# Launch Tennessee (LaunchTN)

> Launch Tennessee (LaunchTN) is a Nashville-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit and public-private partnership that helps Tennessee founders raise capital, commercialize research, and find each other. Working alongside the state's Department of Economic and Community Development, it runs a $70 million equity fund, a federal grant-matching program that has helped Tennessee companies generate more than $1 billion in economic impact, and the annual 3686 entrepreneurship conference - stitching nine regions into one investable ecosystem.

- **Founded:** 2012
- **Headquarters:** Nashville, Tennessee, United States
- **Founders:** State of Tennessee / Tennessee General Assembly (Founding public partner (as Tennessee Technology Development Corporation, 1998))
- **Team size:** ~29 employees
- **Products:** InvestTN, SBIR/STTR Matching Fund, Tennessee Technology Advancement Consortium (TTAC), 3686 Conference, Regional Entrepreneur Center Network
- **Notable:** SBIR/STTR Matching Fund companies surpassed $1 billion in cumulative economic impact (FY26)., Helped grow Tennessee's annual SBIR/STTR grant capture from ~$13 million (2016) to ~$35 million (2022)., Launched InvestTN, a $70 million equity fund, with TNECD (2023).

## Products & services

- **InvestTN** — A $70 million equity fund investing in Tennessee-based startups and venture capital firms to promote innovation and economic growth across the state.
- **SBIR/STTR Matching Fund** — Matching funds and application support that help Tennessee small businesses win and leverage federal research grants; the program's companies have surpassed $1 billion in cumulative economic impact.
- **Tennessee Technology Advancement Consortium (TTAC)** — A commercialization consortium with university partners offering innovation fellowships, travel grants, proof-of-concept funding, and technology maturation grants to move research toward market.
- **3686 Conference** — LaunchTN's flagship annual entrepreneurship conference (formerly 36|86 and Southland), gathering founders, investors, and partners from across the country.
- **Regional Entrepreneur Center Network** — A network of nine regional partners delivering local mentorship, resources, and startup support across Tennessee.
- **Southeast Capital Calls** — A program connecting regional startups with investors through curated capital-call events.
- **Startup Tennessee** — An online resource center aggregating events, programs, and support for Tennessee founders.
- **TNIPA / Tennessee Innovation Exchange** — Intellectual property and technology-commercialization support services connecting research institutions with industry.
- **The Pitch** — A bi-weekly newsletter featuring startup news, funding updates, and resources for Tennessee entrepreneurs.

## Achievements

- SBIR/STTR Matching Fund companies surpassed $1 billion in cumulative economic impact (FY26).
- Helped grow Tennessee's annual SBIR/STTR grant capture from ~$13 million (2016) to ~$35 million (2022).
- Launched InvestTN, a $70 million equity fund, with TNECD (2023).
- Deployed the full $28.8 million INCITE fund, credited with roughly $1.25 billion in economic impact.
- Grew the 3686 conference into a national-draw event now in its 12th year.
- Selected to lead a Kauffman Foundation-backed national study on heartland innovation.

## Latest updates

- **2026-08** — SBIR/STTR Matching Fund surpasses $1 billion in cumulative economic impact for Tennessee companies (FY26).
- **2025-09** — 3686 conference returns for its 12th year, Sept. 8-10, expanding programming.
- **2024-01** — TTAC pilot launches, Tennessee House debuts at SXSW, and Startup Tennessee online resource center goes live.
- **2023-01** — Fund Tennessee and the $70M InvestTN fund launch; Community Partner Program begins.

## Links

- Website: https://launchtn.org
- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/launchtn
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/LaunchTN
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/LaunchTN
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/launchtn/
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/LaunchTN

---

Profile page: https://yespress.io/launchtn
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-16