As my CoPilot sees February '25

OPEN - Taking applications through March 21 for 12-week hybrid Memphis program focused on "Business Essentials for Food and Beverage Application," conducted by Chattanooga-based PROOF Incubator alongside Memphis Medical District Collaborative. Approved applicants will be notified by March 28, and the course launches April 14. First and last sessions are in-person, the balance will be virtual. Appy here.

OPEN - Rural Business Accelerator Program, Dyersburg's The Mill Workspace. Apply now for April 3 start, IF you're ready to push growth of your business and are based in Benton, Carroll, Crockett, Dyer, Gibson, Henry, Lake, Obion or Weakley counties. Backed by The Mill and DaSilva Consulting.

AHEAD: FEBRUARY 2025

4 The Biz Foundry - Startup Business Bootcamp is Feb. 4-27. A couple seats open as-of this posting. More here.

4 Epicenter Memphis: The Capital Readiness Accelerator - Applications for 6-week classroom-style accelerator focused on fundraising efforts for business growth open Feb. 4 and close March 4, with program starting March 18.

5 Nashville Entrepreneur Center, "Pivoting for Purpose: Making Purpose your Business, Speaker: Tammy Lewis Wilborn PhD, MDiv. 11:30am-12:30pm.

5-7 Memphis-based AgLaunch Initiative's AgLaunch365 cohort of 10 agtech startups pitch this month in Kansas City, then again March 1 in Memphis. Details.

6 "Wall Street View on Prospects for the Healthcare Industry," Nashville Health Care Council, 3pm-6:30pm. Members only. Details.

6 Within Vanderbilt's The Wond'ry Innovation Center, the Climate Innovation Accelerator is kicking-off its Spring 2025 Cohort. The Wond'ry-hosted event draws upon universities, small businesses and nonprofits seeking a "climate positive future" through a cohort-learning journey. In future, the program may accept further client enterprises and "innovation professionals [who] have a heart for community and a head for novel solutions." Spring 2025 Cohort Program Overview.

6 Nashville Entrepreneur Center - Free Coffee / Connections / CoWork Day. Companies with traction can register now.

7-8 Epicenter Memphis - Innovate Xcelerate Design Thinking Workshop, facilitated by Ty Smith. One possible outcome of this experience: "...founders are empowered to align their vision with user-centric strategies, fostering creativity and a deep understanding of their target audience."

Silas Deane

12 Nashville serial entrepreneur Silas Deane appears at The Round, within Factory Building 2 in Franklin. 8:30am-10am. The Round is venue for an ongoing series of workshops for local entrepreneurs. Deane sold his fintech startup, VendEngine, to Tyler Technologies in 2021. The program is a production of Harbor + Union, a business growth hub. Free, details.

13 Nashville Entrepreneur Center Lunch and Learn, "Legal Considerations for Startups," 11:30am-1:30pm.

13 Chattanooga Founder Forum luncheon, free to local founders, Noon til 1pm EST.

16-19 ViVE 2025 in Nashville is "a digital health event focused on the business of transformation in healthcare" and drawing C-suite execs, digital health leaders and buyers, health startups and investors, policymakers, the patient community, and solution providers. Speakers. Venue: Music City Center.

18 Global Health Innovators Breakfast in partnership with ECHAlliance, sponsored by Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, HLTH Community, Womble Bond Dickinson and Allee Advisory Services. Presenters, Bleddyn Rees, chair, The Digital Health Society; and, Eric Thrailkill, U.S. Executive Director, ECHAlliance, and Allee Advisors principal. 8AM-9:30AM. (This event may be sold out.)

18 Hustle Fund's Angel Squad are key elements in the impending Batter Up! Nashville pitch competition. The window for applications to take a slot in the batter lineup closes Feb. 11. Nashville Entrepreneur Center and BuildInSE are also involved.

19 6th Annual Nashville Smart Business Dealmakers Conference and Honors Program for entrepreneurs, investors and advisers, Hillwood Country Club, Nashville. Two-dozen speakers and panelists, plus local Honorees and Hall of Fame inductees. Scroll down here for Speakers, Day's Agenda (click on session titles), Nashville Host Committee, Honorees and Sponsors.

19 "Fundraising Foundations" lunch and learn, 11am-1pm, with MedHaul Inc. Founder Erica Plybeah, at Epicenter Memphis, 150 Peabody Place.

19 Nashville Entrepreneur Center Project Fintech Monthly Meetup, featuring Brian Fox, Dave Malone, 9:30am-10:30am details here. Project Fintech & Project Healthcare First Look, both cohorts pitch, 4pm-6pm details here.

22 "Mastering Investor Diligence," presented by a founder and investor team appearing at Epicenter Memphis, 150 Peabody Pl, Memphis, 11a.m.-2p.m. Details, registration here.

24 Nashville (Curb Center, Belmont) & Memphis (UMemphis): Bizwomen Mentoring Monday, 7:30am-11:30am, Feb. 24, registrations close Feb. 20. Convened by Nashville and Memphis Business Journals (ABJ).

24-28 Launch Tennessee Innovation Week - A wide range of special events at Meharry Medical College, events with state legislators, and more, including an Innovation Showcase. Details.

25 Greater Nashville Venture Capital Association (GNVCA) Policy series: Congressional leadership, federal policies affecting private capital. (Virtual) Features Moderator Ed Perlmutter of Holland & Knight, as well as Ashlyn Roberts and Carolina Schellhas, who are vice presidents for government affairs within the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA). This is, we're told, the only program during the balance of CY 2025 that is projected to be open to non-GNVCA members.

27 Nashville Health Care Council, 3:30pm-5pm, Crucial Conversations: Intersection of Economic Development and Health. Speakers are drawn from NashvilleHealth, the Nashville Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, and Ballad Health.

27 The Circular Economy: GAME Change Workshop & Summit, Vanderbilt Student Life Center 8:30 a.m.-3:15pm. VU Student Life Center. Related.

27 Nashville Technology Council annual NTC AWARDS program. Country Music Hall of Fame.

27 AgLaunch Portfolio Showcase & Demo Day at Crosstown Concourse, Memphis, 1pm-10:30pm CST.

28 "What's the Big Idea," pitch competition weekend begins in Knoxville, with Finale, Sunday, March 2.

NOTE: We've reported on a good number of these organizations and subjects, so scroll down further for the list of metatags and explore. VNC

. lasted edited 0613 4 February 2025 CST