Knoxville Entrepreneur Center

Are you ready to scale your startup? KEC's Chris McAdoo and Lead Insight Advisor Haseeb Qureshi - HQ are here to tell you to apply to The WORKS if you have a early-stage software, technology, and tech-enabled company! Over eight weeks, founders will engage with industry leaders, seasoned mentors, and investors, gaining the tools and confidence to refine their business models, strengthen go-to-market strategies, and craft an investable pitch deck. Applications close April 11th! Learn more at: https://lnkd.in/evQVmCSi

April marks KEC's 12th anniversary of operation and we are busier than ever! Connect with the KEC community through any of the events and programs listed below. April 1 – Inflection Point April 8 – Women in Entrepreneurship  April 8 – Inflection Point April 9 – Entrepreneurship Panel with KEC Staff at UTK Marketing and Sales Innovation Conference & Awards April 11 – Applications Close for The WORKS April 11- Applications Close for KEC 101 April 15th – Inflection Point April 15th – The Grant Blueprint: From Idea to Award April 16th – Unlocking Business Funding: Navigating the Lending Landscape for Small Businesses  April 25-27 – The Maker Experience hosted by The Maker City at Dogwood Arts, Inc. Festival You can find application and registration links on our website. https://lnkd.in/e5uPiAB8

As we celebrate our 12th birthday this week, we have to give a shoutout to our longest running business accelerator, The WORKS! Since 2013, Knoxville Entrepreneur Center has worked with a broad range of startups, including everything from Medical Data Technology, Retail POS integration, Accounting, and Storage Unit Management. 90 companies have participated in KEC accelerator programs and have raised over 150 million dollars in private capital. Applications are still open to for early-stage software, technology, and tech-enabled companies ready for scale in Knoxville! Join us for 8 weeks this summer and engage with industry leaders, seasoned mentors, and investors, and gain the tools and confidence to refine your business models, strengthen go-to-market strategies, and craft an investable pitch deck. Applications close April 11! https://lnkd.in/evQVmCSi Photo By: Katelyn Biefeldt

KEC has 12 years of community building under our belt and we couldn't do it without people like Lisa Skinner. Lisa was one of the founders of our Women in Entrepreneurship and is now a great resource to the Official KEC Mentor Network. She shares about the importance of having guidance along the way in her entrepreneurship journey and how she wants to continue to impact those in our community as well. Connect with a mentor by applying today! https://lnkd.in/exF9yEdS

April 2025 marks twelve years of the Knoxville Entrepreneur Center! From the very first day of being open and over the years we have had many people pass through the KEC office for countless events, classes, programs or consultations. We want to say THANK YOU to all of you who have been with us along for the journey! For our birthday this year, we are asking for... Google reviews. Help us grow for the next decade, by allowing us to reach more people! Please take a moment to write out a review on Google. Add photos to the review to help make sure it gets seen when people are searching for entrepreneur information in Knoxville!

Applications are OPEN for THE WORKS, KEC's startup accelerator, and AV Verekar, founder of Avero Advisors, is here to tell you why you can't afford to miss it! “The WORKS 2025 accelerator is designed for founders who are ready to move beyond theory and into execution. If you’re serious about growth, customer experience, and market impact, this is where you need to be.” – Abhijit Verekar (AV), Founder & CEO, Avèro Advisors and WORKS Lead Growth Advisor. AV knows growth – Avero Advisors has landed multiple INC 5000 honors, and Avero is a trusted expert in modernizing organizations and governments across the country. Don’t miss your chance to learn from one of the best! Apply Now by April 11th! https://lnkd.in/evQVmCSi

Your brand is more than just a logo - it’s the stories people tell when you’re not in the room. On this episode of the #BigIdeasWelcome podcast, KEC's Chris McAdoo sits down with William Malkes Sr and Tommy Nguyen to break down what makes branding truly powerful in a crowded, noisy market. 🔹 Bill shares how servant leadership and customer-focused innovation helped Cubic | GRIDSMART go global. 🔹 Tommy dives into StoragePug’s “Fun, Fast, Familiar” approach, proving that authenticity builds lasting customer relationships. Branding isn’t just about looking good—it’s about being unforgettable. Tune in to learn how to make your brand your biggest asset. Listen wherever you stream your podcasts and watch the full episode on YouTube. bigideaswelcome.com This podcast is made possible by K Brew and produced by Palm Tree Pod Co. #BigIdeasWelcome #KnoxvilleEntrepreneur #TheMakerCity #Entrepreneurship #Placemaking #CreativeEconomy #Innovation #Knoxville

Starting Your Business 101 isn’t your parent’s business plan class. This is an action-driven, collaborative process with a small and supportive group of like-minded entrepreneurs, led by a facilitator who’ll introduce concepts and help you immediately put them to work. We’ll discuss concepts, problems and solutions during class; you’ll apply them to your project or business during the week; and we’ll review and fine-tune together. You’ll leave this five week program with a better understanding of how to create a viable business. Applications are now open! https://lnkd.in/eBmgzmJF

We have an exciting season of big ideas ahead of us. Take a moment to subscribe to the Big Ideas Welcome Podcast so you never miss an episode. Now streaming on your favorite platform and online at bigideaswelcome.com. You can catch all the episodes on youtube too.

Haslam College of Business at the University of Tennessee is hosting the second annual Marketing & Sales Innovation Conference on April 9-10th! Build lasting network connections, explore impactful thought leadership and shape the future of marketing and sales. https://lnkd.in/ghNfRDZg