The 5th Annual PYA Ballard Innovation Award kicks off this afternoon!
This is the last opportunity for the community to register to attend.
In just a few hours, six of Knoxville’s fastest-growing companies will take the stage and pitch their businesses to a room full of business leaders, community partners, investors, mentors, colleagues, and friends. RSVP here.
For the first time in the award’s history, PYA has selected six founders to pitch, as opposed to the historic five. The firm said it’s a testament to the impressive growth of the entrepreneurial community and the caliber of companies that applied.
The Ballard Innovation Award honors Tom Ballard. Readers of teknovation.biz may know him as the editor of the publication, but his history with the entrepreneurial ecosystem in East Tennessee extends over three separate careers with the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and PYA.
He was been an instrumental part of the region’s growth by facilitating partnerships, making connections, and drawing attention to the region’s assets. He even helped launch teknovation.biz back in 2012 through the support of PYA.
PYA has historically been an entrepreneurial firm. It has played a key role in helping start several companies and service lines in East Tennessee (and across the United States). The principles of entrepreneurship are embedded into PYA’s DNA, and the firm is proud to support the innovation community through teknovation.biz and the PYA Ballard Innovation Award.
As such, the firm would like to welcome the community to the 5th Annual PYA Ballard Innovation Award on April 16.
Who will be pitching?
Already, PYA has received feedback that the “top finalists” are “top-tier.” And, we agree. It’s going to be a tough battle for the top prize of $50,000 in cash and in-kind services.
On Monday, March 31, PYA and teknovation.biz announced the finalists. Click on the image below to learn more about the six companies.
Who will be judging?
The judging panel for the 2025 pitch competition is made up of five highly successful business leaders in the Knoxville community.
The judges include Patricia Bible, the Owner and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of KaTom Restaurant Supply, Inc., Billy Carroll, the President and CEO of SmartBank, Shannon Harper, the President and Dealer Principal of Harper Auto Square, Pierce LaMacchia the Co-founder and Owner of K Brew, and Cynthia Gibson, the General Counsel for Bush Brothers & Company.
What is the schedule?
3:00 p.m. Arrival and Greetings.
3:15 p.m. Opening Remarks.
3:30 p.m. Pitch Competition Begins.
4:30 p.m. Fireside Chat About Regional Investment, Moderated by Tom Ballard.
4:50 p.m. Winners of the 2025 Ballard Innovation Award are Announced.
5:00 p.m. Cocktail Reception and Celebration Begins.
Do you need to RSVP?
RSVPs are highly encouraged. This will allow the PYA team to adequately prepare the right amount of drinks, food, seating, and name tags. Feel free to share the invitation for the Ballard Award with friends, family, business colleagues, and community partners. PYA is anticipating the largest turnout ever, and hopes to show a lot of support for East Tennessee’s fastest-scaling companies. The RSVP form will remain open until the evening of April 15.
RSVP for the pitch competition and award ceremony here.
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