What is Startup Day?
Innov865 Week’s premier event, Startup Day, is an annual pitch competition and celebration of Knoxville’s thriving entrepreneurial community on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. Doors open at 1:00 p.m.
At the competition, six Knoxville startups will pitch before a live audience and panel of judges in hopes of winning the Judges’ Choice Award, presented by the Innov865 Alliance, and the Crowd Favorite Award, presented by Three Roots Capital and Carrasco Trump PLLC, totaling $15,000 in cash prizes.
This year, three emerging entrepreneurs will participate in a student pitch competition sponsored by the Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. The emerging entrepreneur winner will receive $2,500.
The Startup Day program also includes the Traction Award, presented by CGI, given to a Knoxville entrepreneur who has made significant progress with their business since pitching at Startup Day.
After the formal program, attendees are invited to stay for a networking happy hour presented by Boston Government Services. Drinks and light snacks will be provided.