Tennessee is home to some of the world’s largest and most influential companies. Tractor Supply, International Paper Company and HCA Healthcare are just a few that come to mind. Tennessee is a great place to start an innovative company and Launch Tennessee (LaunchTN) plays a key role in fostering innovation and entrepreneurship across the state.
Originally established as the Tennessee Technology Development Corporation in the late 1990s, the organization took on its current form in 2012. The change came as state government prioritized entrepreneurship and startup growth to promote job creation. Now under the leadership of CEO Lindsey Cox, LaunchTN continues to drive innovation and expand opportunities for entrepreneurs across the state.
Cox, a Tennessee native, recognized the significance of this work early on. She started her career at the comptroller’s office, where she focused on bond finance. “Helping run some boards for the comptroller’s office gave me an appreciation for what the government can do to help businesses and how government dollars can be leveraged for community impact,” Cox says. In 2013, LaunchTN’s first CEO, Charlie Brock, hired her, and she began laying the foundation for an extensive entrepreneurial network across Tennessee.
Cox had previously spent time in Washington, D.C., working in the office of innovation and entrepreneurship. She later worked at
the entrepreneur center in Chattanooga before returning to Nashville and leading LaunchTN. “I like to joke that I was raised in the fire,” she says. She is excited to be part of an effort to support economic growth and shape the future of Tennessee’s economy.
To successfully achieve its goals, LaunchTN focuses on three core pillars, called the three Cs: Connections, Commercialization and Capital.
One of LaunchTN’s primary roles is to support a network of entrepreneur centers across the state. These centers serve as key entry points for startups, offering guidance, networking opportunities, and business support. The Nashville Entrepreneur Center (NEC) serves entrepreneurs of any industry in Middle Tennessee, including those in Franklin. Additionally, LaunchTN fosters connections through its annual 3686 Conference, named after Nashville's latitude and longitude. This conference brings investors, entrepreneurs, tech professionals, as well as anyone interested in technology, together. “Last year, we hosted 900 entrepreneurs providing valuable content and programming over two days,” says Cox.
A more recent program is the Tennessee House activation at the South by Southwest (SXSW) conference in Austin, Texas. This event gives LaunchTN an opportunity to reinforce Tennessee’s reputation as a top location for startups and business expansion in a creative way. “A lot of companies don’t know where they want to build. But after they meet with some of our entrepreneurs, they take a serious look at Tennessee,” says Cox.
For students about to graduate, LaunchTN also organizes a large-scale summer internship program that pairs students with startups, entrepreneurs, and investment firms. Now in its 11th year, the program has seen about half of those students stay on with that organization. “That was never a program goal, but rather a great by-product of the initiative,” says Cox.
In support of the commercialization pillar, LaunchTN plays a vital role in helping researchers, universities, and tech innovators bring technology and their ideas to the market. This includes collaborating with universities, students and faculty to help them transition research discoveries into viable businesses. “We help companies secure federal funding through Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) assistance,” says Cox. The SBIR grants support to early-stage tech innovations. “If they are successful in obtaining the grant, LaunchTN provides matching funds to help these startups scale their operations,” she says. Unlike investment capital, these non-dilutive funds provide grants to startups with essential funding without requiring equity. “It’s a great opportunity to help in the early stages of cool technology,” she says.
Under the Capital pillar, LaunchTN administers and deploys investment funds to support Tennessee-based startups. Three of the companies they support are based in Franklin:
-LUCI Mobility: integrates smart technology into power wheelchairs for enhanced stability;
-SpendCare: a spend management program designed exclusively for home care agencies to mitigate risk and generate new revenue;
-Whitecoat Learning Platform: streamlines healthcare education through a streamlined digital platform.
Another way LaunchTN fosters investment is through InvestTN, a $70 million investment fund. “We provide catalytic investment dollars that attract additional private investment into Tennessee,” says Cox. LaunchTN also strategically invests in startups
alongside private investors. “We are never the only investors,” she says. “But our dollars show we are passionate about the company and help startups secure additional funding from private investors." As companies grow and experience successful exit events, the returns from previous investments are reinvested into new Tennessee-based startups, ensuring a sustainable cycle of funding.
LaunchTN continues to refine its programs to maximize impact. Through strategic connections, commercialization efforts, and capital investments, the organization is making a lasting impact on the state’s innovation landscape. By supporting startups, hosting significant events, and driving investment into Tennessee businesses, LaunchTN is positioning the state as a national leader in
entrepreneurship and technology. “I am most proud when I am talking to counterparts in other states and they are impressed with how much we have accomplished and how we are structured,” says Cox. This affirmation reinforces not only the recognition of the collaborative work LaunchTN is leading but also sets a benchmark for other organizations nationwide. LaunchTN.org