Disrupt The Continuum

Amber Hayes understands that technology can create solutions to common problems, it just requires a little creativity. Amber is the CEO of SecondKeys — a holistic property management platform that’s reshaping the management and maintenance process — and the winner of the 36|86 Festival’s 2020 Pitch Competition. In this episode, she describes the process of building her startup from the ground up, and she explains how she’s navigating the challenge of working in real estate during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cheryl Campos knows that investing in startups can be a great strategy for building wealth, but until recently, most Americans couldn’t participate. As Director of Growth and Partnerships at Republic, Cheryl is working to help startups scale with equity crowdfunding. In this episode, she explains how crowd investing creates new opportunities for traditionally underfunded groups and non-accredited investors. She also provides an overview of changes that will shape the future of venture capital. 

Amit Bhatti, principal at San Francisco investment firm 500 Startups, recognizes that founders who come from less traditional markets often bring a unique level of hard work and determination. Amit invests in founders around the world and manages the fund’s portfolio of more than 2,000 companies. In this episode, he explains how COVID-19 has changed the world of startups and fundraising, and he discusses some of the advantages those changes could provide for founders in the Southeast.

Monique Villa doesn’t just dispel myths that founders in the Southeast are handicapped by lack of resources, talent, or funding, she believes they can gain significant advantages growing their startups here. Monique is an investor at Mucker Capital and a co-founder of Build in SE, where she works to help startups in the region thrive and succeed. Monique shares her perspective on the current state of opportunity in the Southeast and offers practical advice to founders who just finished raising a seed round.  

Savannah Yarborough loves helping people tap into their creativity and individualism. As the owner and creative director of SAVAS, Savannah works closely with her clients throughout the entire process of creating custom leather jackets. In this episode, Savannah shares the inspiration behind her business, and she describes some of the unique challenges and opportunities she’s encountered while building an in-demand Nashville-based fashion brand.

Laurie Spradley believes transparency is an essential aspect of leadership. As the vice president of operations and brand development at Goo Goo Cluster, her family’s business, she’s put that belief into practice while helping her team navigate a major and sudden change in revenue due to COVID-19. In this episode, Laurie shares some of the strategies she’s used to navigate the challenges of the pandemic, and she describes some of the new experiences and offerings Goo Goo is planning to roll out this year.

Marcus Whitney wants people to understand that Nashville’s healthcare system is rooted in systemic racism. He’s an entrepreneur, author and member of LaunchTN’s Board of Directors, and in the summer of 2020, he wrote an essay entitled “Calling Up to Nashville’s Health Care Leaders” which addressed those problems and called upon leaders to make a change. In this episode, Marcus explains why he decided to write the piece and how he’s working to address the current disparities by investing in Black founders.

Ashley Brooke James and Elizabeth Moore, co-founders of TRILUNA Wellness, want to help people access a more holistic version of wellness — instead of focusing only on fitness and dieting. In this episode, recorded at LaunchTN’s 36|86 Festival 2020, Ashley and Elizabeth join guest host Kevin Roddey of Pinnacle Financial Partners to explain how they’re reinventing the corporate wellness space. They also offer insight into the process of building a business with diversity and inclusion at its foundation

In this special season 3 finale of Disrupt the Continuum, host Clark Buckner and Launch Tennessee interim CEO Van Tucker provide a snapshot of what makes Tennessee the ideal place to start and grow a business. They revisit conversations with each of Launch Tennessee’s network partners across the state, and Van explains what’s next for her organization as they work to make Tennessee the most startup-friendly place in the nation.

Sumeet Chahal, Regional Executive Director for Bunker Labs’ Central Region, wants to help veterans access the massive community and resources they may not realize they have. At Bunker Labs, veterans can build a business with help from a network of other military-connected individuals. Sumeet shares some exciting stories of entrepreneurs who are overcoming the unique challenges veteran business owners often face, and he explains why Tennessee is one of the best places to start a business.

Abby Trotter, Executive Director of Life Science Tennessee, believes the state’s best opportunities for growth and economic development reside in the life sciences. In this episode, Abby — along with Life Science Tennessee’s Chairman of the Board Ted Townsend — share some of the exciting progress happening in the industry, in terms of both scientific advancements and job growth for Tennesseans. They also explain how partnering with LaunchTN has created new opportunities for growth.

Jim Biggs, executive director of the Knoxville Entrepreneur Center, wants to help entrepreneurs connect with the resources they need to succeed. In this episode, Jim and KEC Board Chair Brandon Bruce share their insight into the factors that make Knoxville’s entrepreneurial community so unique. They also describe the work they’re doing to support makers and startups across diverse industries, such as creating the Knoxville Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Guide.  

Ben Ferguson and Lisa Garner, cofounder and executive director of theCO, respectively, are proud that Jackson, Tennessee has become a regional hub for entrepreneurship and economic development. With theCO, they’re supporting rural entrepreneurship, providing technical training to students and elevating the stories of individuals who make their community one of a kind. In this episode, Ben and Lisa share some exciting updates on the work they’re doing in West Tennessee.

Heath Guinn, President and Executive Director of Sync Space, wants to prove that rural communities bring something special to the table when it comes to entrepreneurship. With Sync Space, he’s working to support startups and attract new companies to the Tri-Cities. Heath unpacks the mutually beneficial relationship he sees between entrepreneurs and rural communities, and he shares how Sync Space is making a difference as one of Launch Tennessee’s newest network partners.

Leslie Smith, Founding CEO of Epicenter Memphis and current national director for Gender Equality in Tech Cities, believes entrepreneurs are uniquely equipped to rise to the challenge in times of crisis. She’s worked hard to help build a collaborative entrepreneurship community that supports the whole city’s economic growth. Leslie offers an inside look at some of the secrets to Epicenter’s success and she explains how Launch Tennessee’s network of resources helps founders find support all across the state

Cortney Piper, Executive Director of Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council, sees Tennessee’s advanced energy industry as a powerful force for economic development and job creation. In this episode, Cortney shares her vision for helping energy companies become global leaders, and she explains how TAEBC is partnering with Launch Tennessee to support startups.

Marcus Shaw, CEO of CO.LAB, wants people around the world to recognize Chattanooga’s appeal for growing successful companies. In this episode, Marcus explains how CO.LAB is helping startups of all sizes connect with the opportunities and resources they need, tapping into the unique advantages Tennessee offers entrepreneurs. He also shares why he’s optimistic that great innovation will grow out of the challenges of COVID-19.

Jeff Brown, cofounder, President and CEO of The Biz Foundry, believes rural communities have unique contributions to offer the startup world. He and The Biz Foundry Director of Outreach and Engagement Tiffany Anton discuss their efforts to support entrepreneurs in the Upper Cumberland region and share stories of startups that are changing their community and the world at large.

Jane Allen, CEO of the Nashville Entrepreneur Center, and Vice President for Inclusion and Community Relations Brynn Plummer, believe Nashville is a city that was built on entrepreneurship. They explain how the NEC is helping entrepreneurs navigate the wealth of resources available to them, connecting people to the tools they need to start and grow a business. Jane also shares her vision for creating an ecosystem where successful entrepreneurs are empowered to give back to the startup community.

We’ve got your inside look at how LaunchTN’s statewide network and boots-on-the-ground startups are working to build Tennessee’s incredible entrepreneurial ecosystem. Leaders from across the state reveal why Tennessee continues to offer a competitive advantage for entrepreneurs looking to build and scale their businesses through statewide resources and strategic partnerships. These are the stories of LaunchTN’s community, collaborations, and the resilience of our state’s unique ecosystem.