Innovation Crossroads

At our recent Innovation Crossroads Founder's Forum, we had the pleasure of hosting Benjamin Nibali, Founder of APTUS DesignWorks, who shared his entrepreneurial journey and the seven key elements to start-up success: 1. Clear vision for a market opportunity 2. Obsession and confidence in the idea 3. Charisma to attract business 4. Access to resources (funding, networks, equipment) 5. Business competence for strategic financial management 6. Strong salesmanship 7. Luck and timing Nibali emphasized that while a founder may not embody all seven traits, having a team that collectively possesses these qualities is crucial for success. His insights provided valuable guidance for our fellows and partners. Read more about his insights in this teknovation.biz article: https://lnkd.in/eGq-c7t7

Reminder - Join us today for this month’s Innovation Crossroads Founders' Forum! We’re excited to welcome Benjamin Nibali, founder of APTUS DesignWorks, for an engaging session on scalable design, engineering, and innovation. ?? When: Today, March 20 | 3:30–5:30 p.m. ET ?? Where: Smoky Mountain Brewery (Private Room) ?? Address: 11308 Parkside Drive, Knoxville, TN 37934 Ben will share insights on: ? How APTUS drives impactful projects ? The keys to scaling design and engineering effectively ? Lessons learned from their success and growth Don’t miss this chance to connect with Knoxville’s hard-tech entrepreneurial community! Bring a friend, grab a drink, and join the conversation. See you soon!

? The final week to apply for the PYA Thomas B. Ballard Innovation Award is here! If you're an East Tennessee entrepreneur with a groundbreaking idea or innovative solution, now's your chance to apply and showcase your work. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to gain recognition and support for your entrepreneurial journey. Applications are open until the end of this week – apply today and take your innovation to the next level! ??

The Spark Cleantech Accelerator, located at the UT Research Park at Cherokee Farm, is now accepting applications for its 2025 cohort! This 12-week program provides a stipend of $15,000, specialized workshops, expert mentorship, connections with investors and strategic partners such as the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee Valley Authority, City of Knoxville, Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council and more. ?? Apply by May 16, 2025: https://lnkd.in/dt4rHZXr ?? Learn more: https://lnkd.in/dT4ETjs2

???MEL 011 | From Researcher to CEO Through Mentorship, Innovation, and Leadership with Dr. Philip Stuckey In this week’s episode of the Mastering Engineering Leadership Podcast, I sat down with Philip A Stuckey to uncover his journey and actionable leadership strategies. ?? Here’s a fraction of what you’ll learn: 1??Identifying personal skill gaps is crucial for growth. 2??Entrepreneurship often arises from passion and necessity. 3?? Working at the patent office offers unique insights. ??Ready to level up your engineering leadership game? ??Listen to Mastering Engineering Leadership for weekly interviews featuring engineers in leadership roles. ??Click for links to the podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/evWEP97m Tickle College of Engineering at the University of Tennessee FC Renew Innovation Crossroads

Join us for this month’s Innovation Crossroads Founders' Forum! We’re excited to welcome Benjamin Nibali, founder of APTUS DesignWorks, this Thursday from 3:30–5:30 p.m. at Smoky Mountain Brewery. APTUS specializes in scalable design, engineering, and implementation for projects, with a unique approach called "The APTUS Way." Their method combines expert engineering, advanced tools, and efficient project management to ensure client success. Ben will share insights on: ? How APTUS drives impactful projects. ? The keys to scaling design and engineering effectively. ? Lessons learned from their success and growth This is a great opportunity to network with Knoxville’s hard-tech entrepreneurial community. Feel free to bring along colleagues or friends who are passionate about innovation and engineering! When: Thursday, March 20, 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. ET Where: Smoky Mountain Brewery, Private Room Address: 11308 Parkside Drive, Knoxville, TN 37934 We look forward to seeing you there!

Two years ago, we pitched on this stage to join the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) - Innovation Crossroads. Today, we returned to share how far we’ve come: ? From an idea to two major pilots launching in 2025 ? Growing from $0.1M to $3.5M strong ? Expanding with a second product line in 2025 (more on that soon!) Excited for what’s ahead as we scale and drive impact! #Innovation #Growth #EnergyTech

Shift Thermal, a member of the first Innovation Crossroads cohort in 2017, continues to thrive and grow right here in Oak Ridge! Their journey is a testament to the strength of East Tennessee’s innovation ecosystem. We’re thrilled to see Market Square Ventures investing in local startups, including Shift Thermal, to support groundbreaking technologies and drive regional growth. Read more about the investments fueling East Tennessee’s future from teknovation.biz: https://lnkd.in/ez4_vs7E

“Oak Ridge has fingers in research and efforts in all the things that are part of our country’s future.” U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Chris Wright visited ORNL for a first-hand look at the lab's cutting-edge research in AI, quantum, nuclear energy, national security, advanced manufacturing and more.

Congratulations to Endeavor Composites, Inc. for being recognized with the Pinnacle Business Award in the Small Business Excellence category! ?? This well-deserved honor from the Knoxville Chamber (Knoxville, Tennessee) highlights their incredible innovation and impact in sustainable materials. As a 2019 Innovation Crossroads Fellow, Endeavor Composites has been pushing the boundaries of advanced manufacturing, and this award is a testament to their hard work and dedication. Read more about this year’s Pinnacle Business Award winners from teknovation.biz: https://lnkd.in/eWhdRSYB