City of Knoxville's 16th Annual Business Opportunities Breakfast
2025-06-10 07:30 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | 500 Howard Baker Jr. Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37915.
Network & connect with City of Knoxville and partner agencies while learning about business opportunities planned for the next 12-18 months.
In celebration of our 16th anniversary of the breakfast, we’re rolling out a new format for this years event. The focus of this year’s breakfast will be allowing space for the business attendees and department representatives to have one-on-one conversations to talk about the upcoming procurements and projects, as well as the projected small dollar spend opportunities they have planned for the next fiscal year. While those conversations are taking place, attendees waiting to connect will be able to view the department slide presentations, containing both your large and small upcoming project/spend which will be displayed in the background.
Some of the participating departments include: Engineering, Police, Fire, Fleet, Purchasing, Housing & Neighborhood Development, Parks and Recreation, and Public Service.
In addition, officials from Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation, the Public Building Authority, Knoxville Area Transit, Knoxville Utilities Board, ASM Global, and the Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority, will be on hand to outline their projects and business needs.
Address: 500 Howard Baker Jr. Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37915.

Women in Entrepreneurship (WiE) Knoxville
2025-06-10 09:00 - 10:30 | Knoxville Entrepreneur Center, 17 Market Square
Women in Entrepreneurship Knoxville, or “WiE” is a community of nearly 2000 women entrepreneurs that hosts regular monthly meet-ups and is an active Facebook Group community.
The monthly meetup takes place on the 2nd Tuesday of Every Month from 9:00 – 10:30 am at KEC, 17 Market Square, Suite 101, Knoxville, TN 37902.

THE WORKS 2025 Kickoff Happy Hour
2025-06-11 17:30 - 19:00 | Maple Room, 414 S Gay St, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
A 1.5-hour informal networking session with THE WORKS founders, mentors, and community members.

Knoxville Chamber Shrimp Boil 2025
2025-06-12 17:00 - 19:00 | Lighthouse Knoxville, 6800 Baum Drive
his business climate program will feature great food and the opportunity for business community representatives to meet with local elected officials and others from across the state of Tennessee who have been invited to attend.
Two ticket options are available: individual tickets at standing cocktail tables, or table purchases for a sit-down experience.
Reserved tables include one table of ten (10), table sign displaying your logo, two drink tickets per guest + bucket of bottled beer, and a southern country boil buffet.
Parking will be available onsite.

Brandcamp for THE WORKS Accelerator in Knoxville
2025-06-18 08:30 - 15:00 | Knoxville Entrepreneur Center, 17 Market Square
Brandcamp leads local Knoxville companies through a series of class sessions and activities in order to help business owners and founders understand the process of brand planning, including market research, the development of a brand platform, customer discovery and the exploration of the customer journey, persona-based messaging and channel planning.
The objective of this program is to provide business owners and founders with a deep understanding of the importance of brand planning, and to equip them with the necessary tools and skills to develop a brand plan that will help set their companies up for success.

The Women & Shora Foundation - Crown Pitch
2025-06-19 18:00 - 21:00 | 2119 E Magnolia Ave
Join The Women and Shora Foundation at the 2025 Crown Pitch Competition — where excitement, inspiration, and celebration collide! ✨
🗓️ When: Juneteenth – June 19, 2025
💵 Prize: A total of $10,000 up for grabs! 💸
We’re celebrating Black excellence and entrepreneurship as business owners pitch their ideas for a chance to win BIG! 🙌 This is more than a competition—it’s a community celebration showcasing the incredible Black-owned businesses right here in Knoxville! 🖤
Come early to get a seat and enjoy hors d’oeuvres and cocktails. Doors open at 5:30 PM

Orange Hat Tech Summit
2025-06-20 12:00 - 16:00 | 10246 Hardin Valley Road Knoxville, TN 37932
Hosted by Solomon IT, a Knoxville-based IT Managed Service Provider with 15+ years in business and over 80 clients in the region, this summit will bring together business owners, IT pros, and technology partners for a relaxed afternoon of networking, product demos, a live keynote panel, and a cold beer or two. We hope to see you there.

Chattanooga Fab Institute 2025
2025-07-09 08:00 - 2025-07-11 17:00
Join us for the 7th Annual Chattanooga FAB Institute July 9 – 11, 2025, in Chattanooga, TN, proudly presented by the Public Education Foundation and Hamilton County Schools, in collaboration with Volkswagen Group of America. Actively engage in a transformative professional development experience for K-12 educators, centered around innovative digital fabrication technologies in our state-of-the-art Volkswagen eLabs.
Don’t miss out on our Early Bird special! Register by April 30, 2025 and save 50%. Visit http://www.vwelab.org/chattfab for the latest updates and information.
Why Attend?

Engage in hands-on learning with cutting-edge digital fabrication tools.
Explore a range of technologies including 3D printing, laser engraving/cutting, vinyl cutting, CNC routing, and micro-computing.
Start each day with inspiring keynotes from guest speakers.
Experience practical, in-depth workshops led by Volkswagen eLab Specialists who serve as full-time teachers in labs in Hamilton County.

Pre-conference workshops
Enhance your experience by registering for two preconference workshops on July 8, 2025. These sessions offer introductory guidance on utilizing the tools available in the VW eLabs, setting you up for success during the main event.

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 | 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.
