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September 08, 2013 | Tom Ballard

“The TENN” bus and Tennessee’s top 10 start-ups are on the road

The TENN“The TENN Roadshow” is underway!

Tennessee’s top 10 start-ups, selected two weeks ago in the first-ever “Statewide Demo Day,” launched their week-long journey yesterday afternoon at the Nashville Entrepreneur Center. The statewide tour is an initiative of Launch Tennessee (LaunchTN) and sponsored by The Blackstone Charitable Foundation, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, Eastman Chemical Company, and First Tennessee Bank.

By last night, the 10 companies and LaunchTN team members had traveled to Northeast Tennessee in their specially wrapped bus to begin their activities this morning in Kingsport.

Tour Bus

Their first official visit starts at 8:45 a.m. when the start-up founders meet with Eastman executives. Later in the day at a luncheon in Johnson City, the 10 companies will give short pitches before traveling to Knoxville.

Tuesday’s activities start with a morning session at Scripps Networks Interactive followed by a luncheon and presentations at the Knoxville Entrepreneur Center. AC Entertainment Founder Ashley Capps will give a fireside chat during the Knoxville visit.

The tour continues Wednesday with a luncheon and presentations at Chattanooga’s new Society of Work collaboration facility and Thursday back at the Entrepreneur Center in Nashville. It concludes Friday with sessions at First Tennessee Bank.

The 10 companies include three from East Tennessee – HATponics, Survature and Vendor Registry. The remaining companies come from either Memphis or Nashville.


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