Stories of Technology, Innovation, & Entrepreneurship in the Southeast

The Phoenix Pitch, an entrepreneurial competition designed to equip young innovators with the tools, funding, and mentorship needed to launch their ventures, has announced the next two events, and they are at opposite ends of the state.

1. One is scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. CST on March 4 at the University of Memphis’ Crews Center for Entrepreneurship, 3618 Walker Avenue; and 
2. The second is about six weeks later from 5:30 to 8 p.m. EDT April 17 in the Mapp Building, home of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, a unit of the Gary W. Rollins College of Business at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

Both competitions feature a prize package valued at $8,500 with the first place winner taking home $5,000. Six finalists at each event will present a 10-minute pitch, showcasing their business concept, market strategy, and execution plan, followed by a five-minute Q&A with a panel of seasoned business leaders.

The two competitions are sponsored by a foundation associated with Spencer Patton, a Tennessee-based entrepreneur who successfully grew his business from $0 to over $100 million in less than 10 years. He is the founder of multiple companies in the logistics industry and is widely recognized as an authority in e-commerce and logistics. His commentary has appeared in various media outlets, including Bloomberg, Reuters, Fox Business, The Washington Post, NASDAQ.com, Business Insider, and The Wall Street Journal.

Patton attended Montgomery Bell Academy and graduated from Vanderbilt University with degrees in economics and psychology. In 2013 he launched Patton Logistics and served as an independent service provider to FedEx Ground. In the following decade, Patton grew the company to become the largest contractor to FedEx Ground in the United States.

 

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