Congrats to the 2025 Winner TeachCraft!
Watch the 2025 Recap
MEET OUR 2025 FINALISTS!
O CRB
Founder: Fela Akinse
At 0 Crb, the big idea is to revolutionize sustainability by turning everyday products into tools for environmental impact.
TeachCraft
Founders: Joel Smith
TeachCraft is a groundbreaking platform that helps teachers create impactful, standards-aligned Project-Based Learning (PBL) experiences.
Partnerly
Founder: Blake Hopkins
Partnerly matches users with the right paid partnership candidate, helps them to negotiate efficiently, ensures all criteria is met, and assists with the payment process to complete the partnership.
Modern Day SAHM
Founder: Kimberly O’Neil
Modern Day SAHM connects moms with flexible, remote job opportunities tailored to their schedules, offer exclusive discounts to ease financial burdens, and foster a supportive community where they can share experiences and grow together.
FibarCode
Founder: Brian Iezzi
FibarCode’s big idea aims to address one of the most challenging materials to sort, textiles, by embedding a fiber-based, digital label at the time of manufacture that allows for durable information transfer across the entire lifetime of the item.
DataRook
Founders: Gus Alvarez & Derek Downey
DataRook’s “Big Idea” is footyLab, a groundbreaking program that transforms the soccer field into an engaging STEM learning laboratory.
MEET OUR JUDGES
Lilly Tench
SPARK Innovation Center
Marcus Blair
Omega Business Solutions
Bailey Foster
The Real Good Kitchen
Thank you to our 2025 Event Sponsors:
Shark Tank Meets Accelerator
Ever dreamed of being on Shark Tank? Have that great idea that your mom loves, but you haven’t told anyone else about? Know you’ve got the next big thing? “What’s The Big Idea?” is the event for you. Compete to win up to $10,000. WTBI is Shark Tank meets Accelerator with $10,000 on the line.
Mentors All The Way
Work side-by-side with local business mentors to craft the perfect pitch for your new startup business or idea. We have business mentors that can help you with your business plan from start to finish from Legal, Marketing, Finance, Sales, Design, Technology, and more.
Who Should Apply?
- Applicants with a concept or a new enterprise in the seed-capital, start-up, or pre-revenue stage;
- Applicants who are at least 18 years of age;
- Applicants with a concept that could lead to potential growth and job creation in the Knoxville, Tennessee area*.
* Defined as being located in Knox County or a contiguous county including: Anderson, Blount, Jefferson, Grainger, Loudon, Roane, Sevier, and Union counties.
Who Shouldn’t Apply?
- Companies that are acquisitions or buy-outs;
- Companies that are expansions of existing companies;
- Companies that are considered a franchise;
- Companies that have a licensing agreement for distribution of products and services by others;
- Enterprises that have raised equity capital from sources other than direct members of the venture, their friends, or their families;
- Companies that have already won similar competitions;
- Companies that do not intend to grow in the Knoxville, Tennessee area (as defined above);
- Ideas will be judged on potential for growth and job creation.
* Please read the “Official Rules” for What’s the Big Idea?!
Dates & Deadlines
- 1/13/25 – Applications open
- 2/3/25 – Applications close
- 2/19/25 – Finalists announced
- 2/28/25 – 3/2/25 – Competition Weekend
- 3/2/25 – Public Pitch Competition + Finale
Interested in becoming a 2025 Event Sponsor? Please contact us at info@knoxec.net.
