Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation at the University of Tennessee

Rachel Stewart, a junior studying marketing at Haslam College of Business at the University of Tennessee, turned her passion for baking into Rachel’s Dessert Bar, a growing business in Knoxville. While balancing school and entrepreneurship, she’s perfecting recipes, hosting decorating classes, and building a brand known for handcrafted treats! Read more:?https://lnkd.in/eAe5MR8W

Thank you to Amy Michaelson Kelly, founding principal of Hatteras Sky, for kicking off our first Meet the Founders event of the spring! She shared valuable insights on commercial real estate, development, and what it takes to succeed as an entrepreneur. Join us April 8 for our next event with Mike Maddux, founder of Moonshine Mountain Cookies!

A huge thank you to Chris Hickey for leading an engaging and insightful Lunch & Learn last week! He shared his experiences across various roles in the health and wellness space, offering valuable advice to students. One key takeaway: to succeed, be "interestED first, and interestING second," highlighting the power of listening and building strong relationships.

We are incredibly proud of our ambassador, Blake H., for competing in the finale of the Knoxville Entrepreneur Center What's The Big Idea Pitch Competition last week! Blake exemplifies the spirit, drive, and dedication of an entrepreneur—all while balancing his studies and work as a full-time student. We can't wait to see all he continues to achieve with his company, Partnerly!

APPLY NOW FOR THE BOYD VENTURE CHALLENGE! ?? Pitch your business idea to a panel of expert judges and compete for a share of $30,000 in startup funding. Don't miss your chance to take your venture to the next level! Apply today: tiny.utk.edu/boyd ??

Our Lunch & Learn series is always a hands-on, fun, and unique learning experience. Our recent session with Jeff Foote, an Assistant Professor of Practice at the Tickle College of Engineering, was no exception! Where else can you enjoy a free lunch and learn how to develop a prototype of a product? Thank you to Jeff Foote for sharing his expertise with students at this event! Make sure to keep an eye out for future Lunch & Learn sessions to extend your entrepreneurial knowledge!

It's already been one week since we wrapped up Vol Court! A huge shoutout to our incredible winners and their innovative business ideas: ?? Max Gallinek - ResQTalk ?? Semilore Abiodun-Adeniyi - Tavern ?? Charlotte Colling - Ellie and Shell We also want to extend a big thank you to all the students who participated, brought their entrepreneurial spirit, and made this competition such a success! ?? Read more about Vol Court and the winners here:?tiny.utk.edu/vcarticle

We are so excited to have Amy Michaelson Kelly, founding principal of Hatteras Sky, join us for Meet the Founder next Wednesday! Hear all about her journey, challenges, and inspirations that drive her success as an entrepreneur in the field of real estate! You won’t want to miss this interactive and informative experience! Register Now! -?tiny.utk.edu/amy

Join us tomorrow at Founder Fridays for candid conversations with entrepreneurs who took the leap to pursue their dreams. Discover the pivotal moments, mindset shifts, and life circumstances that made it possible. No sugar-coating—just real stories of challenges, breakthroughs, and the journey of entrepreneurship. Our first session features Haseeb Qureshi, Haslam professor & Startup Studio director, in conversation with Don DeRosa, CEO of Eonix. Register Today! https://lnkd.in/exrYWPjn

Ready to make an impact in entrepreneurship education? The ACEI Research & Teaching Fellows program is now open for applications! Join a dynamic community of educators and researchers from across campus advancing the study and practice of innovation and entrepreneurship. Don’t miss out – apply today: https://lnkd.in/eBnNxt4g