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AHEAD: MARCH 2025

3 Epicenter, Alchemist Accelerator Hub and Memphis supply-chain industry invite startups and other innovators to participate in 2025 Logistics Opportunity Challenge. Applications window opens today. Full details. (VNC 2024 coverage.)

3-4 Bank Automation Summit, "The future of AI and Banking" in Nashville, with numerous speakers and judges including Brittani Roberts of Nashville-based fintech investor FINTOP Capital. The Summit's Demo Challenge sponsor is Revtech Labs. Previous VNC Revtech coverage.

3-6 Oracle Customer Edge Summit 2025 is March 3-4. In parallel, on March 4-6 there's the OUUG event: the 16TH Annual Oracle Utilities User Group Conference, Grand Hyatt Nashville.

4 Epicenter Capital Readiness Accelerator, a six-week Memphis program beginning March 18, application window closes March 4. Registration.

4 Tennessee Governor Bill Lee Addresses Nashville Chamber. Details.

4 U.S. President Donald Trump before Joint Session of Congress 8pmCT

4 Nashville delegation panel is at NEXUS Leeds for West Yorkshire (UK) Innovation Festival to discuss West Yorkshire-Nashville Health Innovation Bridge. Read about it.

4-6 Vanderbilt University Convoy Conference takes place this week, as reported here. Entrepreneur Mark Cuban is a keynoter.

5 Epicenter: Women Innovating Memphis: Then & Now. Panelists include Regina Whitley of the Memphis IT Council and Kathryn Hicks of BVO. Kontji Anthony moderates. Details.

5 ENERGY: Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council (TAEBC) Annual Meeting, 1pm-5pm, in Franklin, Tenn. Event info here and here.

5 The Wond'ry Innovation Center Open Mike 12pm-1:15pm CT. VIRTUAL. NSF MidSouth I-Corps Hub invites aspiring innovators to present business, technology, nonprofit or other inventions to entrepreneurial experts and mentors.

5-6 "AI Days" by Vanderbilt University program open to the public, as well as students, researchers, et al, including representatives of at least 11 VU units with AI roles. Background | Agenda.

7-9 Epicenter Memphis: Innovate Xcelerate Hackathon hosted by CodeCrew. 4pm-9pm. "This event focuses on innovative solutions in climate tech, clean energy, cybersecurity, logistics, med tech, and other unique creative solutions that drive positive change in local and global communities. We aim to empower underrepresented innovators and ideators by providing a platform for them to collaborate, create, and inspire change." Register here.

8-14 SXSW Festival, Austin, is the scene of (a) LaunchTN's "Tennessee House" activation, read more about it here; and (b) the NSF Midsouth Hub's SXSW Immersive Cohort 1 | 2 | 3 .

9 The application window is open through March 9 for The Wond'ry's Virtual Builder Program for VU alumni, students, faculty and staff based anywhere. VU says Builder's perfect for, e.g., graduates of a Regional NSF I-Corps Program, such as the Sullivan Family Ideator Program; entrepreneurs who have "a validated product, technology, or service that have already engaged in customer discovery efforts, found a product-solution fit and would like to learn how to launch a new non-profit or for-profit venture or pursue a licensing deal." Formation of this program was supported by VentureWell. Click to apply for Builder.

11 The Company Lab, Chattanooga, spearheads the Rural Entrepreneurship Summit at Stophel Center on the Bryan College campus in Dayton, Tenn. Event targets "any legislative, economic or ecosystem leaders in the counties of Bledsoe, Bradley, Grundy, Hamilton, Marion, McMinn, Meigs, Polk, Rhea, and Sequatchie." Sponsors include Pathway Lending, Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative, Chattanooga Area Chamber, Rhea County Economic & Tourism Council.

11 Tennessee Flavors event No. 13 highlights state's top restaurants and food and beverage artisans as a fundraising effort for Nashville State Community College Foundation, 6pm, in Metro Nashville's Antioch.

11-14 FINTECH Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) runs its ICBA LIVE event in Nashville's Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center. The span includes the halfday 35th Annual Bank Director Current Issues Seminar. NOTE: ICBA positions and resources regarding Innovation, Payments and Banking Technology here and here.

13 LaunchTN "InvestTN" investment programs holds virtual "Ask Me Anything" session, 10AM-1130AM, register here.

13 Powered By Her Luncheon at The Biz Foundry. This interactive session in Cookeville will give you the chance to share experiences, gain insights, and connect with other women who understand the highs and lows of entrepreneurship. Walk away with fresh perspectives, practical solutions, and a renewed sense of support from a community that gets it.

16/20 Hewlett Packard Enterprise 2025 Amplified Partner Conference showcases HP products and services and addresses HP's view of the future of technology. This Nashville event was in Las Vegas in 2024.

17/31 The Belmont Entrepreneur Awards commemorate the achievements of Belmont's Top 100 Alumni Entrepreneurs of 2024. Register to attend not later than March 17. Event is 9 p.m., March 31.

18 Applications window closes for Knoxville Entrepreneur Center 100Knnoxville program.

20 Memphis: Epicenter Live! 6pm-8pm Pitches from founders of SweetBio, MiCare Path, PopCheck Technologies, and MedHaul, plus music, food and spirits.

20 VU School of Engineering 2025 Chambers Family Entrepreneurial Lecture by Eduardo Fernandez Holmann, managing director Grupo Ayucus.

21 Pitch & Connect Workshop supports UoMemphis students with entrepreneurial ideas. Crews Center for Entrepreneurship.

21 Deadline for application for PROOF's hybrid inperson-and-virtual series for founders of food and beverage businesses. The Memphis program begins April 14. Register here. (Other Proof workshops here.)

25 Application deadline for Fly! Mocs Business Plan Competition, which goes live April 4. University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

26 "Embracing Disruption: AI, ML, and the Future of Human Productivity" event hosted by Curated Automation and sponsored by Smartsheet. 3pm-5pm. Venue: Nashville EC. Details and registration.

26 Memphis: Capital conversation and dinner: Lessons from the Frontlines, program hosted by Epicenter Memphis with Junior Achievement. Includes panel of founders who raised capital and who'll share stories of their journeys, challenges and wins. The panel is expected to "explore the unique fundraising experiences of Tennessee-based entrepreneurs and provide invaluable advice on how to break through visible and invisible barriers and access funding."

28 Deadline for advance registration for Vanderbilt University leaders' "Dare to Grow" initiative briefing in Boston showcasing "Vanderbilt's exciting trajectory as we build our future and claim our place as the great university of the 21st century." Event: 6:30pm April 1 at Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

SELECTED FUTURES

April 8 -- Tech Talent at Scale event by Nashville Innovation Alliance, focused on world-class skills and expertise needed to upskill Greater Nashville workforce.

April 10-11 -- Vanderbilt Summit on Modern Conflict & Emerging Threats (AI is emphasized this year), details.

April 16 -- Tech Talk & Luncheon: Omnimics: Executive Playbook for Artificial Intelligence, at Nashville Technology Council, with panelists including author, entrepreneur, instructor and former NTC CEO Tod Fetherling, ORNL's Prasanna Balaprakash PhD, and VUMC's Ed Marx MBA. More info and registration.

April 17 -- Board of Directors Meeting (public) Tennessee Technology Development Corporation dba Launch Tennessee, 10am CT.

April 22 -- Project Fintech of Nashville Entrepreneur Center participates in RevTech Labs' NYC fintech-insurtech pitch and showcase. More here.

April 24 -- "The State of the Market" panel discussion, Greater Nashville Venture Capital Association, moderated by Stuart McWhorter.

April 30 -- Deadline for nominations for Nashville Entrepreneur Center NEXT Awards, details.

May 12-13 -- REUTERS Digital Health USA 2025 in Nashville. More.

June 22-25 -- American Society of Health Economists 14th Annual Conference, Grand Hyatt Nashville.

Summer 2025 -- Timeframe tentatively planned for Nashville Entrepreneur Center's First Alumni in-gathering.

July 20-22 -- American Hospital Association Leadership Summit, Nashville.

September 9-11 -- Launch Tennessee annual 3686 Festival, Nashville.

September 29-October 3 Nashville Healthcare Sessions Week, details.

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. (Also see March 11 entry in calendar below for related Company Lab event in Dayton, Tenn.)

OPEN University of Memphis's Crews Center for Entrepreneurship Tiger Tank annual Shark Tank-style pitch competition among business-venture ideas - application deadline is April 4. Sample app form. On separate tracks: Cordell Jackson Music Ventures Fund; and, ad-hoc Mentoring for UofM students with ideas that could leverage insights and-or solve problems.

OPEN TennSMART's Tennessee Smart Mobility EXPO (April 2-3 in Nashville) is now taking sponsorship applications. VNC

. last edited 1319 3 March 2025