Disrupt the Continuum

Winner of the 2020 Pitch Competition Shares Her Experience as an Entrepreneur

April 26, 2021 13:00 - 20 minutes - 48.7 MB

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-1...

A Look at New Opportunities in Investment Space with Republic Director

April 19, 2021 13:00 - 21 minutes - 48.8 MB

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 capita...

Taking Advantage of Underserved Markets with 500 Startups

April 12, 2021 13:00 - 28 minutes - 67.2 MB

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.

Capital Raising Opportunities in the Southeast with Mucker Capital

April 05, 2021 13:00 - 33 minutes - 77.6 MB

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 raisi...

Building a Fashion Brand in the South with SAVAS Founder

March 29, 2021 13:00 - 28 minutes - 65.7 MB

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.

Leading through a Crisis with Goo Goo Cluster’s Operations VP

March 22, 2021 13:00 - 22 minutes - 53.5 MB

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 ...

The Role Systemic Racism Plays in Nashville’s Healthcare History, with Marcus Whitney

March 15, 2021 13:00 - 35 minutes - 82.8 MB

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 B...

Integrating Wellness and Inclusion with TRILUNA Co-Founders

March 08, 2021 14:00 - 53 minutes - 124 MB

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 f...

Establishing Tennessee as a hub of entrepreneurship

November 24, 2020 13:00 - 38 minutes - 90 MB

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 on connecting veterans to the entrepreneurial ecosystem

November 17, 2020 14:00 - 32 minutes - 74.5 MB

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.

Elevating the life sciences in Tennessee

November 10, 2020 14:00 - 35 minutes - 82.9 MB

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.

Connecting entrepreneurs to an ecosystem of support

November 04, 2020 01:46 - 33 minutes - 78.3 MB

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.

Celebrating stories of entrepreneurship

October 27, 2020 13:00 - 24 minutes - 59.1 MB

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.

Changing the narrative around rural entrepreneurship

October 20, 2020 13:00 - 24 minutes - 57 MB

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.

Fostering innovation in times of crisis

October 14, 2020 22:05 - 27 minutes - 65.2 MB

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 a...

Turning energy innovation into economic growth

October 06, 2020 13:00 - 23 minutes - 54 MB

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.

Supporting startups of all sizes

September 28, 2020 21:32 - 26 minutes - 60.2 MB

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.

Stimulating entrepreneurship in rural Tennessee

September 22, 2020 13:00 - 26 minutes - 60.4 MB

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.

Nashville, A City Built on Entrepreneurship

September 15, 2020 13:00 - 24 minutes - 57.4 MB

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 commun...

How LaunchTN’s Statewide Network Helps Build TN

September 08, 2020 20:16 - 3 minutes - 5.44 MB

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.

Week on the Hill: Connecting entrepreneurs with policymakers statewide

March 23, 2020 15:11 - 20 minutes - 28.5 MB

The 2020 Legislative Reception took place during the last week of February, at the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in downtown Nashville. It marked the beginning of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Week, an annual event giving entrepreneurs and their supporters an opportunity to meet with Tennessee legislators and discuss issues most relevant to business growth. We were LIVE on-site to record this special episode of Disrupt the Continuum.

Alex West Steinman on advocating for spaces that work for women

February 04, 2020 14:00 - 18 minutes - 21.5 MB

Alex West Steinman, CEO and cofounder of The Coven, illuminates the power of an inclusive and collaborative workspace. The Coven is a coworking space designed to give women, nonbinary, and trans professionals the resources they need to thrive — and Alex is excited to bring that magic to Nashville. She also tackles what entrepreneurs often get wrong about inclusivity, and shares her guidance for creating a company culture that works for everyone.

Angela Proffitt on working smarter as an entrepreneur

January 21, 2020 00:45 - 16 minutes - 19.2 MB

Angela Proffitt, an event and productivity consultant based in Nashville, shares her journey as an entrepreneur and unpacks some of the lessons she’s learned along the way. Angela dives into some of the productivity hacks and workflow strategies like scheduling weekly time to address specific tasks only, and lays out a roadmap of local resources and organizations where entrepreneurs can get plugged in and take their businesses to the next level.

How to disrupt traditional industries with innovative technology

January 06, 2020 22:37 - 17 minutes - 20.5 MB

Bellhops has disrupted the moving industry to become the nation’s fastest-growing moving company. Founder and CEO Cam Doody shares why Tennessee was the right place to seek venture capital for Bellhops, and explains why the Southeast is emerging as one of the most innovative ecosystems in the country.

Doug Speight on the Southeast’s diverse startup culture

December 09, 2019 16:57 - 13 minutes - 15.9 MB

Doug Speight, founder and chief innovation officer at AnnexTech Partners, believes the Southeast’s underrepresented talent is one of its greatest resources. Doug dives into what makes the region’s startup culture unique, and why it’s one of the most exciting places in the country to start a business.

How to build a chart-topping business

November 25, 2019 21:57 - 18 minutes - 21.3 MB

Marcus Cobb, cofounder and CEO of Jammber, has built a team that’s rocketed Jammber to the cutting edge of the music industry. In this episode, Marcus shares the philosophy behind Jammber’s award-winning workplace, and explains how some of the most important lessons he’s learned as an entrepreneur have come from surviving mistakes made along the way.

Erica Grant and Lia Winter on student innovation in Tennessee

November 12, 2019 18:38 - 19 minutes - 22.5 MB

Erica Grant and Lia Winter, rival pitch competition finalists at 36|86 Student Edition, discuss how they got their startups off the ground as students at UT Knoxville. In this episode, the innovators explain how they’re developing their products and building their businesses, and how organizations like LaunchTN can unlock doors and kickstart growth.

Kirsty Goodlett on telling your company’s story

October 28, 2019 15:05 - 17 minutes - 20.9 MB

Kirsty Goodlett, Director of Ketner Group Communications’ Nashville office, sat down with us to unpack how to get your story out in a way that sticks. In this episode, Kirsty discusses the importance of staying relevant, highlights key resources businesses can use to boost visibility, and explains how to use customer data as a storytelling tool.

Sarah Bellos on bringing sustainable agriculture to commercial fashion

October 14, 2019 22:57 - 28 minutes - 32.9 MB

Founder Sarah Bellos sits with guest host Kevin Roddey of Pinnacle Financial Partners to discuss how her company Stony Creek Colors is bringing local and sustainable agriculture to revolutionize commercial fashion. In this episode, Bellos shares her experiences with the process of scaling her startup and how LaunchTN connected her with a vital network of resources to help her company grow.

Coming Soon: Season 2 of Disrupt the Continuum

October 08, 2019 20:22 - 1 minute - 2.03 MB

In Season 2 of Disrupt the Continuum, you'll hear from innovators and thought leaders that make the entrepreneurial ecosystem here in Tennessee flourish. This season we'll explore Tennessee's unique, thriving communities and hear about the programs and people that make LaunchTN a vital resource. Subscribe now from wherever you get your podcasts for Season 2 of Disrupt the Continuum – a LaunchTN podcast powered by Pinnacle Financial Partners.

Anne Driscoll on moving from competition to collaboration at 36|86

August 13, 2019 15:30 - 24 minutes - 35.1 MB

Anne Driscoll, President and COO of Launch Pad, a network of coworking spaces, sat down with us at last year's 36|86 Entrepreneurship Festival to discuss the importance of investing in entrepreneurial ecosystems on the rise. After years working for a tech giant in Silicon Valley, Driscoll now lends her energy and expertise to inspire entrepreneurs all over the country. She also shared the power of connecting ecosystems and the difference a collaborative community can make for entrepreneurs.

Arlan Hamilton discuses underestimated entrepreneurs at 36|86

July 23, 2019 20:31 - 20 minutes - 28 MB

Founder and managing partner of Backstage Capital, Arlan Hamilton, sat with us at last year’s 36|86 Entrepreneurship Festival to discuss the work she’s doing to shine a light on the underestimated entrepreneurs of the world - founders who identify as women, people of color, and/or part of the LGBTQ community. Hamilton also shared why she believes venture capitalists often miss untapped potential by not investing in underrepresented talent and gave us a look at what she hopes is the future fo...

Lindsey Cox on the Past, Present, Future of 36|86

July 09, 2019 15:36 - 27 minutes - 38.1 MB

36|86 Director Lindsey Cox takes us behind the scenes of LaunchTN’s upcoming festival to highlight what makes 36|86 vital for entrepreneurs of all stages and backgrounds.

Matt Rogers on scaling smart at 36|86

June 18, 2019 20:13 - 25 minutes - 35.4 MB

We caught up with Matt Rogers, co-founder and product developer of Pure Sodaworks, at last year’s 36|86 Entrepreneurship Festival to learn how Pure Sodaworks landed its first high-volume distribution deal with Cracker Barrel. Rogers shared the ups and downs of growing his business from a mobile soda fountain in Chattanooga to the award-winning craft soda establishment it is today, and urged fellow entrepreneurs to take their time to build their brands rather than scaling their businesses bef...

Rei Wang backstage at 36|86

June 04, 2019 20:40 - 16 minutes - 22.6 MB

Rei Wang, former CEO of First Round Capital’s Dorm Room Fund, sat down with us backstage at last year’s 36|86 Entrepreneurship Festival. We chatted about the VC landscape and spent some time unpacking opportunities Dorm Room Fund is creating for student entrepreneurs. Also on the agenda: the potential for creative collaboration in a university setting, and why a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem is key for innovation.

Mollie Lacher on finding community support at 36|86

May 20, 2019 11:25 - 20 minutes - 28.5 MB

Mollie Lacher, CEO and founder of Sunny Care Services, shared her entrepreneurial journey with us – from personal loss to professional gain. Backstage at last year’s 36|86 Entrepreneurship Festival, Lacher opened up about the growing need for advocacy and authenticity throughout the entrepreneurial communities, and the support she received from network partners to help direct her to the right resources she needed to start her own business.

Van Tucker backstage at 36|86

May 07, 2019 13:00 - 11 minutes - 16.7 MB

Former CEO of the Nashville Fashion Alliance Van Tucker joined us backstage at the 36|86 Entrepreneurship Festival last year to discuss how the emerging independent fashion industry has become a significant economic driver throughout the state of Tennessee. Tucker also shared her experiences using collaborative networks to maneuver the ecosystem and why it’s crucial for fashion companies to “cross-pollinate” with related businesses like agriculture, manufacturing and even music to find creat...

Stephanie Cummings backstage at 36|86

April 22, 2019 17:01 - 21 minutes - 30.3 MB

Stephanie Cummings, CEO and co-founder of Please Assist Me, shares her experiences as an underestimated entrepreneur and how participating in various accelerator programs in LaunchTN’s network has provided one solution to the inequitable access to capital for minority founders. Cummings also takes us back to where her business first began and where she hopes to pivot next.

Tom Ballard backstage at 36|86

April 08, 2019 15:00 - 13 minutes - 19.4 MB

LaunchTN board member Tom Ballard joined us backstage at last year’s 36|86 Entrepreneurship Festival to weigh in on how to support Tennessee entrepreneurs, beyond just investing in their business idea. Ballard also discusses how technological innovations can bridge the gap, leveraging the collaboration of communities statewide to connect those in need with access to Tennessee’s resource-rich ecosystem.

Capital, 36|86, and the benefits of doing business in Tennessee

March 25, 2019 18:10 - 33 minutes - 45.8 MB

Margaret Dolan, President and CEO of LaunchTN, talks capital, 36|86 Entrepreneurship Festival, and the benefits of doing business in Tennessee. She recently traveled across the state to hear from entrepreneurs about what they need to start or grow their businesses. Find out what she learned – and what LaunchTN is doing to make Tennessee the most startup-friendly state in the nation.

Coming Soon: Disrupt the Continuum

March 10, 2019 09:56 - 4 minutes - 5.55 MB

Launch Tennessee’s new podcast, Disrupt the Continuum, tells the stories of entrepreneurs, investors and ecosystem builders who challenge the status quo and carve their own paths. Listen in to find out how industry leaders got where they are today. These captivating stories of innovation will motivate you to make your next big move and show you what it really takes to build your business.

Disrupt the Continuum

Episodes