Updated: Launch Tennessee grants new awards recipients statewide

Launch Tennessee grants TTAC Partnership Program Awards to seven recipients

Awardees are working on everything from quantum technology to agtech

For immediate release
January. 14

Nashville, TN - Launch Tennessee is providing funding for programs and events that support researchers and entrepreneurs statewide to advance innovation and commercialization across Tennessee's research institutions.

Through the Tennessee Technology Advancement Consortium (TTAC) Partnership Program, LaunchTN awarded funding to its first seven organizations. The competitive grant initiative is designed to strengthen commercialization capacity, accelerate industry partnerships, and advance innovation across Tennessee's research institutions.

Commercialization: the process of taking an invention or technology from the research lab to the consumer market

"These projects reflect the breadth and depth of innovation occurring across Tennessee's research institutions," said Jennifer Skjellum, Associate Director of University Outreach & Engagement at Launch Tennessee. "From fostering quantum technology to supporting agricultural and civic innovation - these partnerships will strengthen commercialization pathways and create meaningful connections among researchers, entrepreneurs, and industry partners."

The TTAC Partnership Program supports both event-based initiatives, funded at $5,000, and programmatic initiatives, funded at up to $50,000, reflecting the dual focus on ecosystem convening and sustained commercialization capacity building.

The 2025 program has awarded $215,000 to date for projects that enhance university-industry collaboration, support entrepreneurial activity, and accelerate the translation of academic research into market-ready technologies statewide.

One award went to Chattanooga-based entrepreneur center, The Company Lab, which is planning a three-event statewide series to accelerate Tennessee's readiness for the quantum economy.

"Tennessee has a rare opportunity to lead the Southeast - and the nation - in applied quantum innovation," The Company Lab CEO Tasia Malakasis said. "This support from Launch Tennessee allows CO.LAB to do what we do best: bring people, institutions, and industry together to move emerging technologies out of the lab and into the economy. The Quantum Activation Series is about turning technical excellence into companies, talent, and long-term growth for communities across the state."

Funded projects will launch between September 2025 and April 2026, engaging hundreds of university researchers, students, entrepreneurs, and industry professionals across Tennessee.
Some of the funded programs/events have already taken place or are underway, while others will begin soon. The programs will continue through May 2026, engaging hundreds of university researchers, students, entrepreneurs, and industry professionals across Tennessee.

2025 TTAC Partnership Program Awardees

Program Grant Awards (Up to $50,000)

• AgLaunch Initiative - AgLaunchLabs: Level Up
  Under the leadership of Strategic Advisor Katie Hauser, this program leverages industry partnerships and a connected farmer network to provide AgTech researchers across Tennessee with direct market feedback. By strengthening product development and market alignment, the initiative increases the readiness of research-based ventures to enter the nationally recognized AgLaunch365 accelerator.
• CO.LAB (The Company Lab) - Quantum Activation Series
  Led by CEO Tasia Malakasis, this statewide series will accelerate Tennessee's readiness for the quantum economy by connecting researchers, founders, and industry partners to commercialization pathways. Through direct engagement with university partners statewide, the series aims to expand awareness among faculty, students, and researchers of applied quantum opportunities and to provide practical tools to move innovations toward market adoption, partnerships, and investment. The 2026 program is intentionally focused on increasing awareness of near-term quantum applications, deeper commercialization pathways for Tennessee researchers, and a foundation for future quantum startups and statewide collaboration.
• Spark Innovation Center (University of Tennessee) - Spark Scaffolding Initiative
  Led by Spark Entrepreneur in Residence Michael Paley, this initiative provides structured support to help academic researchers across the TTAC network translate discoveries into viable startups. The program will pilot a customized approach with selected research teams, focusing on team formation, customer validation, ecosystem engagement, and the identification of opportunities for nondilutive funding.
• University of Memphis - Spinout Bootcamp
  Launched in September 2025 and led by Ido Sarig, Director of Technology Commercialization in the Office of Technology Transfer. This pilot program delivers hands-on support and access to experienced entrepreneurs-in-residence to guide multiple university spinout companies through formation and early-stage funding.

Event Grant Awards ($5,000)

• Innovate Memphis - 2025 City Hackathon

Led by Innovate Memphis, the City of Memphis, and other key community partners, hosted a city-wide Hackathon on November 5-7, 2025. This 36-hour "sprint" event mobilized volunteers to apply their technical and creative expertise to civic challenges identified by the City of Memphis. During the event, 72 participants formed 20 teams and contributed more than 2,500 hours of pro bono technical support, addressing needs ranging from blight data analytics and improved 211 resource navigation to more efficient bidding and onboarding processes for local businesses.

• University of Memphis - Exploring Innovations in the Cotton-Fashion Supply Chain

Led by ACRE, The Institute for Agriculture and Conservation Research and Education, and Director Dr. Jennifer Mandel, this 2026 conference will convene university researchers, cotton farmers, fashion brands, and conservation organizations to advance innovation and commercialization across the cotton-fashion supply chain.

• Innov865 Alliance - 865 Fest

In partnership with the University of Tennessee Research Foundation, the Innov865 Alliance hosted 865 Fest, a full-day entrepreneurial event designed to spark ideas, foster collaboration, and celebrate innovation. Held on September 16, this event drew over 300 attendees who heard from more than 23 speakers across two keynote presentations, two featured panels, and four breakout room discussions. Six startup companies and four emerging entrepreneurs pitched to a live audience and a panel of judges for cash prizes totalling $18,000.

• Updated, Jan. 29, 2026

Two more awards have now been granted.

• A TTAC Partnership Program Award went to Nashville Entrepreneur Center in collaboration with Life Science Tennessee for the 2026 Project Healthcare commercialization spring subcohort.

• TTAC Partnership Program Award to AI TechX Start-Up Connect, led by Caleb Knight at University of Tennessee, Office of Research, Innovation & Economic Development.

• Updated June 29, 2026

Four new awardees are:

• TTAC Partnership Program Awards went to three projects:
  • Civic Tech Jam: Nashville Innovation Alliance / Vanderbilt: This program advances civic technology solutions by connecting university researchers with local government partners to co-develop solutions to real-world civic challenges, while engaging city officials and expanding industry participation to strengthen cross-sector collaboration.
  • TennSMART Emerging Research Connection: This program expands Tennessee's smart mobility ecosystem by integrating TTAC faculty and students into the Tennessee Smart Mobility Expo, providing opportunities to attend, present research, and participate in panels alongside industry, government, and academic leaders.
  • Life Sciences Ecosystem Access Network & BIO International Conference Showcase (Life Science Tennessee Foundation): This program will strengthen Tennessee's life sciences ecosystem by increasing connectivity among researchers, entrepreneurs, and industry stakeholders through expanded access to networking events, the LSTCON conference, and national engagement at the BIO conference.
• A TTAC Partnership Event Award
  • Innovation Night at the Park (121 Tech Hubs, LLC & Knoxville Entrepreneur Center): Innovation Night at the Park is a regional showcase event in Knoxville that brings together entrepreneurs, investors, national lab innovators, and industry leaders to celebrate and advance the innovation ecosystem. The event is designed to connect startups with capital, highlight key programs such as the Market Square Ventures Fund and DOE Lab Embedded Entrepreneurship initiatives, and position Knoxville as a hub for entrepreneurial activity.

Apply for next cohort

Applications for event and program-based funding for the next cycle are now being accepted. Program details, eligibility requirements, application timelines, and funding guidelines are available on the Launch Tennessee website here.

Launch Tennessee anticipates continuing the TTAC Partnership Program next year as part of a sustained investment in university-led commercialization and entrepreneurial ecosystem development.

Get more information about the TTAC Partnership Program.

About Launch Tennessee
As Tennessee's hub for startups and innovation, Launch Tennessee's mission is to empower innovators across Tennessee by providing capital, commercialization and connections.

As a public-private partnership, we are uniquely positioned to provide direct investment, while also supporting collaboration among founders, investors, researchers, the private sector, and government.

Through the Tennessee Technology Advancement Consortium (TTAC), Launch Tennessee works with research institutions statewide to strengthen commercialization infrastructure and expand innovation.

Contact: LaunchTN Communications Director Chloé Morrison, [email protected]