Launch Tennessee

Launch Tennessee is a Tennessee-based public-private partnership and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving as the state's central hub for startup support and innovation development. The organization operates at the intersection of entrepreneurship, technology advancement, and economic development, with a mission centered on empowering innovators across Tennessee through three core pillars: Capital, Connections, and Commercialization. While not a CPG manufacturer or supplier, Launch Tennessee plays a significant role in the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem that may include emerging food, beverage, and consumer goods startups seeking early-stage support. On the capital side, Launch Tennessee administers and facilitates investment activity including the $70-million InvestTN fund, provides insight and networking through its Southeast Capital Call initiative, and offers paid internship programs that inject talent into early-stage ventures. The organization is uniquely positioned as both a direct investor and a facilitator of collaboration among founders, investors, researchers, private sector companies, and government entities. This dual role allows it to bridge funding gaps that often hinder early-stage companies from scaling. Through its Connections pillar, Launch Tennessee hosts 3686, described as Tennessee's premier annual entrepreneurship conference, which serves as a landmark gathering point for innovators, investors, and ecosystem supporters statewide. The organization also maintains partnerships with entrepreneur centers across Tennessee, building a statewide network that supports the innovation economy. Talent pipeline development is a key focus, executed through internship and fellowship programs that connect students and emerging professionals with growth-stage companies. In the area of Commercialization, Launch Tennessee supports researchers and entrepreneurs as they transition ideas from laboratory settings to market-ready products. Services include grant-writing support, assistance landing funding, SBIR/STTR (Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer) program navigation, technology transfer facilitation, and access to industry network partners. These commercialization services are particularly relevant to deep-tech, life sciences, and emerging consumer product innovators who require structured pathways from research to revenue. Launch Tennessee also emphasizes mentorship, marketing support, and strategic partnerships as tools for fostering long-term entrepreneurship and workforce development. The organization's values prioritize accessibility, inclusion, collaboration, and a people-first approach, which inform its programming and partnership philosophy across all initiatives.