Knoxville’s startup scene shines as Innov865 Week returns with its signature event featuring new companies and emerging entrepreneurs competing for $17,500 in cash prizes
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (Aug. 6, 2024) – The Innov865 Alliance is proud to announce an exceptional lineup of entrepreneurs for Startup Day, the signature event of Innov865 Week (Sept. 27 – Oct. 4). This highly anticipated event, scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 1, at the Mill and Mine will highlight Knoxville’s dynamic entrepreneurial talent and innovation.
Startup Day invites investors, entrepreneurs, and business leaders to celebrate Knoxville’s vibrant startup ecosystem. This year’s event features six startup companies and three emerging entrepreneurs showcasing a diverse array of groundbreaking ideas and technological advancements. For the six startups, each company 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, sponsored by Three Roots Capital and Carrasco Trump PLLC, totaling $15,000 in cash prizes. Additionally, the three emerging entrepreneurs will vie for $2,500 to support their ventures and help bring their ideas to life.
“We are excited to unveil this exceptional group of entrepreneurs for Startup Day,” said founding alliance member and Knoxville Entrepreneur Center’s chief experience officer, Chris McAdoo. “This week truly embodies Knoxville’s entrepreneurial spirit. We invite everyone to be part of this engaging experience, connect with leading developers, and discover the transformative potential of our local talent.”
The Innov865 Alliance selected the following companies to pitch at the annual Startup Day:
Algaeo
Mayra Roman-Rivera, CLO
Algaeo develops hardware that enables farmers to produce sustainable, efficient, and organic fertilizers on-site using microalgae and artificial intelligence. The technology reduces fertilizer costs, enhances crop yield and quality, and improves soil health for future growing seasons.
Aunthentrics.AI
John Derrick, founder and CEO
Authentrics.AI offers software through both SaaS and enterprise licenses, providing unique insights and control over AI systems. Its solutions enhance quality, efficiency, and compliance in high-trust markets such as finance, healthcare, insurance, and government.
HumanAI
Preston Garland, co-founder and CEO
HumanAI enhances small businesses’ promotional activities using a proprietary system that blends advanced AI technology with human expertise. The company creates and refines high-quality content across blogging, advertising, medical reporting, and storytelling.
Loop
Luke Wiseman, co-founder and CEO
Loop integrates with organizations’ existing systems to streamline data extraction and ensure that information reaches the appropriate stakeholders reliably and efficiently.
Perseus Materials
Dan Lee, co-founder and CEO
Perseus Materials creates on-site manufacturing technology to make strong, lightweight building materials that can replace steel and cut down on greenhouse gas emissions. Perseus constructs large structures like buildings, bridges, and wind turbines.
Safire Technology Group, Inc.
Andrew Hanna, CPO
Safire Technology Group Inc. is advancing battery safety with innovative liquid-to-solid electrolyte additives for Lithium-ion batteries. These additives prevent fires and explosions during crashes or impacts and provide protection against projectiles.
The judges include Harry Boston, founder of Boston Government Services and general partner at Market Square Ventures; Travis Howerton, co-founder and CEO of RegScale; and Ashleigh Walters, former president and current board of directors chairwoman at Onex.
For the first time, this year’s event includes an Emerging Entrepreneur pitch competition for students and new graduates, organized by the University of Tennessee Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. The emerging entrepreneur pitchers are:
AluminAiry
Colt Griffith, co-founder and CTO
AluminAiry develops aluminum-air batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) using recyclable aluminum and air. These batteries offer significantly higher energy density than Li-ion batteries, enhancing EV range and reducing recharge times, making them scalable for widespread use.
Cody Blankenship, founder
Flock Analytics offers a web-based platform that integrates with popular church management software, providing valuable insights into church health and performance. Users can track growth trends, visualize community impact, and make data-driven decisions to advance their church.
Wesley Pitts, co-president and partner
KnoxBots specializes in Grounds Maintenance Automation (GMA) through specialized service models tailored specifically for commercial properties including golf courses, institutional settings, and government landscapes.
Judges include Pierce Lamacchia, owner and CEO of K Brew; Rosa Mar, general partner at Market Square Ventures; and Catherine Porth, founder and executive director of Let Her Speak and the Women’s Business Collective of East Tennessee.
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.
The Innov865 Alliance encourages all interested parties to attend Startup Day on Oct. 1 at The Mill and Mine in downtown Knoxville. The event is free and open to the public. Click here to register.
For more information on Innov865 Week and Startup Day, visit www.innov865.com.
ABOUT INNOV865 WEEK & THE INNOV865 ALLIANCE
Innov865 Week is a weeklong celebration of Knoxville’s entrepreneurial spirit that brings together startups, entrepreneurs, makers, investors, business leaders, students, and community leaders from across East Tennessee for a week of educational panels, pitch competitions, investor roundtables, and social events. It is presented by the Innov865 Alliance, a coalition that develops, supports, and promotes the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Founding members of the Innov865 Alliance include the University of Tennessee Research Foundation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, PYA, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Three Roots Capital, Tennessee Valley Authority, Launch Tennessee, Knoxville Chamber, Knoxville Entrepreneur Center, UT Research Park at Cherokee Farm, Veteran Ventures and the City of Knoxville. To learn more, visit innov865.com.
Media Contact:
Hannah Whitson
hannah@piper-communications.com | (865) 329-0553