Seven start-ups selected for THE WORKS accelerator 2025
THE WORKS is the Knoxville Entrepreneur Center's Premier Start-up Accelerator for early-stage software, technology, and tech-enabled companies poised for rapid growth.
THE WORKS Accelerator, hosted by the Knoxville Entrepreneur Center (KEC), is an intensive, eight-week program designed to help early-stage software, technology, and tech-enabled companies scale.
The accelerator features expert-led workshops, hands-on mentorship, and immersive experiences with top industry partners like Cirrus, Clayton, Market Square Ventures, and Big Slate Media.
“The Works is like a front-row seat to some of the most driven, thoughtful innovators in the region. I’m excited for a continued partnership with KEC to build a bridge between entrepreneurs and industry, and to share our relentless focus on the customer!,” said Matthew Park, a Customer Technology Leader and WORKS Mentor.
Meet the Companies
Unified Track
Dustin Bainbridge founded the company, which recently participated in the 5th Annual PYA Ballard Innovation Award. For THE WORKS, Bainbridge is paired with mentors Michael Grider and Courtney Delaura as his key mentors.
Unified Track is a predictive analytics platform that helps high school counselors keep students on track for graduation and beyond by integrating directly with a district’s Student Information System (SIS) to visualize real-time data on academic progress, credit completion, GPA, attendance, and behavioral trends.
Read the teknovation.biz article about teknovation.biz.
VisualizAI
Mac Bartine -founded the company, and has been paired with Bruce Ramshaw and Britton Garrett as his key mentors.
VisualizAI is a AI powered big data visualization platform that maximizes healthcare organizations’ claims revenue without risk or hassle. The company was the second investment for the University of Tennessee Research Foundation’s Accelerate Fund.
Read the teknovation.biz article about VisualizAI.
TeachCraft
Joel Smith founded the company, which was the winner of the 2025 What’s the Big Idea pitch competition at the KEC. His mentors are Victoria Frankel and Ann Buckingham.
TeachCraft offers the ability for teachers to make high quality, project based lesson plans, in minutes, using AI powered tools. They serve anyone who needs to produce project-based instruction, whether it be K-12, Higher Ed, or Corporate Training.
Read the teknovation.biz article about TeachCraft.
PowerTechs Inc
Ksenia Solomatina, the founder of PowerTechs is paired with mentors Harry Boston and Jenna Johns. She is bringing to market a DoD-approved start-up that is centered around building a reskilling platform for strategic industries. Targeted industries include energy, construction, and manufacturing jobs.
PowerTechs technology integrates AI, Extended Reality, and CognitiveTech, enabling a detailed understanding of individuals’ transferable skills and facilitating 10x faster and smoother workforce transitions.
Read the teknovation.biz article about PowerTechs.
DataRook, Inc.
The founder of DataRook, Gustavo Alvarez-Suchini, is paired with mentors Noa Barak and Rob Cochran.
DataRook provides innovative STEM education through our flagship program, footyLab. This unique after-school program combines youth soccer with hands-on data science education through a three-part methodology: capturing metrics, analyzing performance data, and creating interactive dashboards and visualizations.
Read the teknovation.biz article about DataRook.
Modern Day Stay at Home Mom
Kimberly O’Neal, the Founder of Modern Day SAHM is paired with mentors Brittany Burton and Preston Garland.
She is building is building a staffing platform designed to connect stay-at-home moms with flexible, legitimate job opportunities while allowing them to remain home with their families. They provide businesses with access to a highly skilled talent pool, offering affordable hiring solutions with thorough background checks, reference checks, and initial screening interviews included.
Read the teknovation.biz article about Modern Day SAHM.
Rush to Resolution, LLC
The company’s founder Brett Rush is paired with mentors Creed Huckaby and Matthew Park.
Rush to Resolution, LLC helps SaaS startups build an AI-first support presence leveraging Intercom for chatbots, human assistance, and metrics, as well as other bots for custom niche requests. They also help with building out human support teams, since they have experience developing global teams from the ground up.
You can learn more about THE WORKS on its website.
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