served.

Startup Mountain Summit
2025-11-06 - 2025-11-08 | ETSU Brinkley Center
The BIGGEST Startup Conference in Appalachia is back this November 6-8th in Johnson City, TN, at the ETSU Brinkley Center. Join founders from across the nation for a unique, 3-day experience in the mountains designed to help you launch faster, grow stronger, and build the business you’ve been dreaming about.
Learn from industry leaders, find inspiration, and make valuable connections with other founders on the same journey. Your Early-Bird ticket includes the full conference experience below ⬇️
✅ Pitch Competition Event with 10k in Prizes (applications to pitch available soon)
✅ Adventure Networking Opportunities
✅ All Speaker & Workshop Sessions

A Bigger and Better Startup Summit
This year, we are expanding the aspects of the Startup Mountain Summit that has built it into the biggest startup conference in Appalachia. This year you will find new opportunities to connect to each other and multiple types of resources throughout the event. Learn more about the new format and what to expect at this event at: The Startup Mountain Summit Website.

KTech Pulse Summit 2025
2025-11-06 15:00 - 18:30 | JTV, 9600 Parkside Drive, Knoxville
Find out what’s happening in the Knoxville tech industry and celebrate the innovative work of entrepreneurs & organizations in East Tennessee! Speakers from Knoxville-based organizations will share about projects featuring new and emerging technologies, and the impact they’re making around the world.
Register for the annual Knoxville Technology Council summit here.
Keynote Address
Dr. Travis Humble from Oak Ridge National Laboratory will give us an inside look at quantum computing—what it can do today, where it’s headed, and why it matters. He’ll share about his work with ORNL’s first on-site, commercial quantum computer cluster, which uses diamond-based quantum processor units that can operate at room temperature in a relatively small package. Learn how he and his team are using this hybrid system to integrate quantum computing with classical computing workflows.

AI Tech Panel
A group of business leaders and AI experts will discuss practical use cases of Artificial Intelligence, including:

How AI is impacting Knoxville-area businesses and tech professionals, especially in the areas of cybersecurity and workforce development
Lessons learned to improve implementation and integrate AI capabilities into daily operations
What’s ahead for the future of AI, and what businesses should be doing now to stay ahead of the curve

Innovation Spotlights
Speakers from Knoxville-based organizations will share about projects featuring new and emerging technologies, and the impact they’re making around the world.

Knoxville Technology State of the Union Report
Travis Howerton, CEO & Co-Founder at RegScale, will deliver the KTech State of the Union Report

Networking Happy Hour
Following the presentations, head to the JTV rooftop to reconnect with familiar faces and make new connections at the networking happy hour.

Everybody is invited to attend – you just might be surprised at all that’s going on in the tech industry right here in Knoxville!

The Pitch - FoundersForge
2025-11-06 18:00 - 20:00 | ETSU Brinkley Center
The Pitch is Northeast Tennessee’s premier startup competition, kicking off the Startup Mountain Summit with a high-stakes battle for $10,000 and bragging rights.
The Pitch is open to the general community. Attending the event will inspire you while providing a showcase of new businesses coming to our region. Every year we have at least one person think the event is entirely focused on baseball, but they always love the unique experience The Pitch provides.
Come see the future of our region and the innovation happening right here in Northeast Tennessee!

SXSW Pitch Applications Due!
2025-11-07
Apply to showcase at SXSW Pitch 2026, a premier startup competition judged by investors and media. Review eligibility, categories, and fees. Applications close November 7.
The 18th annual SXSW Pitch, where innovation takes center stage. Over two exciting days, a live audience and a panel of expert judges will explore the forefront of emerging technology sectors. SXSW Pitch will take place March 13th and 14th, 2026.

Final Day to Apply for Innovation Crossroads at ORNL
2025-11-07
Applications for the 2026 cohort will close at midnight on Friday, November 7.
Apply at this link.
Innovation Crossroads is a two-year fellowship program that focuses on energy and advanced manufacturing technologies. Through an annual national call and competitive stage-gate process, top entrepreneurial-minded fellows are selected to join the program. Selected innovators receive a fellowship that includes a personal living stipend, a health insurance stipend, a travel allowance, a substantial grant to use on collaborative R&D at ORNL, and comprehensive mentoring assistance to build a sustainable business model.
By embedding the next generation of top technical talent within ORNL, Innovation Crossroads positions entrepreneurial researcher fellows to address fundamental energy and manufacturing challenges identified by industry.

Pricing & Customer Experience: Lunch & Learn
2025-11-10 11:30 - 13:00 | Knoxville Entrepreneur Center, 17 Market Square
In this session led by the founder of All Y’all Skincare, you’ll explore how pricing choices shape customer perception and experience. Learn real-world tactics for setting prices that feel right for you and your customers, plus simple ways to elevate the experience without overspending. Walk away with fresh perspective, doable strategies, and confidence to charge what your work is truly worth.

Lunch will be provided.

POSTPONED | How Businesses Can Partner with ORNL to Drive Economic Development
2025-11-12 09:00 - 10:00 | Oak Ridge National Laboratory Manufacturing Demonstration Facility, 2350 Cherahala Boulevard, Knoxville, TN, 37932
Discover how your business can collaborate with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) to accelerate innovation and economic growth in our region. Join us for an informative session exploring partnership opportunities, research collaborations, and technology transfer programs that help businesses of all sizes leverage ORNL’s world-class resources.
Attendees will learn how to connect with experts, access cutting-edge technologies, and take advantage of programs designed to support entrepreneurship, commercialization, and workforce development.
Whether you’re a startup, small business, or established company, this event will show you how partnering with ORNL can fuel your next stage of growth.

NOVA EC "Rural Frontier" Start-Up Pitch Competition in Pulaski
2025-11-13 17:00 - 19:00 | Makeshift, 110 N. 2nd Street, Pulaski, Tennessee, 38478
NOVA EC is hosting our inaugural Start-Up Pitch Competition. Come Pitch, Network, & Win Prize Money. For more information on how to apply to pitch, see below.

InvestTN Road Tour - Capital Conversations
2025-11-14 15:00 - 17:00 | 121 Tech Hub, 121 E Jackson Ave, Knoxville, TN 37915
With support from the Nasdaq Foundation, Launch Tennessee and Pinnacle Financial Partners are bringing the InvestTN Road Tour to 10 cities statewide to share key info on funding, investment opportunities, and how to tap into resources right in your community.
Next stop: Knoxville! Join us on Friday, Nov. 14 at 3 p.m. E.T. for Capital Conversations Knoxville, the fourth stop of the insightful tour.
This free event is designed to help founders connect with capital, meet fellow entrepreneurs, learn about InvestTN (LaunchTN’s $70 million equity investment fund), and discover how to access resources and get involved.
In attendance will be members of LaunchTN’s Capital team, financial sector experts from Pinnacle Financial Partners and Pathway Lending, and representatives from the Knoxville Entrepreneur Center.
