Startup Week CHA 2021
Monday, October 18, 2021
Get Organized: Make your Workspace Work for You
Come hear Kelly Lewis, Professional Organizer and Owner of Inspired Organizing LLC, teach the ins and outs of an organized workspace.
#BuildInSE's Pop-Up Lemonade Stand | DAY ONE
Build In SE invites all startup founders, investors, and tech talent to swing by their inaugural Pop-Up Lemonade Stand, a new outdoor watering hole in support of startup builders in the Southeast.
When life gives them lemons, entrepreneurs make lemonade. When Build In SE serves complimentary lemonade, entrepreneurs gather to share stories and network.
Lemonade servings will be complimentary, while Build In SE merch will be available for sale. A portion of funds raised during this pop-up will support local charities promoting entrepreneurship in Chattanooga.
Sponsored by First Republic Bank
Attract Business from Residents and Visitors
At this session, we’ll share data about Chattanooga’s tourism economy to help you understand the size of the market and make decisions for your businesses. We’ll also discuss marketing to diverse tourists and best practices for engaging visitors. You’ll leave this event with ideas on how to promote your business to our visitors and residents, and with a list of free ways to engage with Chattanooga Tourism Co.
Will This FLOAT?
This might be the start of a dream come true. Nine people with fresh, creative, fun visions will swallow their fears and doubts and take the stage to present business ideas in this pitch competition. Come see if their ideas FLOAT and connect with budding entrepreneurs.
The full list of companies selected to pitch can be viewed here.
Judges for the event include:
- Adrienne Cooper, founder and CEO of Moonlight Roller
- Erin Felton Lopez, Etsy Inc. Strategy & Analytics, MBA, Ex-Goldman Sachs
- Meilani Santillán, Program Director at Code for America
- Jay Shaffer, Angel Investor and Board Member of Atlanta Tech Angels
Tuesday, October 19, 2021
Make Room, She’s Speaking (about all things money and resources)
Join us for a panel discussion with local business women about financials, minimum viable product development, customer retention, team development, and more.
Hear from:
- Lauren Mindermann, founder of Lolo Bar, and journey of entering the CBD industry
- Porsche Torregano, TN&GA realtor, assisting owners maneuver in the brick and mortar decision-making
- Alicia Moore (Business Relations) from First Volunteer Bank
Sustainability and Recycling Pitch & Pilot Competition
The City of Chattanooga and The Company Lab are partnering for a Sustainability and Recycling Pitch & Pilot Competition.
The city and nonprofit are looking for creative ways to drive the waste management structures and infrastructure systems.
This includes changes to technology, infrastructure, and educating residents.
Members of the public are invited to submit ideas covering one or more of the five areas listed below.
- Circular Economy
- Cost Efficiency in Recycling Processes
- Consumer/resident Education
- Labor Reduction
- Composting
Four submissions will be selected to pilot in partnership with CO.LAB and the City of Chattanooga, and those selected will be awarded a small stipend.
Chosen solutions will present during Startup Week CHA 2021 on Tues. Oct. 19 at noon and be evaluated on:
- Understanding of problem/solutions
- Quality of recommendation
- Implementation
- Feasibility (including an estimated budget)
The selected solution(s) will be selected for pilot programs to assess their feasibility in Chattanooga.
As part of the pilot process, these four ideas will be presented as a pitch event on Wed. Oct. 19, 2021 as part of Startup Week CHA.
Applications are due Oct. 3, and selected applicants will be notified Oct. 10.
Anyone with an idea can email a proposal to [email protected]
TVFCU Idea Leap Pitch Competition
Join TVFCU for the Idea Leap Pitch Picnic on the front lawn of the Bessie Smith Cultural Center. Come early at 3:30 p.m. to set up your lawn chair or spread your picnic blanket and grab an early supper from Chatter Box Café for this outdoor, socially-distant event. The Pitch Competition will begin at 4 p.m. as Champion Christian Learning Academy, Chatt Taste Food Tours, LLC, Lil Mama's Chicago Style Hoagy, Salon Posh and Wild Violet Permaculture, LLC compete for the five Idea Leap Grants ($21K, $15K, $10K, $7K and $5K). In the event of rain, the event will be strictly virtual. Furthermore, if there is a COVID-19 case surge, the event may pivot to strictly virtual. Follow TVFCU on social media for event details
The Delta-8 THC Controversy
Delta-8 THC and CBD edibles are popular. But are they legal? Join us for a discussion on the current state of the local cannabis industry with a special focus on the status of Delta-8 THC and CBD as a food additive. Are you an (aspiring) entrepreneur operating in the legal grey zone of cannabis-derived products? Learn how to protect your business from the unexpected.
Wednesday, October 20, 2021
Tech & Startups & Jobs: Job Fair 2021
New this year! Join us for the inaugural Startup Week CHA Job Fair. Come meet area employers from tech-enabled startups to major and mid-sized businesses who are hiring right now.
Explore work opportunities from:
Austin Sizemore • FT - Sales/Real Estate Professionals
Bellhop • FT - Sales/Human Resources/Software/Operations/Management
Carbon Five • FT - Software
Chattanooga Selfie Museum • FT/PT - Management/Marketing
Chattanooga Tourism Co. • FT - Marketing
The City of Chattanooga • FT - Human Resources/Software/
Operations/Management
The Enterprise Center • FT - Marketing/Communications
EPB • FT - Customer Service/Technical Support/Network Engineering/Electrical Engineering/Resource Planning/Dispatch/Marketing/IT
Girls Inc. of Chattanooga • FT - Operation/Programs Coordinator
Iron Workers Local 704 • FT/PT - Skilled Labor/Operations
Komatsu • FT - Finance/Accounting/operations/skilled labor
Legacy Box • FT - Marketing/Human Resources/Customer Service/Software/Operations/Management
Marius Group • FT/PT/Intern - Sales/Marketing/Human Resources
M&M Industries • FT/PT - Maintenance Operators/Packers/Printers/Injection Molding
Novo Health Services •
Reliance Partners • FT - Sales/Marketing/Customer Service/Finance/Accounting/Software/Operations/Management
Robert Half • FT/PT - Marketing/Human Resources/Customer Service/Finance/Accounting
Shelly Cove • FT/PT - Operations
Skuid • FT
Steam Logistics • FT - Sales/Operations/Administration
Text Request • FT - Software
The Professional Cleaning Solution • FT/PT - Operations
Trident Transport • FT - Sales
It's Like Networking, But With Cheese
Gather to share ideas and brainstorm while you and your fellow Chattanoogans sample Artisan Cheese & Nut Mix pairings from Magnolia Fine Foods Co.
Thursday, October 21, 2021
Show Up & Be You
Expect any kind of business or personal growth to be met with resistance. Even though we want support from our loved ones, many times we get the opposite.
The “Show Up & Be You” (SUBY) talk will show that it’s possible to stop walking on eggshells and live your true life. You’ll learn ways to relieve stress, renew your purpose and feel revived.
You’ll experience a profound and simple technique that’s transformed hundreds of clients. Practiced on a regular basis you’ll experience ways to:
1. Disengage from pressure & stress
2. Set yourself up for success
3. Focus your energy on what matters most
4. Get back on track when you've been derailed
You can get unstuck and stop walking on eggshells. Knowing how to move forward with confidence is possible. You can influence with power & love, without regrets.
Begin the process of living your true life beyond messy relationships. There’s no guarantee that resistance won’t happen. But you have what it takes to move through it and into your purpose.
Leveraging Your Local Ecosystem for Growth
Text Request has grown nationally, in part, because of the resources and relationships we have access to right here in Chattanooga. Join Kenneth Burke, VP of Marketing at Text Request and Briana Garza-Wilson, co-founder of Chatt Taste, to learn how to leverage the local business ecosystem to build your reputation and revenue. David Martin, cofounder of Heed PR, will moderate. You'll walk away with a game plan to grow your brand, recruit top talent, increase sales, and move your business forward — all while giving back to our community.
What does TikTok do again?
Learn the basics of TikTok and get tips on using it from a millenial who found surprise success on this social media platform.
Download these images to your phone and post using the Instagram app.