The Nashville Entrepreneur Center
Programs
Budget
$135,885.00
Description
Project FinTech is Tennessee's FinTech mentor network and accelerator program. The 9-month FinTech + BankTech program offers tech founders the benefit of community, curriculum, and connection with exited FinTech EiRs, champion mentors, and subject-matter experts who want to help them achieve commercialization. The inaugural accelerator program kicks off on August 2, 2023.
Beneficiaries
General Public
Adults
Program Areas Served
United States
$135,885.00
Description
Project FinTech is Tennessee's FinTech mentor network and accelerator program. The 9-month FinTech + BankTech program offers tech founders the benefit of community, curriculum, and connection with exited FinTech EiRs, champion mentors, and subject-matter experts who want to help them achieve commercialization. The inaugural accelerator program kicks off on August 2, 2023.
Beneficiaries
General Public
Adults
Program Areas Served
United States
Budget
$34,345.00
Description
PreFlight walks step-by-step with early stage founders, empowering them with the knowledge and support to bring their businesses to life. With dedicated advisors, access to the full EC advisor network, resource library, and coworking space, PreFlight helps lay the foundation for entrepreneurs, with the opportunity to participate in and pitch at the final showcase event.
Program Successes
PreFlight has served 561 founders between 2014-2022. In 2022, PreFlight helped 37 founders raise $60K in capital, create 8 jobs, and generate $250K in revenue.
Jasmine Valentine, a PreFlight graduate shares:
"The PreFlight program surpassed my expectations by bringing together a community of peers who were all experiencing the challenges of exploring and testing new ideas. Through this program, we had access to accomplished and influential entrepreneurs who created and sold successful businesses. They generously shared their experience and expertise, and coached us through the crucial steps of evaluating new ideas.
As a result of the amazing support received from peers and mentors, I am excited to announce the launch of my company, With Clarity; a digital financial wellness platform created to bring financial clarity and wellness to the masses."
Beneficiaries
General Public
Adults
Program Areas Served
Middle Tennessee
$34,345.00
Description
PreFlight walks step-by-step with early stage founders, empowering them with the knowledge and support to bring their businesses to life. With dedicated advisors, access to the full EC advisor network, resource library, and coworking space, PreFlight helps lay the foundation for entrepreneurs, with the opportunity to participate in and pitch at the final showcase event.
Program Successes
PreFlight has served 561 founders between 2014-2022. In 2022, PreFlight helped 37 founders raise $60K in capital, create 8 jobs, and generate $250K in revenue.
Jasmine Valentine, a PreFlight graduate shares:
"The PreFlight program surpassed my expectations by bringing together a community of peers who were all experiencing the challenges of exploring and testing new ideas. Through this program, we had access to accomplished and influential entrepreneurs who created and sold successful businesses. They generously shared their experience and expertise, and coached us through the crucial steps of evaluating new ideas.
As a result of the amazing support received from peers and mentors, I am excited to announce the launch of my company, With Clarity; a digital financial wellness platform created to bring financial clarity and wellness to the masses."
Beneficiaries
General Public
Adults
Program Areas Served
Middle Tennessee
Budget
$49,991.00
Description
InFlight is a 9-month long accelerator program that equips founders with the knowledge, connections, and resources to achieve rapid growth with hands-on support and feedback from local business leaders who have "been there, done that." To date, cohort participants experience an average of 62% revenue growth and 83% full time employee growth throughout their time in the program.
Program Successes
InFlight has served 64 founders between 2018-2022.
In 2022, InFlight helped 9 founders raise $500K in capital, create 30 jobs, and generate $4.2M in revenue.
Ira Akers, an InFlight graduate, shares:
"InFlight has had a tremendous impact on the growth of CUE. This year, we added to our list of D1 teams closing multiple professional contracts in the NFL, NHL, and NBA. Our app was used in the NCAA Final Four National Championship game, we made another acquisition, and our team grew from 20 to 52 employees.
With unparalleled access to resources, mentorship, and events, I feel very fortunate to be part of such a dynamic and collaborative community at the EC. The entrepreneurs, investors, and advisors have been a valuable source of insight and encouragement, while building my business.
I look forward to giving back to the community and to helping other entrepreneurs on their own journeys."
Beneficiaries
General Public
Adults
Program Areas Served
Middle Tennessee
$49,991.00
Description
InFlight is a 9-month long accelerator program that equips founders with the knowledge, connections, and resources to achieve rapid growth with hands-on support and feedback from local business leaders who have "been there, done that." To date, cohort participants experience an average of 62% revenue growth and 83% full time employee growth throughout their time in the program.
Program Successes
InFlight has served 64 founders between 2018-2022.
In 2022, InFlight helped 9 founders raise $500K in capital, create 30 jobs, and generate $4.2M in revenue.
Ira Akers, an InFlight graduate, shares:
"InFlight has had a tremendous impact on the growth of CUE. This year, we added to our list of D1 teams closing multiple professional contracts in the NFL, NHL, and NBA. Our app was used in the NCAA Final Four National Championship game, we made another acquisition, and our team grew from 20 to 52 employees.
With unparalleled access to resources, mentorship, and events, I feel very fortunate to be part of such a dynamic and collaborative community at the EC. The entrepreneurs, investors, and advisors have been a valuable source of insight and encouragement, while building my business.
I look forward to giving back to the community and to helping other entrepreneurs on their own journeys."
Beneficiaries
General Public
Adults
Program Areas Served
Middle Tennessee
Budget
$317,212.00
Description
Twende is a 9-month virtual statewide accelerator program providing Black and Latine entrepreneurs with curriculum, coaching, and community to do business with corporate and government clients.
In 2022, the Twende Accelerator redesigned its programming to also begin building a supplier diversity pilot that connects stakeholders and procurement leaders with diverse entrepreneurs across Tennessee. Twende helps founders accelerate growth by securing opportunities with the world's largest buyers: government and corporate entities.
Program Successes
Twende has served 85 founders between 2020-2022. In 2022, Twende helped 50 founders raise $173K in capital, create 38 jobs, and generate $2.2M in revenue.
Danielle Buntyon, a Twende graduate, shares:
"Once I was accepted into the program, I was amazed at all the different business owners and the amount of support they provided. The Nashville EC opened their arms and welcomed me in and provided me the space in Nashville to come to work. The EC held several events that placed me and other members of the cohort in rooms we would never have gotten to alone and that has pushed us to be very real about our business.
At the end of the Twende program, we were offered the opportunity to apply for a $10K grant known as the ReGenerate grant. I feel very blessed and honored to have been chosen as a recipient. My company has benefited greatly, and we were able to utilize the grant funds to contract social media managers, hire employees, and purchase equipment to expand the range of products."
Beneficiaries
Adults
Minorities
Program Areas Served
Tennessee
$317,212.00
Description
Twende is a 9-month virtual statewide accelerator program providing Black and Latine entrepreneurs with curriculum, coaching, and community to do business with corporate and government clients.
In 2022, the Twende Accelerator redesigned its programming to also begin building a supplier diversity pilot that connects stakeholders and procurement leaders with diverse entrepreneurs across Tennessee. Twende helps founders accelerate growth by securing opportunities with the world's largest buyers: government and corporate entities.
Program Successes
Twende has served 85 founders between 2020-2022. In 2022, Twende helped 50 founders raise $173K in capital, create 38 jobs, and generate $2.2M in revenue.
Danielle Buntyon, a Twende graduate, shares:
"Once I was accepted into the program, I was amazed at all the different business owners and the amount of support they provided. The Nashville EC opened their arms and welcomed me in and provided me the space in Nashville to come to work. The EC held several events that placed me and other members of the cohort in rooms we would never have gotten to alone and that has pushed us to be very real about our business.
At the end of the Twende program, we were offered the opportunity to apply for a $10K grant known as the ReGenerate grant. I feel very blessed and honored to have been chosen as a recipient. My company has benefited greatly, and we were able to utilize the grant funds to contract social media managers, hire employees, and purchase equipment to expand the range of products."
Beneficiaries
Adults
Minorities
Program Areas Served
Tennessee
Budget
$35,071.00
Description
Through Project Music & Entertainment (PME), founders gain access to our extensive network of entertainment connections and leverage them to foster innovation, nurture growth, and drive the future of the entertainment industry.
Project Music & Entertainment was originally created in 2015 to be an Accelerator Program. In 2022, we paused the nationwide, year-long, early-stage cohort model to address a direct need within the local community.
After completing a needs assessment with local founders, we created a monthly meeting for peer connections, facilitated discussion, and/or industry speakers to accelerate learning and growth. This new networking-focused program model proved to be valuable for the founders.
Program Successes
Project Music & Entertainment has served 81 founders between 2015-2022. In 2022, Project Music and Entertainment helped 14 founders raise $32M in funding and generate $3M in recurring revenue.
Marcus Blackwell, a Project Music and Entertainment graduate, shares:
"My greatest appreciation from the EC program was that it helped me realize and start investigating the value that my math app brings to the music industry and media space.s Since then we've partnered with Cartoon Network to showcase theme songs of movies in our app as math lessons and that has opened up opportunities to do the same with other media companies.
In 2023, I'm looking forward to scaling the impact of our app by partnering with more school districts to use our app as a supplementary resource for math classes, music classes, and after school enrichment programs. Then lastly securing more partnerships with media companies so we always have the latest musical content to engage the students who use our app."
Beneficiaries
General Public
Adults
Program Areas Served
Middle TN
$35,071.00
Description
Through Project Music & Entertainment (PME), founders gain access to our extensive network of entertainment connections and leverage them to foster innovation, nurture growth, and drive the future of the entertainment industry.
Project Music & Entertainment was originally created in 2015 to be an Accelerator Program. In 2022, we paused the nationwide, year-long, early-stage cohort model to address a direct need within the local community.
After completing a needs assessment with local founders, we created a monthly meeting for peer connections, facilitated discussion, and/or industry speakers to accelerate learning and growth. This new networking-focused program model proved to be valuable for the founders.
Program Successes
Project Music & Entertainment has served 81 founders between 2015-2022. In 2022, Project Music and Entertainment helped 14 founders raise $32M in funding and generate $3M in recurring revenue.
Marcus Blackwell, a Project Music and Entertainment graduate, shares:
"My greatest appreciation from the EC program was that it helped me realize and start investigating the value that my math app brings to the music industry and media space.s Since then we've partnered with Cartoon Network to showcase theme songs of movies in our app as math lessons and that has opened up opportunities to do the same with other media companies.
In 2023, I'm looking forward to scaling the impact of our app by partnering with more school districts to use our app as a supplementary resource for math classes, music classes, and after school enrichment programs. Then lastly securing more partnerships with media companies so we always have the latest musical content to engage the students who use our app."
Beneficiaries
General Public
Adults
Program Areas Served
Middle TN
Budget
$168,095.00
Description
Project Healthcare is a leading healthcare accelerator program with a national reach. This 9-month initiative supports the success of high-growth founders in the healthcare industry by providing unmatched access to industry giants, mentorship from top tier industry experts, tailored hands-on curriculum, and peer-to-peer learning.
At Project Healthcare, we're on a mission to grow the ecosystem of support for entrepreneurs and founders who are driving innovation in the healthcare industry. Likes spokes on a wheel, this ecosystem is designed to work in concert, accelerating growth of companies in this program through curriculum, events, workshops, and intentional thought leadership activities.
Program Successes
Project Healthcare has served 81 founders between 2017-2022. In 2022, Project Healthcare helped 16 founders raise $2.6M in capital, create 58 jobs, and generate $1M in revenue.
An Israeli founded start up participating in Project Healthcare may seem like an unusual match. The story highlights what many of us know about the Nashvillian ethos, experts in Nashville are more than willing to make the next introduction to help founders find success, and that is exactly how Briya landed in Nashville.
Briya co-founders, David Lazerson and Guy Tish, along with their U.S. General Manager, Pam Holt, knew Briya's success and key market would be in the U.S. Hold, who served as a strategic advisor to the co-founders during the conceptualization and build process before launch, tapped into the wisdom of Eric Thrailkill, which led to participation in Project Healthcare and Brita's decision to base its U.S. headquarters in Nashville.
Beneficiaries
General Public
Adults
Program Areas Served
United States
$168,095.00
Description
Project Healthcare is a leading healthcare accelerator program with a national reach. This 9-month initiative supports the success of high-growth founders in the healthcare industry by providing unmatched access to industry giants, mentorship from top tier industry experts, tailored hands-on curriculum, and peer-to-peer learning.
At Project Healthcare, we're on a mission to grow the ecosystem of support for entrepreneurs and founders who are driving innovation in the healthcare industry. Likes spokes on a wheel, this ecosystem is designed to work in concert, accelerating growth of companies in this program through curriculum, events, workshops, and intentional thought leadership activities.
Program Successes
Project Healthcare has served 81 founders between 2017-2022. In 2022, Project Healthcare helped 16 founders raise $2.6M in capital, create 58 jobs, and generate $1M in revenue.
An Israeli founded start up participating in Project Healthcare may seem like an unusual match. The story highlights what many of us know about the Nashvillian ethos, experts in Nashville are more than willing to make the next introduction to help founders find success, and that is exactly how Briya landed in Nashville.
Briya co-founders, David Lazerson and Guy Tish, along with their U.S. General Manager, Pam Holt, knew Briya's success and key market would be in the U.S. Hold, who served as a strategic advisor to the co-founders during the conceptualization and build process before launch, tapped into the wisdom of Eric Thrailkill, which led to participation in Project Healthcare and Brita's decision to base its U.S. headquarters in Nashville.
Beneficiaries
General Public
Adults
Program Areas Served
United States
