Description
In this particular detailed illustration with regards to making tennessee #1 place in the southeast for entrepreneurs to start and grow a company.
Making Tennessee the #1 place in the Southeast for entrepreneurs to start and grow a company
WHAT IS LAUNCH TENNESSEE?
We are a public-private partnership, funded in part by the State of Tennessee, working
to make Tennessee the #1 place in the Southeast for entrepreneurs to start and grow a
business.
Why startups?
Because new companies create more than 65 percent of all jobs. And because
Tennessee’s communities, government, academic institutions and strong business
sectors have the talent, commitment and the know-how. We just bring it all together,
then take it to the next level.
At LaunchTN, we are entrepreneurs, investors and business professionals. We believe
in an entrepreneurial approach, that innovation transforms and that collaboration is
critical to success. And we have put into place the infrastructure to allow that process to
happen every day, all across Tennessee.
OVERVIEW
1,300+ jobs created
$48 million
raised by
accelerator-assisted
companies
$430+ million
venture
investment in
Tennessee
2,200+
companies
screened
$77 million
matching
funds
invested
230 companies accelerated
*All data represents results from 2012 & 2013
LaunchTN is a public-private partnership that is funded in part under an agreement with the State of Tennessee.
Visit us online at LaunchTN.org
Entrepreneurship
We oversee nine regional business accelerators across the
state. These accelerators provide resources, mentorship
and connections for entrepreneurs, both onsite and in the
surrounding area.
Commercialization
We connect ideas, people and money. That includes
everything from growing emerging technologies coming
out of state research institutions to connecting inventors
with entrepreneurs and investors.
Capital
We work with angel networks, angel investors and venture
capital ?rms around the country. We also co-invest with
these partners through LaunchTN’s INCITE Fund.
Outreach
We host events that bring together entrepreneurs, mentors,
researchers and investors from around Tennessee and the
world. These range from an after-hours mixer at one of the
accelerators all the way up to Southland, the Southeast’s
premier tech conference for early-stage companies and
people who want to partner with them.
Tennessee Accelerator Network
Tennessee Tech Transfer Of?ces
LaunchTN CEO Charlie Brock at the
Southland Tech Conference
HOW DO WE DO IT? LAUNCH TENNESSEE’S FOUR PILLARS:
Making Tennessee the #1 place in the Southeast for entrepreneurs to start and grow a company
Our goals are to develop companies, create jobs and grow Tennessee’s
economy. We do this by helping inventors with commercialization: taking
a technology, often from a research institution, and introducing it to the
marketplace.
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
1 Get you funded
2 Help you write grants & business plans
3 Get you ready to launch & sell your product
We teach you how to maximize your chances of getting federal funding through
the SBIR/STTR programs at minimal cost to you.
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) &
Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR)
COMMERCIALIZATION
$3 Billion
is invested annually in
research and development
across Tennessee’s
internationally recognized
research institutions
45+
R&D startups formed
since 2012
Provides technical
assistance
Matches inventors
with investors &
entrepreneurs
Connects investors &
entrepreneurs with
tech transfer of?ces
Phase 0/00
Program
What?
Competitive application
process that funds efforts
of selected SBIR/STTR
applicants in Tennessee
Why?
Gives candidates the
competitive edge and helps
?rms achieve win rates 2x
the national average
Why apply?
We screen all ideas at no
cost, so everyone gets time,
consideration and feedback
even if their ideas are not
selected.
What
Federal initiatives that
provide R&D funding to
quali?ed small businesses
Why
To stimulate innovation
and development in high
tech areas
How
We help inventors get these
awards through Phase 0/00,
workshops, events & coaching
Launch Tennessee
LaunchTN is a public-private partnership that is funded in part under an agreement with the State of Tennessee.
Visit us online at LaunchTN.org
VENTURE MATCH PROGRAM
Because Launch Tennessee is a statewide partnership with public
and private interests, we can connect inventors to the right investors
throughout the state.
Your Idea Tech Transfer Of?ce Sellable Product
9
Venture Match events held
in Tennessee since 2013
8
SBIR/STTR workshops held
since 2013
600+
Attendees present across all
commercialization events
TECH TRANSFER OFFICES
Tennessee’s technology transfer of?ces help turn research into business.
They help inventors raise capital, create a market and minimize risk to
make ideas into viable businesses.
7 Tech Transfer Locations across Tennessee
St. Jude Children’s
Research Hospital
FedEx Institute of
Technology
Vanderbilt University
CTTC
Tennessee Board
of Regents*
Y12 National Security
Complex
Oak Ridge
National Laboratory
University of Tennessee
Research Foundation
*The Tennessee Board of Regents system includes six universities: Austin Peay State University, East Tennessee
State University, Middle Tennessee State University, Tennessee State University, Tennessee Technological
University and the University of Memphis
New companies
Sustainable jobs
Value for investors
Technology Entrepreneurs Capital
Making Tennessee the #1 place in the Southeast for entrepreneurs to start and grow a company
Tennessee entrepreneurs solve problems, create jobs and strengthen the state
economy. Launch Tennessee helps them make that happen.
LaunchTN is the only statewide collaborative startup network in the country. As we
make Tennessee the #1 place to start and grow a business, we guide entrepreneurs
from idea to execution. How? By providing all the resources entrepreneurs, small-
business owners, inventors and investors need, including:
REGIONAL ACCELERATORS
The LaunchTN network of accelerators includes:
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
NW Tennessee
Entrepreneur Center
Memphis Bioworks
StartUP Entrepreneurship
Development Center
The Nashville
Entrepreneur Center
The Biz Foundry
Southern Middle
Tennessee Entrepreneur
Centers
CO.LAB
Knoxville
Entrepreneur Center
AccelNow
AccelNow
The Biz Foundry
CO.LAB
Knoxville Entrepreneur Center
Memphis Bioworks
Southern Middle Tennessee Entrepreneur Center/autoxlr8r
The Nashville Entrepreneur Center
Northwest Tennessee Entrepreneur Center
StartUP Entrepreneurship Development Center
Start Co.
Start Co.
LaunchTN is a public-private partnership that is funded in part under an agreement with the State of Tennessee.
Visit us online at LaunchTN.org
THE TENN
The TENN is LaunchTN’s master-accelerator program. Our participants make their best
sales pitches to a panel of out-of-state investors, and the top 10 head out on a Tennessee
Roadshow, a statewide tour of major corporations.
After that, the TENN goes across the country, connecting with nationally known corporate
leaders and entrepreneurs, attending investor-group meetings and gaining exposure to
national media.
Along the way, they also have access to:
• A network of more than 40 master mentors
• Of?ce space in the nearest accelerator (or a subsidy to
cover existing of?ce space)
• Special events that put them in front of high-level,
industry speci?c connections throughout Tennessee
This exposure to investors and successful companies
is what makes LaunchTN the perfect partner. We know
the entrepreneurs who are turning today’s big ideas into
tomorrow’s companies often operate in a vacuum. The TENN
makes sure they can navigate the gap between leaving our
accelerator network and ?nding investment or a sustainable
business model.
GET INVOLVED
LaunchTN succeeds by connecting creative, driven people. From investors to entrepreneurs
to businesspeople, we put expertise to work to help grow Tennessee’s best ideas.
If you ?t any of the following descriptions, we want to talk to you about getting involved:
Entrepreneurs
Have you launched a
successful company?
Inventors
Have you taken a
product or idea to
patent or to market?
Investors
Do you fund
startups?
Mentors
Do you advise new talent
on the dos and don’ts of
your business sector?
Making Tennessee the #1 place in the Southeast for entrepreneurs to start and grow a company
Launch Tennessee helps investors of all types ?nd promising startup companies in our
state. We offer connections to companies making signi?cant headway in healthcare, IT,
digital media and more.
WHY INVEST IN TENNESSEE?
Better Valuation Investors are ?nding some of the most compelling
valuations of any area in the U.S.
Momentum Tennessee is a business-friendly state with low taxes and
regulations that encourage statewide development and growth. Our
economy is booming, with the entire state experiencing a surge in
energy and invention.
Smart, Creative People Tennessee’s robust university system and
research institutions attract top-tier talent from around the world.
Our cities have built strong reputations for a great quality of life and
opportunities for entrepreneurial success, bringing more talented people
to the state each month.
Corporate Support Executives from Tennessee-based Fortune 500
companies like FedEx, HCA and Eastman Chemical Company work
closely with LaunchTN to mentor and support startup companies.
Matching Funds Investment dollars can be matched through the INCITE
Co-Investment Fund.
CAPITAL FORMATION
$200+ Million
in VC investment across the
state in 200 high-growth
startups annually
$430 Million
investment in Tennessee
startups since 2012
Tennessee
Ranked #19
In the country by The Milken
Institute for Risk Capital and
Entrepreneurial Infrastructure
(up from #35 in 2010)
“We are deeply committed
to supporting the innovators,
entrepreneurs and investors
that call Tennessee home.”
Bill Haslam,
Tennessee Governor
LaunchTN is a public-private partnership that is funded in part under an agreement with the State of Tennessee.
Visit us online at LaunchTN.org
INCITE CO-INVESTMENT FUND
The INCITE Co-Investment Fund was created in 2011 as part of a state initiative to drive
growth and create knowledge-based jobs in Tennessee by encouraging investment in
developing small businesses. In its ?rst two years, the Fund augmented investments in
30 Tennessee companies, leveraging $57 million in outside capital into $77 million.
LaunchTN administers the Fund, which has $10 million to invest in 2014:
• Tier I: Seed Stage Investment – 25% match
• Tier II: Early/Growth Stage Investment – 20% match
• Tier III: Expansion Stage Investment – 15% match, capped at $3 million
CO-INVESTMENT PARTNERS
LaunchTN has partnered with over 40 local and out-of-state investment ?rms in addition
to over 40 angel investors.
HIGHLIGHTED INCITE COMPANIES
YouScience
Developer of Latitude, an online education and career assessment tool
for young people preparing to enter the workforce
iCitizen
Creator of an app that promotes civic and community engagement
Molecular Sensing
Creator of molecular biosensor technology for use in pharmaceuticals
Hubble Telemedical
Enabling earlier detection of systemic and debilitating diseases that manifest in the retina
$77 Million
matching funds invested
$10 Million
INCITE Co-Investment
funds available in 2014
Making Tennessee the #1 place in the Southeast for entrepreneurs to start and grow a company
Launch Tennessee brings together entrepreneurs, mentors, researchers and investors to
start and grow Tennessee’s most promising companies. We tap resources and investors
from across the state and the country to turn ideas into business.
One of the most effective ways we do this is through our events,
which include:
• Southland One of the country’s leading technology and
entrepreneur conferences
• Global Entrepreneurship Week Tennessee partners host
75+ events during GEW, the world’s largest celebration of
the innovators and job creators who launch startups
• Regional, local and sector-speci?c events
SOUTHLAND
Southland is one of the country’s leading conferences highlighting
the best in entrepreneurship, technology and southern culture.
It offers top startups from across the globe access to some of the
country’s leading investors, entreprenurs and technology thought
leaders. In 2014, 10 startups will also compete to win $100,000 in
funding awarded by a panel of expert investors and entreprenurs.
Launch Tennessee partners with leading tech media outlet
PandoDaily to co-produce the event.
Southland’s 2014 all-star speakers include:
• Former Vice President Al Gore
• PayPal President David Marcus
• Evernote CEO Phil Libin
• Bonobos Co-Founder & CEO Andy Dunn
OUTREACH & COMMUNICATIONS
Bill Hagerty, Commissioner, Tennessee
Department of Economic & Community
Development
LaunchTN is a public-private partnership that is funded in part under an agreement with the State of Tennessee.
Visit us online at LaunchTN.org
GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP WEEK
Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) is an annual
initiative that introduces people to entrepreneurship
and encourages them to explore their own ideas.
Launch Tennessee supports GEW by helping coordinate
statewide events highlighting entrepreneurship and
innovation.
GEW events in Tennessee include:
• Will This Float? CO.LAB - Chattanooga, TN
• Startup Day KEC - Knoxville, TN
• NEXT Awards Nashville EC - Nashville, TN
• 48 Hour Launch Biz Foundry - Cookeville, TN
• Ignite Memphis, Vol. 6 Start Co. - Memphis, TN
REGIONAL, LOCAL &
SECTOR-SPECIFIC EVENTS
Launch Tennessee hosts and attends events throughout the
state to promote entrepreneurship, connect startups with
sources of capital and help inventors commercialize their
ideas. The organization has been consistently recognized for
the quality and quantity of its outreach efforts.
Launch Tennessee events have generated signi?cant
media coverage, helping extend the reach of Tennessee’s
efforts to become the #1 state in the Southeast for
entrepreneurs to start and grow a business.
“Southland helps put a stamp
on Tennessee as a place
where there is a lot activity
around entrepreneurship
and in the early-stage capital
scene. At the end of the day,
we are doing this to attract
investors to look at our
companies so they can help
?ll that capital gap.”
Charlie Brock,
CEO of LaunchTN
10+ Million
people from 115 countries
have participated in GEW
since 2008
84
events held during
GEW in 2013
Top 5
for number of events held
during GEW for the third
year in a row
$980K+
PR/Marketing Value
650+ entrepreneur
events held across
Tennessee in 2013
Making Tennessee the #1 place in the Southeast for entrepreneurs to start and grow a company
CORPORATE ENGAGEMENT
Launch Tennessee helps established companies ?nd new paths to
innovation by connecting them to promising startups, inventors and
entrepreneurs.
We help companies and startups get connected using these programs:
INCI TE Co-Investment Fund Provides opportunity for corporate venture
arms to invest in Tennessee’s early-stage companies
R e g i onal Accelerators Tennessee companies provide program support,
mentorship and early product validation for startups
Reverse Pitch A role-reversal event that pairs companies with funded innovation
projects and quali?ed startups
The Connection Program Industry partners provide early-stage companies with market
feedback & potential customer data
Ven t ure Match Industry investors are matched with inventors and their technologies
INCITE CO-INVESTMENT FUND
What is INCITE?
INCITE is a co-investment fund that matches portions of investments
made in Tennessee-based startups in order to drive growth and create
jobs in the state.
How can companies get involved?
Corporate venture arms can leverage the INCITE Fund by applying to
be approved investors.
How much will it match?
INCITE matches 15-25% of the funds invested in approved startups.
“Tennessee’s nine regional
accelerators are the front
door for entrepreneurs in their
respective regions, providing
access to the entire network
and bridging the technology
and human resources gap
between our urban and rural
areas. By connecting urban
resources to rural opportunities,
Tennessee is creating a new
paradigm for building a
statewide entrepreneurial
support system.”
Charlie Brock,
CEO of LaunchTN
$10 Million
in matching funds available to
Tennessee companies in 2014
through INCITE
$430+ Million
venture investment in
Tennessee since 2012
LaunchTN is a public-private partnership that is funded in part under an agreement with the State of Tennessee.
Visit us online at LaunchTN.org
REVERSE PITCH
Reverse Pitch is a role-reversal event that pairs companies with funded innovation
projects and quali?ed startups. Launch Tennessee is collaborating with state and
regional partners to bring this unique platform for startup/industry partnerships to
Tennessee.
THE CONNECTION
The Connection programs introduce corporations to early-stage companies in need of
market feedback.
How?
Industry partners act as “portals” to their client portfolios & customize them to meet
speci?c startup needs.
Why?
The bene?t to startups is obvious: they gain access to feedback they usually couldn’t
gather until they become an established company. But corporate partners win, too.
They gain:
• Access to innovation
• Opportunities for strategic partnerships
• The ?rst chance to invest in startups they believe in
9 REGIONAL ACCELERATORS
Tennessee’s statewide accelerator network provides
opportunities for existing companies to engage in the
startup ecosystem.
Opportunities for engagement include:
• Providing early product validation as a customer
• Serving as mentors
• Offering ?nancial support for programs and events
VENTURE MATCH
Because Launch Tennessee is a statewide partnership with
public and private interests, we can connect investors to
the right inventors throughout the state.
We work with seven research institutions across the state
and offer customized technology presentations from each
for interested investors.
Tennessee Tech Transfer Of?ces
Tennessee Accelerator Network
doc_170388034.pdf
In this particular detailed illustration with regards to making tennessee #1 place in the southeast for entrepreneurs to start and grow a company.
Making Tennessee the #1 place in the Southeast for entrepreneurs to start and grow a company
WHAT IS LAUNCH TENNESSEE?
We are a public-private partnership, funded in part by the State of Tennessee, working
to make Tennessee the #1 place in the Southeast for entrepreneurs to start and grow a
business.
Why startups?
Because new companies create more than 65 percent of all jobs. And because
Tennessee’s communities, government, academic institutions and strong business
sectors have the talent, commitment and the know-how. We just bring it all together,
then take it to the next level.
At LaunchTN, we are entrepreneurs, investors and business professionals. We believe
in an entrepreneurial approach, that innovation transforms and that collaboration is
critical to success. And we have put into place the infrastructure to allow that process to
happen every day, all across Tennessee.
OVERVIEW
1,300+ jobs created
$48 million
raised by
accelerator-assisted
companies
$430+ million
venture
investment in
Tennessee
2,200+
companies
screened
$77 million
matching
funds
invested
230 companies accelerated
*All data represents results from 2012 & 2013
LaunchTN is a public-private partnership that is funded in part under an agreement with the State of Tennessee.
Visit us online at LaunchTN.org
Entrepreneurship
We oversee nine regional business accelerators across the
state. These accelerators provide resources, mentorship
and connections for entrepreneurs, both onsite and in the
surrounding area.
Commercialization
We connect ideas, people and money. That includes
everything from growing emerging technologies coming
out of state research institutions to connecting inventors
with entrepreneurs and investors.
Capital
We work with angel networks, angel investors and venture
capital ?rms around the country. We also co-invest with
these partners through LaunchTN’s INCITE Fund.
Outreach
We host events that bring together entrepreneurs, mentors,
researchers and investors from around Tennessee and the
world. These range from an after-hours mixer at one of the
accelerators all the way up to Southland, the Southeast’s
premier tech conference for early-stage companies and
people who want to partner with them.
Tennessee Accelerator Network
Tennessee Tech Transfer Of?ces
LaunchTN CEO Charlie Brock at the
Southland Tech Conference
HOW DO WE DO IT? LAUNCH TENNESSEE’S FOUR PILLARS:
Making Tennessee the #1 place in the Southeast for entrepreneurs to start and grow a company
Our goals are to develop companies, create jobs and grow Tennessee’s
economy. We do this by helping inventors with commercialization: taking
a technology, often from a research institution, and introducing it to the
marketplace.
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
1 Get you funded
2 Help you write grants & business plans
3 Get you ready to launch & sell your product
We teach you how to maximize your chances of getting federal funding through
the SBIR/STTR programs at minimal cost to you.
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) &
Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR)
COMMERCIALIZATION
$3 Billion
is invested annually in
research and development
across Tennessee’s
internationally recognized
research institutions
45+
R&D startups formed
since 2012
Provides technical
assistance
Matches inventors
with investors &
entrepreneurs
Connects investors &
entrepreneurs with
tech transfer of?ces
Phase 0/00
Program
What?
Competitive application
process that funds efforts
of selected SBIR/STTR
applicants in Tennessee
Why?
Gives candidates the
competitive edge and helps
?rms achieve win rates 2x
the national average
Why apply?
We screen all ideas at no
cost, so everyone gets time,
consideration and feedback
even if their ideas are not
selected.
What
Federal initiatives that
provide R&D funding to
quali?ed small businesses
Why
To stimulate innovation
and development in high
tech areas
How
We help inventors get these
awards through Phase 0/00,
workshops, events & coaching
Launch Tennessee
LaunchTN is a public-private partnership that is funded in part under an agreement with the State of Tennessee.
Visit us online at LaunchTN.org
VENTURE MATCH PROGRAM
Because Launch Tennessee is a statewide partnership with public
and private interests, we can connect inventors to the right investors
throughout the state.
Your Idea Tech Transfer Of?ce Sellable Product
9
Venture Match events held
in Tennessee since 2013
8
SBIR/STTR workshops held
since 2013
600+
Attendees present across all
commercialization events
TECH TRANSFER OFFICES
Tennessee’s technology transfer of?ces help turn research into business.
They help inventors raise capital, create a market and minimize risk to
make ideas into viable businesses.
7 Tech Transfer Locations across Tennessee
St. Jude Children’s
Research Hospital
FedEx Institute of
Technology
Vanderbilt University
CTTC
Tennessee Board
of Regents*
Y12 National Security
Complex
Oak Ridge
National Laboratory
University of Tennessee
Research Foundation
*The Tennessee Board of Regents system includes six universities: Austin Peay State University, East Tennessee
State University, Middle Tennessee State University, Tennessee State University, Tennessee Technological
University and the University of Memphis
New companies
Sustainable jobs
Value for investors
Technology Entrepreneurs Capital
Making Tennessee the #1 place in the Southeast for entrepreneurs to start and grow a company
Tennessee entrepreneurs solve problems, create jobs and strengthen the state
economy. Launch Tennessee helps them make that happen.
LaunchTN is the only statewide collaborative startup network in the country. As we
make Tennessee the #1 place to start and grow a business, we guide entrepreneurs
from idea to execution. How? By providing all the resources entrepreneurs, small-
business owners, inventors and investors need, including:
REGIONAL ACCELERATORS
The LaunchTN network of accelerators includes:
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
NW Tennessee
Entrepreneur Center
Memphis Bioworks
StartUP Entrepreneurship
Development Center
The Nashville
Entrepreneur Center
The Biz Foundry
Southern Middle
Tennessee Entrepreneur
Centers
CO.LAB
Knoxville
Entrepreneur Center
AccelNow
AccelNow
The Biz Foundry
CO.LAB
Knoxville Entrepreneur Center
Memphis Bioworks
Southern Middle Tennessee Entrepreneur Center/autoxlr8r
The Nashville Entrepreneur Center
Northwest Tennessee Entrepreneur Center
StartUP Entrepreneurship Development Center
Start Co.
Start Co.
LaunchTN is a public-private partnership that is funded in part under an agreement with the State of Tennessee.
Visit us online at LaunchTN.org
THE TENN
The TENN is LaunchTN’s master-accelerator program. Our participants make their best
sales pitches to a panel of out-of-state investors, and the top 10 head out on a Tennessee
Roadshow, a statewide tour of major corporations.
After that, the TENN goes across the country, connecting with nationally known corporate
leaders and entrepreneurs, attending investor-group meetings and gaining exposure to
national media.
Along the way, they also have access to:
• A network of more than 40 master mentors
• Of?ce space in the nearest accelerator (or a subsidy to
cover existing of?ce space)
• Special events that put them in front of high-level,
industry speci?c connections throughout Tennessee
This exposure to investors and successful companies
is what makes LaunchTN the perfect partner. We know
the entrepreneurs who are turning today’s big ideas into
tomorrow’s companies often operate in a vacuum. The TENN
makes sure they can navigate the gap between leaving our
accelerator network and ?nding investment or a sustainable
business model.
GET INVOLVED
LaunchTN succeeds by connecting creative, driven people. From investors to entrepreneurs
to businesspeople, we put expertise to work to help grow Tennessee’s best ideas.
If you ?t any of the following descriptions, we want to talk to you about getting involved:
Entrepreneurs
Have you launched a
successful company?
Inventors
Have you taken a
product or idea to
patent or to market?
Investors
Do you fund
startups?
Mentors
Do you advise new talent
on the dos and don’ts of
your business sector?
Making Tennessee the #1 place in the Southeast for entrepreneurs to start and grow a company
Launch Tennessee helps investors of all types ?nd promising startup companies in our
state. We offer connections to companies making signi?cant headway in healthcare, IT,
digital media and more.
WHY INVEST IN TENNESSEE?
Better Valuation Investors are ?nding some of the most compelling
valuations of any area in the U.S.
Momentum Tennessee is a business-friendly state with low taxes and
regulations that encourage statewide development and growth. Our
economy is booming, with the entire state experiencing a surge in
energy and invention.
Smart, Creative People Tennessee’s robust university system and
research institutions attract top-tier talent from around the world.
Our cities have built strong reputations for a great quality of life and
opportunities for entrepreneurial success, bringing more talented people
to the state each month.
Corporate Support Executives from Tennessee-based Fortune 500
companies like FedEx, HCA and Eastman Chemical Company work
closely with LaunchTN to mentor and support startup companies.
Matching Funds Investment dollars can be matched through the INCITE
Co-Investment Fund.
CAPITAL FORMATION
$200+ Million
in VC investment across the
state in 200 high-growth
startups annually
$430 Million
investment in Tennessee
startups since 2012
Tennessee
Ranked #19
In the country by The Milken
Institute for Risk Capital and
Entrepreneurial Infrastructure
(up from #35 in 2010)
“We are deeply committed
to supporting the innovators,
entrepreneurs and investors
that call Tennessee home.”
Bill Haslam,
Tennessee Governor
LaunchTN is a public-private partnership that is funded in part under an agreement with the State of Tennessee.
Visit us online at LaunchTN.org
INCITE CO-INVESTMENT FUND
The INCITE Co-Investment Fund was created in 2011 as part of a state initiative to drive
growth and create knowledge-based jobs in Tennessee by encouraging investment in
developing small businesses. In its ?rst two years, the Fund augmented investments in
30 Tennessee companies, leveraging $57 million in outside capital into $77 million.
LaunchTN administers the Fund, which has $10 million to invest in 2014:
• Tier I: Seed Stage Investment – 25% match
• Tier II: Early/Growth Stage Investment – 20% match
• Tier III: Expansion Stage Investment – 15% match, capped at $3 million
CO-INVESTMENT PARTNERS
LaunchTN has partnered with over 40 local and out-of-state investment ?rms in addition
to over 40 angel investors.
HIGHLIGHTED INCITE COMPANIES
YouScience
Developer of Latitude, an online education and career assessment tool
for young people preparing to enter the workforce
iCitizen
Creator of an app that promotes civic and community engagement
Molecular Sensing
Creator of molecular biosensor technology for use in pharmaceuticals
Hubble Telemedical
Enabling earlier detection of systemic and debilitating diseases that manifest in the retina
$77 Million
matching funds invested
$10 Million
INCITE Co-Investment
funds available in 2014
Making Tennessee the #1 place in the Southeast for entrepreneurs to start and grow a company
Launch Tennessee brings together entrepreneurs, mentors, researchers and investors to
start and grow Tennessee’s most promising companies. We tap resources and investors
from across the state and the country to turn ideas into business.
One of the most effective ways we do this is through our events,
which include:
• Southland One of the country’s leading technology and
entrepreneur conferences
• Global Entrepreneurship Week Tennessee partners host
75+ events during GEW, the world’s largest celebration of
the innovators and job creators who launch startups
• Regional, local and sector-speci?c events
SOUTHLAND
Southland is one of the country’s leading conferences highlighting
the best in entrepreneurship, technology and southern culture.
It offers top startups from across the globe access to some of the
country’s leading investors, entreprenurs and technology thought
leaders. In 2014, 10 startups will also compete to win $100,000 in
funding awarded by a panel of expert investors and entreprenurs.
Launch Tennessee partners with leading tech media outlet
PandoDaily to co-produce the event.
Southland’s 2014 all-star speakers include:
• Former Vice President Al Gore
• PayPal President David Marcus
• Evernote CEO Phil Libin
• Bonobos Co-Founder & CEO Andy Dunn
OUTREACH & COMMUNICATIONS
Bill Hagerty, Commissioner, Tennessee
Department of Economic & Community
Development
LaunchTN is a public-private partnership that is funded in part under an agreement with the State of Tennessee.
Visit us online at LaunchTN.org
GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP WEEK
Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) is an annual
initiative that introduces people to entrepreneurship
and encourages them to explore their own ideas.
Launch Tennessee supports GEW by helping coordinate
statewide events highlighting entrepreneurship and
innovation.
GEW events in Tennessee include:
• Will This Float? CO.LAB - Chattanooga, TN
• Startup Day KEC - Knoxville, TN
• NEXT Awards Nashville EC - Nashville, TN
• 48 Hour Launch Biz Foundry - Cookeville, TN
• Ignite Memphis, Vol. 6 Start Co. - Memphis, TN
REGIONAL, LOCAL &
SECTOR-SPECIFIC EVENTS
Launch Tennessee hosts and attends events throughout the
state to promote entrepreneurship, connect startups with
sources of capital and help inventors commercialize their
ideas. The organization has been consistently recognized for
the quality and quantity of its outreach efforts.
Launch Tennessee events have generated signi?cant
media coverage, helping extend the reach of Tennessee’s
efforts to become the #1 state in the Southeast for
entrepreneurs to start and grow a business.
“Southland helps put a stamp
on Tennessee as a place
where there is a lot activity
around entrepreneurship
and in the early-stage capital
scene. At the end of the day,
we are doing this to attract
investors to look at our
companies so they can help
?ll that capital gap.”
Charlie Brock,
CEO of LaunchTN
10+ Million
people from 115 countries
have participated in GEW
since 2008
84
events held during
GEW in 2013
Top 5
for number of events held
during GEW for the third
year in a row
$980K+
PR/Marketing Value
650+ entrepreneur
events held across
Tennessee in 2013
Making Tennessee the #1 place in the Southeast for entrepreneurs to start and grow a company
CORPORATE ENGAGEMENT
Launch Tennessee helps established companies ?nd new paths to
innovation by connecting them to promising startups, inventors and
entrepreneurs.
We help companies and startups get connected using these programs:
INCI TE Co-Investment Fund Provides opportunity for corporate venture
arms to invest in Tennessee’s early-stage companies
R e g i onal Accelerators Tennessee companies provide program support,
mentorship and early product validation for startups
Reverse Pitch A role-reversal event that pairs companies with funded innovation
projects and quali?ed startups
The Connection Program Industry partners provide early-stage companies with market
feedback & potential customer data
Ven t ure Match Industry investors are matched with inventors and their technologies
INCITE CO-INVESTMENT FUND
What is INCITE?
INCITE is a co-investment fund that matches portions of investments
made in Tennessee-based startups in order to drive growth and create
jobs in the state.
How can companies get involved?
Corporate venture arms can leverage the INCITE Fund by applying to
be approved investors.
How much will it match?
INCITE matches 15-25% of the funds invested in approved startups.
“Tennessee’s nine regional
accelerators are the front
door for entrepreneurs in their
respective regions, providing
access to the entire network
and bridging the technology
and human resources gap
between our urban and rural
areas. By connecting urban
resources to rural opportunities,
Tennessee is creating a new
paradigm for building a
statewide entrepreneurial
support system.”
Charlie Brock,
CEO of LaunchTN
$10 Million
in matching funds available to
Tennessee companies in 2014
through INCITE
$430+ Million
venture investment in
Tennessee since 2012
LaunchTN is a public-private partnership that is funded in part under an agreement with the State of Tennessee.
Visit us online at LaunchTN.org
REVERSE PITCH
Reverse Pitch is a role-reversal event that pairs companies with funded innovation
projects and quali?ed startups. Launch Tennessee is collaborating with state and
regional partners to bring this unique platform for startup/industry partnerships to
Tennessee.
THE CONNECTION
The Connection programs introduce corporations to early-stage companies in need of
market feedback.
How?
Industry partners act as “portals” to their client portfolios & customize them to meet
speci?c startup needs.
Why?
The bene?t to startups is obvious: they gain access to feedback they usually couldn’t
gather until they become an established company. But corporate partners win, too.
They gain:
• Access to innovation
• Opportunities for strategic partnerships
• The ?rst chance to invest in startups they believe in
9 REGIONAL ACCELERATORS
Tennessee’s statewide accelerator network provides
opportunities for existing companies to engage in the
startup ecosystem.
Opportunities for engagement include:
• Providing early product validation as a customer
• Serving as mentors
• Offering ?nancial support for programs and events
VENTURE MATCH
Because Launch Tennessee is a statewide partnership with
public and private interests, we can connect investors to
the right inventors throughout the state.
We work with seven research institutions across the state
and offer customized technology presentations from each
for interested investors.
Tennessee Tech Transfer Of?ces
Tennessee Accelerator Network
doc_170388034.pdf