8 Weeks.
Endless Opportunities.
The Ultimate Startup Accelerator for early-stage software, technology, and tech-enabled companies ready for scale
THE WORKS is designed to accelerate high-potential startups by focusing on customer insights, industry connections, and investment readiness. Over eight weeks, founders will engage with industry leaders, seasoned mentors, and investors, gaining the tools and confidence to refine their business models, strengthen go-to-market strategies, and craft an investable pitch deck.
Benefits of THE WORKS
Deep Customer Understanding
Expert-led workshops and field trips centered on customer journey, experience, and SALES.
Industry Connections
KEC’s superpower is connections, and we bring that in full force for THE WORKS. Meet mentors, industry leaderrs, and world-class funding professionals.
Pitching & Storytelling
You’ll build a powerful pitch deck to answer the big questions that any investor, and CUSTOMER, will want to know: Why now? Why you?…and How do you make money?
Community Support
A structured mentorship model, coupled with industry and community leaders, with ongoing check-ins post-program.
Brand & Market Positioning
Strategies to develop a compelling brand identity, differentiate in competitive markets, and establish a strong, scalable presence.
Investment Readiness
Expert-led sessions on go-to-market strategy, raising capital & understanding your market
Meet our Partners
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 160 million dollars in private capital.
Important Dates
March 13 – Applications open
April 11 – Applications close
April 16 – Companies notified
April 30 – Public announcement of selected companies
June 11 – Kickoff Happy Hour
June 18 – BrandCamp (Full-day session)
August 20 – Demo Day @ Square Room
Full Schedule
- Business Model Canvas review
- Primary and secondary customer identification
- Investable slide deck overview
- Intro video on platform navigation
- Location: The Maple Room in downtown Knoxville
- 1.5-hour informal networking session
- Founders, mentors, and community gather to connect
- Overview of program structure and expectations
- Welcome and program overview
- Founder introductions using Business Model Canvas
- Branding foundations and brand personality exercise
- Customer and competition interactive discussion
- Introduction to the investable pitch deck
- Deliverables: Updated brand strategy and customer personas, Investable pitch deck framework
- Customer journey mapping and five stages of customer experience
- Guest speaker(s) on customer discovery and validation
- Role-play and mock interviews to practice customer insights
- Deliverables: Customer interview plan and initial insights
- On-site experience at Partner headquarters
- Customer Experience & Operations – How to create a premium experience at scale
- Leadership & Team Culture – Discussion with company leaders
- Scaling Operations – Lessons in execution from leadership
Deliverables: Key takeaways on operational excellence and customer experience
- Cohort discussion and updates
- Crafting a go-to-market strategy
- Sales discussion and Q&A with two experts
- Building repeatable sales systems
- Deliverables: Initial go-to-market plan
- Communicating with investors using the BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front) approach
- Public speaking workshop focused on clarity and engagement
- Pitch practice and feedback with guest experts
- Deliverables: First full draft of the five-minute pitch
- Investable pitch deck and business model deep dive
- Fundraising, revenue models, and capital strategy with MSV and other investors
- Q&A on funding readiness and investor expectations
- Deliverables: Revised financial model and pitch deck
- Building scalable systems and automation
- Intellectual property and tech stack strategy
- Guest speakers on operational excellence
- Deliverables: Operational plan and key risk mitigation strategies
- Building scalable systems and automation
- Intellectual property and tech stack strategy
- Guest speakers on operational excellence
- Deliverables: Operational plan and key risk mitigation strategies
- Founders pitch to a packed house of investors, mentors, and peers
- Guest speakers and community celebration
- Afterparty TBD
- One-month, three-month, six-month, and one-year check-ins
- Continued mentor and investor engagement
- Tactical support for fundraising and scaling
Meet a few KEC Accelerator alumni companies:
Behind the Scenes from WORKS 2024
Video courtesy of Big Slate Media
THE WORKS Advisory Team
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 path 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
