The Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council's annual meeting spotlights progress in the sector that ranges from smart mobility in Chattanooga to companies happy to call Tennessee home, and a new initiative named TN GO.

There are two new funds that have raised a combined total of $300 million. Start-ups in the Tar Heel state raised the second highest amount of venture capital ever in 2022, and a Charlotte-based fund is ranked as the top source of funding for fintech start-ups.

The seventh of seven pitches took home the $10,000 prize in this annual pitch competition from the Knoxville Entrepreneur Center.

Thursday night's event officially kicked off the first-ever combined "Scipreneur Challenge" and "Smart Mobility Challenge" for college students, postdocs, and others. The focus was on helping find the best pathway to commercialization.

UTK will also be a partner institution in two other University Transportation Centers focused on rural communities and pedestrian and bicycle safety.

Here’s your weekly roundup of business news from throughout the Knoxville region.

Loci Robotics is a business making large-format hybrid additive and subtractive manufacturing equipment in the heart of downtown Knoxville.

Knoxville is the highest ranked in the Volunteer State followed by Nashville, Chattanooga, and Memphis.