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The NOVA Entrepreneur Center Newsletter for Southern Middle TN
Keeping it REAL for November 2025 & Beyond

The Hype:
The inaugural Rural Frontier Pitch Challenge was a success!

Read about the startups who pitched at the event, see the pictures, and check out the upcoming schedule of events.

Check it Out!

Read More

The Focus:
Rural Frontier Entrepreneurship (RFE) presented at the ACBSP Conference.

Check out the presentation NOVA presented in Knoxville, Tennessee, at the ACBSP Conferenced on Nov 7, 2025. Let us know if you would like us to come present to your company or group on how NOVA EC is transforming Southern Middle TN.

The Radar:
Speer / NOVA Innovators in Action Speaker Series

Come hear innovation in action at Speer / NOVA Innovators in Action Speakers Series. Real founders, real lessons, and practical insights you can use tomorrow. Our kick-off on the speaker series features Zap on Dec 4 @ 11:30am.

RSVP Today!

The Numbers:
Progress towards goals for FY 26 (Cumulative Results)

The Alliance:

Who have we talked to over the last month?

10/29 - Met with Brenda Speers and Cheri Thomas to discuss the new Speer / NOVA Innovators in Action Speaker Series launching on Dec 4 at 11:30am,
10/30 - Met with Dr. Tesa Jolly and her team to brainstorm the new Goodworks Foundation.
10/31 – Awesome meeting with LaunchTN's CEO, Lindsey Cox, along with Ashlin Smith and Emily Masters, to review our slides and topic for the Rural Frontier Entrepreneurship messaging
11/3 - Monthly check-in with Ashlin Smith at Launch Tennessee.
11/3 - Lunch with Ryan Egly, the President & CEO at Lawrence County Chamber in Lawrenceburg.
11/5 - Presented at UT Southern on Tap at Kitchen 218 on the topic of RFE.
11/6 - Attended the UTK Supply Chain Forum in Knoxville, TN
11/7 - Met with our new boss, Maha Krishnamurthy, who is the President of the UT Research Foundation.
11/7 - Presented at the ACBSP Southeastern Regional Conference in Knoxville on the topic of Rural Frontier Entrepreneurship.
11/10 - Presented at the Rotary Club of Pulaski on the topic of NOVA and RFE in Southern Middle TN.
11/10 - Met with Kristen Scheff to write a business plan and operations standard for a holiday fashion pop -up .
11/11 - Met with Cal Turner Jr, the former CEO and Chairman of Dollar General, to discuss the NOVA EC.
11/11 - Met with Pete Nelson, President and CEO of AgLaunch.
11/11 - Mentoring session with Startup Founder, Michael Bell, who started the clothing line PeaceandParadise.
11/11 - Mentored w/ the Goodworks Foundation Team
11/12 - FlatRock Furniture donated and furnished the NOVA offices at Makeshift. Thank you!!
11/13 - Mentored with entrepreneur Kevin Auwarter on business ideas.
11/13 - Mentoring Session with the UTS Business 101 class.
11/13 - RFE pitch competition with the following companies: PeaceandParadise, The Social Court, Blue Velvet, First-Due Locator, Parknson, REC 101, and GoodWorks.
11/17 - Calls with the LaunchTN team.
11/17 - Guest Lecture on the topic of Entrepreneurship at the UT Southern Sport Management Class.
11/17 - Meeting with the UT Southern Admissions team to talk about how to promote NOVA EC with potential students.
11/17 - Presentation to the Paulski City Council Working Session on the topic of NOVA EC and Rural Frontier Entrepreneurship
11/18 - Presentation to the UT Southern Business Advisory Council on the topic of NOVA and RFE.
11/18 - Presentation to Landmark Ceramics and discussion on how we can collaborate on internships, training, and growing businesses.
11/18 - Met with Brandon Lee to write the business plan and operations standard for a mobile automotive concept.
11/19 - NOVA Monthly Leadership Meeting
11/19 - Discussion with Wes Chiles regarding a potential philanthropic venture for Pacific Pride; Commercial Fuel and Systems.
11/20 - Knox Vanderpool - Warehouse visit and meeting to discuss partnership potential plus discussion at UTS Business 101 class
11/20 - Mentoring sessions with the UTS Business 101 class.
11/20 - Mentorship meeting with Goodworks Foundation.
11/21 - John Siedlecki - Meeting with Integrated Transfer Solutions (TSI) and assistance with applying for a grant from LendTN .
11/24-11/30 - Happy Thanksgiving!

An awesome audience at the Nov 6 NOVA EC Rural Frontier Entrepreneurship Pitch Competition!

The Ask:
Where We Need Your Support

The NOVA EC is looking for business mentors in the fields of Community Business and Services, Retail, FinTech, AgTech, Supply Chain, AI, Non-Profit, and More. If you like to work with people and want to share your expertise, please contact us at info@news.novaec.org.

If you, a friend, family member, or acquaintance is dreaming of starting a business but not sure where to start? Reach out to us at the NOVA Entrepreneur Center. We offer mentorship, business resources, and channels to funding. Schedule an appointment on our website.

The NOVA EC is always looking to connect students with internship opportunities. If you are interested in hiring an intern, please contact us at info@news.novaec.org.

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