Stories of Technology, Innovation, & Entrepreneurship in the Southeast

From Oak Ridge:

• EarthEn, a participant in the 2023 cohort of the “Innovation Crossroads” program at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, is a finalist for the Edison Best New Products Award. Co-Founded by Manas Pathak, the company is focused on using carbon dioxide-based technology to provide flexible energy storage for 24/7 power to not only increase grid resiliency but also to enable a fully renewable grid. It is one of three finalists in the sustainable energy category which is, in turn, one of 48 categories with three finalists in each grouping. The gold, silver, and bronze winners will be announced at the 2024 Edison Awards Gala on April 18 in Fort Myers, FL. You can read more about EarthEn in this recent teknovation.biz article.
• Another “Innovation Crossroads” 2023 cohort member provided some additional information about an announcement we posted in the February 4 “News & Notes” feature. Sarah Jordan, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Skuld LLC, said that she is in the process of installing three induction furnaces at the 32,000-square-foot in Piqua, OH. “Added to our current 900 pound gas fired aluminum furnace, this will total about 3,000 tons of annual capacity to start. The induction furnaces will add the ability to cast gray iron, ductile iron, steel, nickel, and copper alloys in house rather than having to source this from others. The plan is to use one of the 650 pound furnaces for cast irons and one for steel. There is also a smaller 250 pound crucible furnace that we plan to use for specialty alloys. The plan is to be casting metal by the end of April.”

From Knoxville:

• The 50^th PechaKucha Night Knoxville is this Thursday at The Mill & Mine, 227 West Depot Avenue. “We’re currently curating a great lineup of presenters to celebrate Knoxville – the makers, the visionaries, the things that make our city stellar,” the organizers write. “We have a few surprises in store for this anniversary event, but what isn’t a secret is that we are doing a Silent Disco immediately after the event! Stick around and shake it with us to celebrate 50 amazing nights of storytelling.” Doors open at 6:30 p.m. EDT, and the presentations start at 7:20 p.m. To register, click here.
• The first “Maker Mingle” of 2024 is scheduled for March 20 at Pop Fizz, 800 Luttrell Avenue. Running from 6 to 8 p.m. EDT, the meet-up is sponsored by Albright Grove Brewery. The agenda includes a discussion of current opportunities for makers in Knoxville and the goals this community has for its continued growth. To register, click on this link.

From Johnson City:

The next “Founders After 5” from FoundersForge is scheduled for 5:30 to 7 p.m. EDT March 14 at Mulligan’s Gaming Pub, 308 East Main Street. It is an opportunity for start-up founders, entrepreneurs, creatives, and professionals to connect, share ideas, and form valuable relationships in a relaxed and welcoming environment. There is no agenda and no speakers, just connections. To register, click here.

FoundersForge has also announced other events for March:

• “Code & Coffee” is set for 4 to 6 p.m. EST March 5 at Spark Plaza.
• “Rooted,” a monthly wellness series, debuts at 12 noon EST March 6 at The Generalist Store in downtown Johnson City.
• The “TRIDEV” monthly software development meet-up is set for 6 to 7:30 p.m. EDT March 12, also at Spark Plaza.

From Cookeville:

The Biz Foundry is holding an “Angel Investor Education 101” workshop beginning at 4 p.m. CDT March 13 at its offices at 114 N Cedar Avenue. During the event, attendees will:

• Gain a comprehensive understanding of angel investing and its role in supporting early stage companies;
• Learn key strategies for identifying promising investment opportunities and assessing potential risks;
• Discover best practices for conducting due diligence and making informed investment decisions;
• Hear from seasoned angel investors and industry experts who will share their insights, experiences, and success stories; and
• Network with like-minded individuals who share a passion for investing and entrepreneurship.

To register for the two-hour event, click here.

From Nashville or Maybe Los Angeles:

Khyrs Hatch is leaving Launch Tennessee after nearly six years as part of the capital team. He’s now living in Los Angeles where Hatch recently posted that the move has “been a part of a plan to work full-time in my first passion: writing and producing music. I’m so excited for this next step in my journey!”

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