“Made for Knoxville” is a storytelling initiative led by Knoxville Entrepreneur Center to shine a spotlight on Knoxville’s diverse entrepreneurial community – ranging from “solopreneurs“, makers, growth stage tech companies, investors, and established institutions. We want to showcase 500 entrepreneurs and forge 5000 connections, and we need your help!
Meet some of the most creative, influential, and groundbreaking entrepreneurs in our community. And if you’re feeling inspired, share your story. #Madeforknoxville is for leaders, makers, scientists, legends, and some surprising guests – so check back as we add new profiles, videos, and stories!
Be inspired not only about the business and the business owner, but also their involvement in the community at large.
Explore our diverse entrepreneurial community and why they’re each #MadeforKnoxville.
By Brian Gabriel Canever In the past 20 years, the number of Latino residents in Knoxville has grown enormously. In 2000, just 2,803 Latinos called Knox County home. According to census data from 2020, that number is now 28,568 people—a 495 percent increase. Signs in Spanish for restaurants, salons, construction companies, and other businesses can […]
Pictured from left to right at Startup Day 2019: Tom Ballard, PYA; Jim Biggs, KEC; Lynn Youngs, UT Anderson Center; Tom Rogers, UT Research Park; Leah Winter, Winter Innovations; Amy Henry, TVA; Dan Miller, ORNL; Jonathan Sexton, Bandera; Stacey Patterson, University of Tennessee; Maha Krishnamurthy, UT Research Foundation; Grady Vanderhoofven, 3Roots; Derren Burell, Veteran Ventures […]
Pictured: Chris McAdoo, Maranda Vandergriff, and Jordan Peltz on set at Phillips Forged, November 2020 By Chris McAdoo, artist, entrepreneur, and director of strategy & engagement for Knoxville Entrepreneur Center (This article originally appeared in the Knoxville News Sentinel) An entrepreneur is defined by dictionary.com as: “a person who organizes and manages any enterprise, […]
By Jack Neely, Knoxville History Project We may tend to forget that Knoxville, Home of the Vols, Gateway to the Smokies, headquarters of TVA, etc., is also a city with a manufacturing heritage — and one also known for entrepreneurial innovation. Much of its growth — reflected today in many of the old buildings downtown, […]
By Carol Z. Shane Etsy was the first to notice, and that was almost five years ago. When Native Maps’ David Harman, Knoxville Entrepreneur Center’s (KEC) Joy O’Shell and Rala’s Nanci Solomon took off for Brooklyn, NY in May of 2016 to attend the first-ever Etsy Maker Cities Summit, they were already part of an […]
