5 Startups. 12 Weeks.
Endless Opportunities.
The Ultimate Startup Accelerator for early-stage software, technology, and tech-enabled companies ready for scale
Video by Big Slate Media.
Meet the 2024 Participants and Mentors
Authentrics.AI
John Derrick, paired with mentors Travis Howerton and Zack Webb
Flock Analytics
Cody Blankenship, paired with mentors Brandon Bruce and Creed Huckaby
Human AI
Preston Garland, paired with mentors Gary Jackson and Melissa Centers
TenantText
Rob Monday, paired with mentors Rob Cochran and Frank Ramey
ThinkUp
Douglas Mapp – paired with mentors Melissa Centers and John Bruck
Meet our Partners
Thank you to our 2024 The Works corporate mentor partners: Insperity, Cirrus Aircraft, Clayton Homes, Pathway Lending, Big Slate Media, and Carrasco Trump.
Since 2013, Knoxville Entrepreneur Center has worked with a broad range of startups, including everything from Medical Data Technology, Retail POS integration, Accounting, and Storage Unit Management. 90 companies have participated in KEC accelerator programs and have raised over 150 million dollars in private capital.
Details & Dates to Know
THE WORKS lasts twelve weeks, meeting in-person @ KEC. Applications are currently closed and will open next Spring.
Facilitators, mentors, and speakers include KEC leadership, active entrepreneurs, investors, finance and fundraising professionals as well as subject matter experts from all across the country. Each week we’ll introduce a subject matter expert, and we’ll have panel discussions with industry leaders.
We’re excited to partner with two of our region’s most successful companies, Cirrus Aircraft and Clayton Homes. THE WORKS will be given a guided tour of both incredible headquarters, and get the chance to interact with leadership, learning all things customer experience, growth, and leadership development.
But wait…there’s MORE.
Big Slate Media will be producing exclusive interviews and documentary footage of the entire accelerator, social media #MadeforKnoxville features, and a sizzle reel to kick off demo day.
And did we mention top-tier legal advice?
Carrasco Trump provides one hour of experienced legal counsel for growing businesses navigating the legal and practical complexities of formation, financing, workforce development, and eventually exit.
Applications are closed and will open for the 2025 cohort next Spring.
Benefits of THE WORKS
Supercharge Customer Experience
Learn from the best in “CX”, including leaders from HBO MAX, through a discovery process to unlock potential, serve your customer needs, and drive revenue.
Establish Valuable Connections
KEC’s superpower is connections, and we bring that in full force for THE WORKS. Meet mentors, industry leaders, and world-class funding professionals.
Build "Investable" Pitch Deck
You’ll build a powerful pitch deck to answer the big questions that any investor, or customer, will want to know: Why now? Why you? Why does it matter? How does it make money?
Gain Capital Intelligence
Understanding different types of capital, from bank to VC, and how they impact your business, with a focus on driving REVENUE first.
Refine Go-To-Market Strategy
Who’s your competition? What’s your industry? And more importantly, what do your potential customers care about – and how do you get your “BIG IDEA” in front of them?
Define Company Culture
“Culture eats strategy for breakfast”…Peter Drucker. Learn how to build a culture that sustains your people, takes care of your customers, and sets your company up for scale.
Legal advice from Carrasco Trump
Carrasco Trump will provide one-on-one time for guidance in navigating complex human resources issues, planning for growth, or experience in solving labor needs through business immigration.
Visit Incredible "Big Co" Headquarters
See what innovation looks like at scale, learn how to take care of customers, and meet industry leaders from top companies in East Tennessee like Cirrus Aircraft and Clayton Homes.
Find the Right Tools for Growth
Buzzword time: “Tech Stack”. As in, how many programs/project management apps do you REALLY need to make your business run efficiently – but more important: EFFECTIVELY.
THE WORKS Advisory Team
Patrick Hunt I Lead Advisor
Courtney Jones I Growth Advisor
Jenna Johns I Lead Capital Advisor
Chris Trump I Legal Advisor
Leslie Beale I Leadership Advisor
Richard Dapaah I Capital Advisor
Chris McAdoo I Works Facilitator
Ashleigh Walters I Advisor
Jim Biggs I KEC Advisor
Brandon Bruce I Startup Mentor
Eric Dobson I Capital Advisor
Martha Weeks I Pitch Advisor
Anil Kale I Guest Speaker
Damon Rawls I Brand Advisor
Melissa Feinbaum I Recruiting Advisor
Bill Malkes I Startup Mentor
Ramsey Cohen I Clayton Homes
Matthew Park I Cirrus Aircraft
Jon Halley I Big Slate Media
Aaron Owen I Pathway Lending
Mike Ocheltree I Insperity
Ed MacFawn I Technology Advisor
Dan Lipe I CX Advisor/Speaker
Lina Evans I Banking Advisor
Sue Malone I Capital Advisor
Andy Lowe I Valuation Advisor
Jonathan Patrick I Go-To-Market Advisor
…and more added every day. If you’re interested in becoming a WORKS mentor, please email chris@knoxec.net.
Chris McAdoo I KEC Lead Facilitator
Ashleigh Walters I Advisor
Jim Biggs I KEC Advisor
Brandon Bruce I Startup Mentor
Eric Dobson I Capital Advisor
Martha Weeks I Pitch Advisor
Anil Kale I Guest Speaker
Damon Rawls I Brand Advisor
Melissa Feinbaum I Recruiting Advisor
Bill Malkes I Startup Mentor
Ramsey Cohen I Clayton Homes
Matthew Park I Cirrus Aircraft
Jon Halley I Big Slate Media
Aaron Owen I Pathway Lending
Mike Ocheltree I Insperity
Ed MacFawn I Technology Advisor
Dan Lipe I CX Advisor/Speaker
Corey Tyree I Growth Advisor
Lina Evans I Banking Advisor
Sue Malone I Capital Advisor
Andy Lowe I Valuation Advisor
Jonathan Patrick I Go-To-Market Advisor
…and more added every day. If you’re interested in becoming a WORKS mentor, please email chris@knoxec.net.
Full Schedule
- Founder & business intros using existing pitch deck as foundation
- Intro to OKRs (Objectives/Key Results)
- Mentor pairing and OKR/goal-setting exercise
- Mentor Q&A/OKR discussion
- Homework – Set specific OKR’s/ goals with help of mentor / SMEs
- Review individual OKRs
- Brand and market fit overview (invitation to attend full BrandCamp)
- Competitive analysis/positioning – BRAND PROMISE
- Homework – Business Model Canvas
- Review Business Model Canvas
- Fundamentals of customer discovery and customer journey
- Guest speaker(s) on customer experience
- Homework – Customer journey interviews / discovery
- Tour of facility
- Meet Matthew Park, Director of IT and CET Business Partner
- Customer Experience & Discovery focused Q&A with leadership
- Review customer discovery findings
- Crafting an effective GTM strategy
- Guest speaker(s) on effective sales/GTM
- Homework – Create specific customer experience roadmaps / GTM strategy
- Review GTM strategy
- Cash is KING: Understanding key financial statements – Income / balance / P&L
- Financial planning and forecasting
- Guest speaker(s) on effective accounting practices/cash flow management
- Homework – Review Financial Model
- Review financial models
- Fundraising – FFF, angel, pre-seed, seed, etc), grants, and company structures
- Getting Bankable
- Guest speaker(s) on fundraising
- Homework – Have three to five guided conversations with investment/funding professionals to kickstart relationships and get a first-hand look into different funding options
- Review funding discoveries
- Deep dive into operational structures and compliance
- Tech Stack – Leveraging technology to systemize and automate processes
- Homework – Develop Operational Strategy / “Doom Loop” plan
- Tour of facility
- Culture, Innovation, and Customer Experience Q&A with Clayton Leadership
- Review operation plans and “doom loop” scenarios
- Optimizing operational roles/responsibilities for
- Leadership development
- Guest speaker(s) on Ops/Talent/Leadership
- Homework – create an operational accountability/process chart
- Review Accountability Org Chart
- Final company check ins
- Constructive Q&A / feedback session with mentors, peers, and guest experts.
- Homework – Refinement of pitch decks with mentors, pitch coaches, KEC team
- Location TBD
- Founders present their final five-minute pitch decks to an audience of investors, mentors, and peers
- Graduation celebration and closing remarks
- Homework – Now the real work begins!
Meet a few KEC Accelerator alumni companies:
Frequently Asked Questions
You do not have to be producing revenue yet, but your company should have a product or service in the market that is on a patch to producing revenue.
THE WORKS is the Ultimate Startup Accelerator for early-stage software technology and tech-enabled companies ready for scale. This includes:
• SaaS
• MedTech
• FinTech
• Logistics
• Communication
• Project Management
• Marketing
• Research
• Information Technology
• There’s more, but this is already a long list. If you’re curious, please reach out to chris@knoxec.net.
This is gonna be a busy summer. Three hours per week in-person at KEC, as well as at least an hour/week spent with mentors, and additional time with Subject matter experts. THEN there’s the pitch and demo day.
The sessions ARE in-person @ Knoxville Entrepreneur Center, 17 Market Square #101, Knoxville, TN 37902, and the field trips are in-person at Cirrus Aircraft and Clayton Homes. Demo Day will also be in-person at a location TBD.
*Necessary acommodations will be made if unable to attend a session.
Yes! Bring your team to as many sessions as you’d like – as long as we have one primary contact.
Knoxville Entrepreneur Center does not currently have a fund, so we do not invest directly in companies.
You should already have a pitch/sales deck to submit with your application. BUT this is a major deliverable of the program, so even if it’s in the beginning stages, we want to see how you are presenting your company to clients, customers, and/or investors.
It does not, but companies based in East Tennessee are better suited for the in-person sessions.
For questions about the program curriculum and mentorship, contact Chris McAdoo at chris@knoxec.net
For questions about location, accommodations, or schedule, contact Delaney Boyd at delaney@knoxec.net
