Starting and maintaining a business can be hard, especially during unprecedented times. Support from other entrepreneurs and those who want to see your business succeed can help make everything a little bit easier. At Knoxville Entrepreneur Center we know how important it is to support one another. Check out these ten local entrepreneurial resources that we work closely with, and who can help your business become the best version of itself.
Opportunity Knox
During these uncertain times, it is vital for the community to come together and share the resources and information needed to help everyone thrive. Opportunity Knox is a website dedicated to connecting entrepreneurs, community members, and those in need with the resources available to them right now.
KnoxDevs
This nonprofit is dedicated to creating spaces and finding resources to promote the software development community in Knoxville.
Women in Entrepreneurship Coffee
The Knoxville Entrepreneur Center hosts a monthly meetup for women in any stage of the entrepreneurial process. This is a great opportunity for women entrepreneurs to help other women entrepreneurs! Registration for the meetups can be found here.
The Knoxville Technology Council
This tech-based Knoxville organization offers a plethora of resources and opportunities to develop technology-related skills and connect with those in the same field.
UT Anderson Center
This center is located on the University of Tennessee campus within the Haslam College of Business. This student resource strives to facilitate an entrepreneurial spirit on campus and help students start up their own business.
UT Research Foundation
This nonprofit organization provides resources and assistance to UT faculty, staff, and students with innovative business or product ideas. They claim to “promote the commercialization of UT intellectual property.” Helping UT system entrepreneurs is their specialty.
Knoxville Area Urban League
Through a variety of programs, classes, and events, the Knoxville Urban League strives to empower minority groups in Knoxville to enter the entrepreneurial, economic, and social world. This organization is a branch of the National Urban League.
SCORE Greater Knoxville
SCORE is a nonprofit and partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration which provides mentor, educational, and community-based services to local small businesses. KEC shares a few mentors with SCORE, so we’re closely connected with their network!
Knoxville Chamber of Commerce
The Chamber, located right above the Knoxville Entrepreneur Center in Market Square, boasts a vast array of business resources, membership opportunities, and help for entrepreneurs. They also work to promote Knoxville as a prime location for businesses to open.
Knoxville Tennessee Small Business Development Center
This resource provides assistance to start-up business as well as business growth support. They also offer local training events and free advising sessions. Their office is also right upstairs from KEC!
All of these organizations have regular newsletters that go out so you can stay informed about what they’re up to. While you’re at it, sign up for the weekly KEC newsletter!
This blog post was written by Ainsley Kelso, one of our Spring Practicum students through the UTK College of Communication.
