Announced: 3686 entrepreneurial conference is back — and expanding

Launch Tennessee's 3686 entrepreneurial conference expands to Germantown, adds new startup & tech job fair and Startup Homecoming party alongside increased networking opportunities

Fast facts

• 3686, Tennessee's largest gathering of entrepreneurs, innovators, and investors, is set for Sept. 14-16
• Discounted early bird tickets, offering the lowest rate of the year, go on sale June 24. General admission tickets go on sale July 13.
• The name 3686 refers to the geographic coordinates of Nashville (36° N x 86° W), where the conference happens.

Nashville - Launch Tennessee's 3686 entrepreneurship conference will move to a larger, multi-venue footprint in Nashville's Germantown neighborhood this September, extending the week's schedule and adding a startup & tech job fair and expanded networking opportunities as the event enters its landmark 13th year as a cornerstone of the innovation ecosystem in the Southeast.

"Beyond a basic annual conference, 3686 is where innovation happens in real time," LaunchTN CEO Lindsey Cox said. "Our three-day conference facilitates investment deals, spurs novel ideas and provides expert content for an optimal learning experience. And we make it fun!"

Who attends

The conference brings together hundreds of startup founders, investors, corporate leaders, and ecosystem partners from across Tennessee, the Southeast, and the nation, with over 30 states represented at the 2025 edition. The event also draws industry experts, elected officials, and technology pioneers to take the stage for timely panels exploring hot-button topics facing entrepreneurs, from AI and quantum to life science, climate-tech, nuclear energy, and more.

New this year

Where - Moving to Germantown

The influential entrepreneur conference, which has been anchored at Cannery Hall for the past two years, is relocating to the lively Germantown neighborhood to create a dynamic, walkable, expansive campus. Headquartered at the Brooklyn Bowl, events will also take place at Tailgate Brewery, Von Elrod's Beer Hall, First Horizon Park, and the Tennessee State Library & Archives.

Startup + tech job fair

New to the lineup this year will be a recruitment expo for the state's next-generation innovators to connect with dynamic Tennessee-located companies from Launch Tennessee's InvestTN portfolio as well as some of the region's top corporate players.

Startup Homecoming

3686 will close this year with an all new celebration featuring live music from local '90s cover band My So-Called Band, live piano karaoke, and the crowning of startup superlative honors like "Most Likely to Disrupt," highlighting key players from across the ecosystem and drawing from community-submitted nominations.

Extended networking

After past years of success with an AI-powered matching app - which allows attendees to schedule meetings with others at the conference - the AI-powered matching platform will be available for a longer period during and after the conference. Last year, attendees scheduled 770 one-on-one meetings in six hours - more than 125 meetings per hour.

Ticket add-on

• Attendees can purchase a ticket add-on for Tennessee Innovation Night at First Horizon Park during a Nashville Sounds game.

Back this year

• Invite-only InvestTN Summit
• Ask Me Anything Stage with top innovators
• A pitch competition with a $10,000 prize
• Startup Showcase featuring Tennessee-created innovation
• Interactive brand activations
• Exclusive merchandise
• Community-centered partner popups
• Panels of experts in their fields
• Popular headshot activation