Stories of Technology, Innovation, & Entrepreneurship in the Southeast

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June 14, 2022 | Tom Ballard

UTC student entrepreneur’s journey shows importance of advisors and connections

Devin Lay is a student at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) studying management who was awarded the 2022 “Collegiate Spirit of Entrepreneurship Award.”

The Memphis native started customizing sneakers as a high school sophomore, selling them both online and in-person, under the Since Birth brand. Lay was growing his fledgling business when his business coach pointed out something fundamentally flawed about his business plan. That advice and connections he subsequently made have proved invaluable as described in this UTC news release.


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