MARCON Conference
2026-03-02 - 2026-03-05 | Knoxville Convention Center
MARCON (Maintenance and Reliability Conference) is an annual conference hosted by the University of Tennessee’s Reliability and Maintainability Center (RMC). It brings together industry leaders, professionals, and academics to share best practices in maintenance, reliability, and asset management.
You’ll explore proven methodologies, learn how to diagnose and prevent failures, and get hands-on experience with techniques you can apply as soon as you return to your facility. From planning and scheduling to predictive technologies, asset management, and continuous improvement, our workshops are designed to meet you where you are—and help you level up.

Morning Momentum Knoxville Chamber
2026-03-04 08:30 - 09:30 (America/New_York) | Maple Hall, 414 South Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902
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’s presenters are seeking input on how to strengthen their business development strategy, from building partnerships to identifying new revenue opportunities. As an attendee, you’ll hear from two entrepreneurs facing real growth hurdles and be invited to offer actionable ideas to help them move forward.

Invest: Nashville 4th Edition Leadership Summit + Report Launch!
2026-03-05 08:00 - 11:00 | Bridgestone Arena, 501 Broadway, Nashville, Tennessee, 37203
Join us at the Invest: Nashville 4th Edition Leadership Summit for insights and networking with top industry leaders!

Get ready to dive into a morning filled with inspiration, networking, and growth at the Invest: Nashville 4th Edition Leadership Summit.
Join us at Bridgestone Arena to connect with industry leaders and gain valuable insights from our expert panel discussions. Bringing together hundreds of Nashville’s business and regional leaders to discuss the challenges and opportunities for businesses and investors.
Light breakfast and refreshments available.

Pinnacle Business Awards
2026-03-05 16:00 - 18:00 | 9133 Hunter Valley Lane, Knoxville, TN 37922
The Knoxville Chamber, in conjunction with Pinnacle Financial Partners, will announce the winners of the 2026 Pinnacle Business Awards on Thursday, March 5. The annual Pinnacle Awards celebrate regional business excellence, honoring outstanding professionals in nine categories for their contributions to the greater Knoxville economy.
RSVPs appreciated

Quantum in Action: Research Commercialization, Talent, and Tennessee’s Advantage
2026-03-10 10:00 - 14:00 | Wolford Family Athletic Center at The University of TN Chattanooga 720 E. 4th St. Chattanooga, TN 37403
On March 12, CO.LAB, UTC Gary W. Rollins College of Business Max Fuller Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, UTC College of Engineering and Computer Science, and UTC Quantum Center will convene researchers, entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and university partners for a half day event at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s Wolford Center focused on one question: how does quantum research become real-world economic impact?
Hosted in partnership with the Max Fuller Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and presented as part of CO.LAB’s Quantum Activation Series, the event will spotlight practical pathways for quantum commercialization—connecting academic research, emerging startups, and industry use cases across Tennessee. The program is supported by the Tennessee Technology Advancement Consortium (TTAC) and IonQ, and held in collaboration with Tennessee Tech University.

Tennessee Housse at SXSW
2026-03-13 - 2026-03-15
Returning to SXSW 2026, the Tennessee House showcases what’s happening in tech and homegrown innovation across the Volunteer State. Meet the creative minds and makers who are powering Tennessee’s startup ecosystem and crafting the future, and enjoy bless-your-heart hospitality infused with local flair.
Friday
We’re kicking 2026 off by celebrating all things Tennessee! Share your Tennessee connection to enter our Opening Night VIP celebration, show your Tennessee school pride, and catch up with our House mascot Rocky the Raccoon. Plus, raise a glass of Tennessee whiskey, and enjoy some iconic snacks from the Volunteer State.
Saturday
Nooga in the morning, Nash at night. Chatt & chill with game-changing startups in quantum and mobility – then add a dash of hot chicken heat as we dive into the sweet spot where innovation meets creativity… Plus, make this a SXSW Saturday night to never forget with Hip Hop Karaoke and a late-night line dancing party for Dolly Parton’s 80th birthday.
Sunday
Start your morning out East with a dynamic look at what’s new in nuclear, and get to know some of Knoxville’s next-gen companies shaping the future. Then, grab your blue suede shoes, head due west, and dive into the Digital Delta! Meet Memphis to uncover why Bluff City is drawing game-changing data centers and innovative startups.

From Idea to Numbers: Can Your Food Business Pay You
2026-03-16 17:00 - 20:00 | Pellissippi State Community College: Magnolia Avenue Campus, 1610 East Magnolia Avenue, Knoxville, TN, 37917, United States
Learn how to turn your food business idea into clear numbers, realistic sales goals, and a path to paying yourself.

Whether you’re just starting out or have been operating on a small scale for a few years, this hands-on workshop helps food entrepreneurs understand the numbers behind a sustainable food business.
You’ll learn how to:

Translate your income goals into realistic sales targets
Understand Profit and Loss concepts (COGS, fixed vs. variable expenses, profit)
Identify startup or growth costs and ongoing fixed expenses
Calculate your break-even point (in dollars and units)
Estimate how long it may take to reach your sales goals
Use a simple Excel spreadsheet to run these numbers

We’ll cover Excel basics as we go and walk through everything step by step—no finance or Excel experience required.
What you’ll need to bring: A laptop and your current numbers if you have them.
Leave with: Clear financial targets and next steps.

Nashville VC Fast Pitch. Pitch, Connect, Fund!
2026-03-17 18:00 - 21:00 | Vanderbilt University
Pitch and network with venture capitalists, angels and accredited investors from throughout the country in Nashville!

Pitch and network with venture capitalists, angels and accredited investors from Tennessee, the southeast and throughout the country at the Nashville VC Fast Pitch on Tuesday March 17, 2026 from 6pm to 9pm at Vanderbilt University.
Over the last 15 years, VC Fast Pitch has hosted 60-plus events around the country, raising over $130 million for entrepreneurs.

Knoxville Chamber Briefing Breakfast
2026-03-18 09:30 - 10:30 | Knoxville Chamber, 17 Market Square, Knoxville
Join us on March 18 at 9:30 am to discover what we do and how you can be part of shaping Knoxville’s future. Whether you’re a new investor, a new team member, or simply curious about our work, this session offers a quick look at how we’re supporting economic development, regional enhancement, and talent attraction across the region.

InvestTN AMA March 2026
2026-03-19 11:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
Join us for an interactive session to learn more about our $70M fund, InvestTN.
This 1.5-hour session is designed for entrepreneurs interested in funding opportunities and investors looking to connect with high-potential Tennessee startups.
​Our team will take a deep dive into how the program works, what the process is like, updates on the portfolio, and much more! We welcome all entrepreneurs who may be interested as well as investors in or outside of our ecosystem.
RSVP is required to attend.

Financial Fitness Class: Discovering Credit
2026-03-19 18:00 - 19:00 | Knoxville Area Urban League, 1514 East Fifth Avenue, Knoxville, TN, 37917, United States
The Urban League is hosting a free Financial Fitness Class in March to help individuals and families strengthen their credit, reduce debt, and prepare for sustainable homeownership.
This class provides clear, practical guidance on budgeting, credit improvement, and accessing available homeownership programs in Knoxville.

What's The Big Idea Pitch Competition - Finale
2026-03-22 17:30 - 20:00 | TBD
Join us for the 2026 What’s The Big Idea Pitch Competition on Sunday, March 22nd.
Finale Schedule:
5:30 PM – Doors Open
6:00 PM – Event Kickoff
6:15 PM – Pitches Start
8:00 PM – Winner Announced

Belmont Entrepreneur Awards
2026-03-24 | Fisher Center for the Performing Arts
This event honors the success of alumni-founded businesses while recognizing Belmont’s Top 100 Founders for their impact in the innovation space.

Knoxville Spring Housing Update
2026-03-24 14:00 - 15:00 | East Tennessee Realtors, 609 North Weisgarber Road, Knoxville, TN, 37919, United States
Join the Knoxville Chamber as Maria McHale, Government Affairs Director for East Tennessee REALTORS®, shares the 2026 Housing Market Forecast and reviews the first few months of the year.

Capital Conversations Tri-Cities
2026-03-24 16:00 - 18:00 | Southern Craft BBQ, 601 Spring St #101, Johnson City, TN, 37604, United States
Learn about InvestTN, funding opportunities + more
We’re back on the road to share key info on funding, investment opportunities, and how to tap into resources right in your community at our upcoming Capital Conversations events.
Next stops:

Tri-Cities on March 24 – RSVP

Food Business Incubator Info Session
2026-03-24 17:00 - 18:30 | Pellissippi State Community College: Magnolia Avenue Campus, 1610 East Magnolia Avenue, Knoxville, TN, 37917, United States
Ready to turn your food business idea into a viable, sustainable operation? Learn about the Food Business Incubator Program.

Are you an early-stage food entrepreneur looking to formalize your business, strengthen your business model, and access hands-on support?
Join us for this required info session to learn about the Real Good Kitchen Foundation’s Food Business Incubator Program—a comprehensive program designed to support food entrepreneurs as they move from idea to operation, or from informal to formal business.
What You’ll Learn
During this session, we’ll walk through:

An overview of the Food Business Incubator Program and what participants can expect
Eligibility requirements and selection criteria
The application process, timeline, and tips for submitting a strong application
The basics of a feasibility study, including what is required for the application
(A feasiblity template and resources will be provided)
Live Q&A with program staff

About the Incubator Program
The Food Business Incubator Program combines:

Classroom instruction on food business fundamentals
Hands-on kitchen instruction and technical assistance
Support using the shared commercial kitchen at Real Good Kitchen

The program is designed to help early-stage food entrepreneurs build the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to operate a successful food business.
Who Should Attend
This session is ideal for:

Early-stage food business owners
Aspiring food entrepreneurs with a clear concept

Important Information

This is the final Info session for this year’s Incubator Cohort. Attendance at this session is required to apply for the Food Business Incubator Program
The Incubator Program will only be offered once in 2026
Applications will be due in May
This session is free to attend, but registration is required

Reserve your spot to learn whether the Food Business Incubator Program is the right next step for your food business.

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AI Tennessee Summit in Nashville
2026-03-25 - 2026-03-26 | Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, 222 Rep. John Lewis Way, Nashville, Tennessee, 37203, United States
Mark your calendars for the inaugural AI Tennessee Summit, hosted by the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in collaboration with the Tennessee AI Advisory Council, SCORE, Vanderbilt University, the University of Memphis, the Oak Ridge National Lab, and the Tennessee Board of Regents. The summit will bring together leaders from government, industry, and academia to explore how Tennessee can position itself at the forefront of the nation’s AI race.

UTK and IACMI Demo Day at FCMF
2026-03-25 14:00 - 16:00 | Fibers and Composites Manufacturing Facility, 2730 Cherokee Farm Way, Knoxville, TN, 37920, United States
Now fully commissioned at Innovation South in UT Research Park, FCMF is operating at full capacity for technical and high-performance manufacturing and actively advancing workforce development initiatives across K to 12, higher education, and industry.

This event will provide an opportunity to see the facility in operation through live machinery demonstrations and cutting edge manufacturing technologies led by our undergraduate and graduate student researchers and staff.

Capitol Connections
2026-03-27 08:00 - 09:00 | Knoxville Chamber, 17 Market Square
Learn what’s happening at the Tennessee General Assembly during a discussion with members of the Tennessee State House of Representatives. You will hear about their priorities for 2026 and current business issues within our community.

TAEBC Annual Meeting
2026-03-31 10:00 - 11:30 | Virtual
Join us virtually for the Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council’s annual meeting. This event allows TAEBC members, stakeholders, and potential members to celebrate our thriving advanced energy economy. Explore insights on the growing AI industry, fusion energy, updates on the TVA IRP process, and meet our new board members.

CodeStock Conference
2026-04-09 - 2026-04-10 | Knoxville Convention Center
CodeStock is a two-day event for technology and information exchange. CodeStock was created to Educate, Inspire, and Connect the technology community. Created by the community, for the community – this is not an industry trade show pushing the latest in marketing as technology, but a gathering of working professionals sharing knowledge and experience.
Adhithi Ravichandran, Software Consultant, Pluralsight Author, and tech educator, will headline CodeStock 2026, returning April 9 and 10 to Knoxville, Tennessee!
Adhithi has built a remarkable career at the intersection of software architecture, teaching, and community leadership. As the founder of Surya Consulting, Inc., she’s guided development teams across industries through modern frontend transformations, helping organizations embrace technologies like React, Next.js, GraphQL, and AI-assisted development with confidence and clarity.
Learn more here.

The Vanderbilt Quantum Forum: Technology, Policy and the Economy
2026-04-09 09:00 - 18:30 | Grand Hyatt Nashville, 1000 Broadway, Nashville, Tennessee, 37203
Set in Tennessee, this forum brings together leaders from academia, industry, government and national laboratories to introduce quantum technology and explore its implications for energy, security, healthcare, economic competitiveness and public policy. Designed for a broad audience, the program focuses on understanding what quantum is, why it matters, and how Tennessee can contribute to the nation’s quantum ecosystem.

PYA Ballard Innovation Award (invite only)
2026-04-22 16:00 - 18:30 | PYA, 6016 Brookvale Ln, 6016 Brookvale Ln, Knoxville, Tennessee, 37919
The PYA Ballard Innovation Award is East Tennessee’s largest, annually awarded, combined cash and in-kind services prize for early-stage companies. Named after entrepreneurship advocate Tom Ballard, the competition provides $50,000 to the top winner, fostering innovation by supporting companies with proven concepts, revenue, and high growth potential.

AI Summit @ The Square Room
2026-04-23 | The Square Room, 4 Market Square, Knoxville
AI goes to WORK! A t-shirt-friendly summit focused on real-world AI applications and implications inside real businesses.

More Signal, Less Noise is a t-shirt-friendly summit focused on real-world AI applications and implications inside real businesses.
Let’s get real, folks. We’ve all seen and heard the AI hype. We’ve all scrolled past the “it’s not just ___, it’s a ____ movement and this will change your life forever” LinkedIn posts, and read the doomsday “This will be like Terminator but actually worse” manifestos. Maybe you’ve written some of them yourself. But inside real organizations, from the factory floor to the C-suite, the questions around AI are remarkably similar:

What should we actually do?
What should we ignore?
What happens when this hits real operations?
What exactly is “AI” and why should we care?

What You’ll Experience:
Real-word use cases, conversations and Q&A from our region’s most successful companies, including: Red Stag I Bush Brothers I Clayton Homes I Avero Advisors I Pet Safe I Ancient Lore Village
Intellectual Property, Privacy, and Security in the age of AI, a live legal professionals panel hosted by Haseeb Qureshi, founder of ForthLaw
Opening Keynote: “More Signal, Less Noise” from life-long entrepreneur, community leader and Fighting Shape Impact Co. Founder Chris McAdoo
Closing Remarks and Big Predictions from Marcus Blair, event creator and founder, CoreIQ
Happy Hour to follow. Lets keep the conversation going.
When & Where
Date: April 23, 2026
Time: 1:00 PM (doors open) – 6:00 PM
Location: The Square Room 4 Market Square, Knoxville, Tennessee
The Square Room offers an intimate, central downtown location designed for real conversation – not auditorium distance. Expect an engaged room, not a passive audience.
Tickets
General Admission: $30 plus applicable fees(Includes full program + post-event happy hour) Space is intentionally limited to keep the room conversational and high-signal.
Who Should Attend
If you are accountable for results (not just headlines), this room is for you.
Your Hosts
Marcus Blair
Founder, CoreIQ
Chris McAdoo
EMCEE & Founder, Fighting Shape Impact Company
Full Speaker list to be announced soon!
Interested in supporting or partnering? Supporters will be aligned with:

Enterprise and mid-market decision-makers
Operators actively deploying AI at scale
A room focused on implementation, NOT spectacle

Contact: Marcus Blair
marcus@omegadigital.us
865.214.7686

Founder Friday
2026-04-24 09:00 - 10:00 | 121 Tech Hub, 121 E Jackson Ave, Knoxville, TN 37915
Hosted by Haseeb “HQ” Qureshi, Founder Friday features fireside chats where entrepreneurs share their stories, insights and advice, helping students connect with the startup community beyond the classroom.
Apr 24 | Nick DeVore (Lush Drop Beverage Co.)

Nashville Entrepreneur Day: Spring 2026
2026-05-21 13:00 - 18:00 | Geodis Park, 501 Benton Avenue, Nashville, 37203
Last year, 1000+ investors, advisors, and business leaders showed up to Nashville Entrepreneur Day. They didn’t come for inspiration. They came to meet companies with actual traction. Don’t miss your chance.

Sloss.Tech Conference in Birmingham, AL
2026-06-24 - 2026-06-26 | Downtown Birmingham, Alabama
Sloss Tech is the Southeast’s premier annual technology and innovation conference held in downtown Birmingham, Alabama, focusing on fostering, connecting, and showcasing the region’s growing tech scene. Founded in 2015, the three-day event features expert speakers, breakout sessions, and a major startup pitch competition with significant funding.
