MEDIA ADVISORY
September 18-22, 2017
Contact: Deborah Robbins
Deborah@piper-communications.com
865-329-0553
Knoxville’s Startup Day Celebrates Five Years
Innov865 Week returns September 18 – 22, promises jam-packed week of events celebrating entrepreneurship in Knoxville
Knoxville’s fifth annual Startup Day, an event that celebrates Knoxville’s entrepreneurial spirit, will be held Thursday, September 21 at the U.S. Cellular Stage at The Bijou Theatre in downtown Knoxville. Innov865 Alliance members and startup competitors are available now for media interviews in advance of the event.
Startup Day is the signature event of Innov865 Week 2017, which takes place from September 18-22, 2017. The week will kick-off on Monday with Future865, an event that will explore opportunities to help Knoxville leverage its assets to become THE destination for entrepreneurs in the Southeast. Other scheduled activities will be held throughout the week leading up to Startup Day on September 21.
This year’s Startup Day will feature a fireside chat with Charlie Brock, CEO of Launch Tennessee and Mark Montgomery, Entrepreneur/Investor/Change Agent; power pitches from six Knoxville-area startups competing for a cash prize of up to $15,000, including the Startup Day 2017 Crowd Favorite Prize presented by SunTrust Bank; and awarding of the 2017 Innov865 Traction Award presented by UT Federal Credit Union to a Startup Day alum who has made the most progress.
Where:
Startup Day 2017, U.S. Cellular Stage at The Bijou Theatre, 803 S. Gay St.
When:
Startup Day 2017 is Thursday, September 21, 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Innov865 Week is September 18-22, 2017 with events throughout Knoxville
Contact: To schedule advanced interviews, an on-site interview, or remote coverage, please contact Deborah Robbins at deborah@piper-communications.com or 865-329-0553; Cortney Piper at cortney@piper-communications.com or 865-789-2669
Startup Day 2017 is Innov865 Week’s signature event. The weeklong series of events celebrates Knoxville’s entrepreneurial spirit by bringing 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 brand that represents a commitment to yearlong collaboration to develop, support, and promote the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Founding members of the Innov865 Alliance include the University of Tennessee Research Foundation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, PYA, UT’s Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Three Roots Capital, Tennessee Valley Authority, Launch Tennessee, and Knoxville Entrepreneur Center. To learn more, visit http://innov865.com/.
