What is Innov865 Week?

Innov865 Week is a weeklong celebration of Knoxville’s entrepreneurial spirit that brings together startups, entrepreneurs, makers, investors, business leaders, students, and community leaders from across East Tennessee for a week of educational panels, pitch competitions, investor roundtables, and social events. It is presented by the Innov865 Alliance, a coalition that develops, supports, and promotes the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Divided into five tracks, Innov865 Week highlights various elements of the Alliance’s mission to develop, support and promote the Knoxville region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and its collaborative effort to celebrate and showcase Knoxville as a great place for all entrepreneurs to start and grow businesses and increase access to capital. The five tracks include innovation, education, maker, culture, and investor.

Please sign up for the latest news about our annual event, Startup Day, or other upcoming events for more opportunities to network with fellow Knoxville entrepreneurs as we prepare for this year’s week-long celebration once more!

Innov865 Week Tracks

Divided into five tracks, Innov865 Week highlights various elements of the Alliance’s mission to develop, support, and promote the Knoxville region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. It is a collaborative effort to celebrate and showcase Knoxville as a great place for entrepreneurs to start and grow businesses and increase access to capital. The five tracks include: innovation, education, maker, culture and investor.


Innovation:

Showcasing the Knoxville region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem

Sponsored by


Education:

Developing the Knoxville region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem

Sponsored by


Maker:

Promoting the Knoxville region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem

Sponsored by


Culture:

Celebrating the Knoxville region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem

Sponsored by


Investor:

Supporting the Knoxville region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem

Sponsored by

Innov865 Week Agenda

October 1, 2024

Startup Day 2024

Innov865 Week’s premier event is Startup Day, an annual pitch competition and celebration of Knoxville’s thriving entrepreneurial community. At Startup Day, entrepreneurs showcase their local startup to a panel of venture capitalists, angel investors and industry leaders. Pitches are followed by a Q&A from the panel about their business and why they chose to grow their company in Knoxville. Cash prizes are awarded through crowd participation, totaling $10,000.


FAQs

Why should I attend?

Innov865 Week is a weeklong celebration of Knoxville’s entrepreneurial spirit that brings together startups, entrepreneurs, makers, investors, business leaders, students, and community leaders from across East Tennessee. If you want to help develop, support, and promote the Knoxville region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, this event is for you! Whether you’re an Innovator, Educator, Maker, Investor or someone who loves Knoxville’s Culture – this week-long celebration is the place for you!

Who should I contact if I have any questions?

Event Logistics: Allie Eskew | allison@piper-communications.com

Media Relations and Programming: Hannah Whitson | hannah@piper-communications.com

Digital Media: Abby Hassler | abby@piper-communications.com

Support: Mallory Jenkins | mallory@piper-communications.com

What supporter opportunities are available?

Innov865 Week is a weeklong celebration of Knoxville’s entrepreneurial spirit. If you want to help develop, support and promote the Knoxville region’s entrepreneurial community, please consider supporting. With over 1.3K event attendees last year, Innov865 Week 2024 promises to be bigger than ever before. View the 2024 Supporter Packet.

To discuss opportunities, contact Mallory Jenkins at mallory@piper-communications.com or 865.696.5090.