KNOXVILLE — Meet the six finalists who’ve earned a spot to compete for up to a $25,000 cash prize in the 2016 Tennessee Venture Challenge grand finale (TVC), April 6 at The Foundry from 3 – 5 p.m.. TVC is a business plan competition, hosted by the University of Tennessee Research Foundation (UTRF), where University-affiliated startup companies pitch their business model to a panel of seasoned investors.
“You won’t want to miss this year’s competition,” said David Millhorn, University of Tennessee executive vice president and president of UTRF. “We are pleased to support this exciting group of entrepreneurs moving inventions from University of Tennessee classrooms and laboratories into the commercial marketplace.”
Audience members will have the opportunity to text in their vote for the crowd favorite, thanks to Launch Tennessee sponsoring the $5,000 crowd favorite cash prize. A panel of investors will select an overall winning team, which will receive a $20,000 cash prize.
TVC 2016 preparation began in early February with a seven-week entrepreneurial boot camp that helped inventors define their market and refine their pitch. At the end of the seven-week series, eight potential startups competed in the TVC semifinals. During the semifinals, the field was narrowed to the six teams that will compete in the final event.
The event is free but registration is required at http://utrf.tennessee.edu/
Tags: Economic Development, Startups, UT Research Foundation