Sponsored content presented by Nashville Entrepreneur Center
kAmx? a_a`[ |@?:42 2?5 tG6=J? qC25J 42>6 E@ E96 }t)% pH2C5D 2D 8F6DED @7 2 7C:6?5 7C@> y@9?D@? r:EJ]k^Am
kAmxE H2D 2 |@?52J ?:89E] q=24< E:6[ 2E E96 $496C>6C9@C?[ D6G6C2= 9F?5C65 A6@A=6 :? 2 DJ>A9@?J 92== 9@?@C:?8 7@F?56CD] xE H2D D@=5 @FE]k^Am
kAm(92E :>AC6DD65 E96> H2D E96 4F=EFC6 @7 E96 6G6?E] p 4:EJ H96C6 46=63C2E:?8 6?EC6AC6?6FCD :D 2 3=24<\E:6 @442D:@?] (96C6 2? 6G6?E 7@C 7@F?56CD 7:==D 2 DJ>A9@?J 92== @? 2 |@?52J] (96C6 D6G6C2= 9F?5C65 A6@A=6 3FJ 2 E:4<6E E@ 2AA=2F5 D@>63@5J 6=D6VD 4@>A2?J] %96 qC25JD 925 ?@E D66? 2 A=246 EC62E 3F:=56CD E92E H2J[ 2?5 :E C67C2>65 H92E 2 4:EJ 4@F=5 36 7@C E96 <:?5 @7 H@C< E96J H2?E65 E@ 5@]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm~?6 >@?E9 =2E6C[ E96J >@G65 E@ }2D9G:==6]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm%96J 2C6 DE:== E6==:?8 E92E DE@CJ 7:G6 J62CD @?] x? E96 >62?E:>6 E96J 3F:=E 2 4@>A2?J 96C6[ 2?5 E96? E96J 2AA=:65 E@ 36 2 }t)% pH2C5 H:??6Ci u=:<%@< :D 2 7:?2=:DE 7@C E96 a_ae }t)% pH2C5D :? |FD:4[ $A@CED[ v2>:?8 2?5 t?E6CE2:?>6?E] x? ~4E@36C E96 qC25J D:DE6CD H:== 36 324< :? E96 D2>6 C@@>[ @? E96 7=@@C =:DE6?:?8 7@C E96:C ?2>6]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm%96J C6=@42E65[ E96J 3F:=E[ 2?5 E96? E96J 2AA=:65] %92E :D H92E @?6 ?:89E :? E96 C@@> :D H@CE9] %96J H6C6 564:5:?8 H96C6 E@ 3F:=5[ 2?5 @?6 ?:89E 2?DH6C65 E96 BF6DE:@?]k^Am
k9a 5:ClQ=ECQm(92E :D 24EF2==J :? E96 C@@>k^9am
2026 NEXT Finalists
Photo: Chase Hartwell
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm}2D9G:==6 t?EC6AC6?6FC r6?E6C 92D ?2>65 ac 7:?2=:DED 7@C E96 a_ae }t)% pH2C5D 24C@DD 6:89E :?5FDECJ 42E68@C:6D] (:??6CD 2C6 2??@F?465 |@?52J[ ~4E@36C `h 2E E96 $496C>6C9@C? $J>A9@?J r6?E6C[ 2=@?8D:56 2 ?6H 4=2DD @7 t?EC6AC6?6FCDV w2== @7 u2>6 :?5F4E66D[ :? 7C@?E @7 C@F89=J e__ 3FD:?6DD =6256CD]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm%96 2AA=:42E:@?D 369:?5 E92E =:DE 2C6 F?FDF2==J C6G62=:?8[ 3642FD6 E96J H6C6 ?@E HC:EE6? 7@C E96 AF3=:4] %96J H6C6 HC:EE6? 7@C ;F586D] %96 7@F?56CD D9@H65 E96:C H@C<i H92E E96J 3F:=E[ H9@ E96J 3F:=E :E 7@C[ 2?5 H92E E96J C2:D65[ :7 2?JE9:?8]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm#625 2== ac E@86E96C 2?5 2 A2EE6C? 6>6C86D E92E E96 FDF2=Â C2?<:?8D 42??@E D66]k^Am
k9a 5:ClQ=ECQm$:Ik^9am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmtG6CJ J62C }2D9G:==6 86ED C2?<65 282:?DE pFDE:?[ |:2>:[ s6?G6C 2?5 #2=6:89[ 2?5 6G6CJ J62C E96 C2?<:?8 CF?D @? E96 D2>6 ?F>36Ci G6?EFC6 42A:E2= 56A=@J65] qJ E92E >62DFC6 }2D9G:==6 =2?5D >:5\E23=6 2?5 86ED 56D4C:365[ 86?6C@FD=J[ 2D 6>6C8:?8]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm$:I @7 E96 ac 7:?2=:DED 5:D4=@D65 @FED:56 :?G6DE>6?E]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmv=2DDw@FD6 C2:D65 Sb >:==:@? =65 3J }2D9G:==6 r2A:E2= }6EH@C<] r=62C w62=E9 C2:D65 Sd]a >:==:@? :? AC6\$6C:6D p 42A:E2=] 'x%{ E@@< 2 Sf]d >:==:@? $6C:6D p 7C@> $:8?2=u:C6] y2>yF:46 92D C2:D65 Sed_[___ 24C@DD EH@ C@F?5D] $@?2E2 q2?< 92D C2:D65 >@C6 E92? Sc_ >:==:@? D:?46 a_aa[ H9:49 :D H92E =2F?49:?8 2 32?< C6BF:C6D] |@>>JVD q23J qF88J D64FC65 2 7:CDE :?G6DE@C H9:=6 DE:== :? 56G6=@A>6?E] p6C2 $JDE6>D :D C2:D:?8 ?@H[ E@ >@G6 :?E@ 2 c_[___\DBF2C6\7@@E AC@5F4E:@? 724:=:EJ]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm%96 @E96C D6G6?E66? 56D4C:365 D@>6E9:?8 6=D6 6?E:C6=Ji 4@>A2?:6D 7F?565 3J 4FDE@>6CD]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm$A2C< qC2?565 $@=FE:@?D 92D E2<6? ?@ @FED:56 42A:E2= 2E 2==[ 2?5 :? E9C66 J62CD 92D H@? p==:2?46q6C?DE6:?[ yt sF?? 2?5 }2D9G:==6 $@446C r=F3 2D 4=:6?ED[ 366? ?2>65 2 q6DE !=246 E@ (@C< :? :ED :?5FDECJ EH@ J62CD CF??:?8[ 2?5 C2?<65 fa?5 2>@?8 >@C6 E92? ab[___ AC@>@E:@?2= AC@5F4ED 4@>A2?:6D :? E96 4@F?ECJ]Â k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmr96=D62 uC:52J uFC?:EFC6 92D 8C@H? 6G6CJ J62C D:?46 a_ac[ 42CC:6D K6C@ 563E[ 2?5 DE2CE65 :? E96 7@F?56CVD 9@FD6 27E6C 2 E649 =2J@77]Â k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmyp$!t# qF:=5D =2F?4965 :? |2C49 a_a_[ ?@ @?6 <?6H E92E H2D E96 AC64:D6 H@CDE >@>6?E E@ DE2CE 2 4@?DECF4E:@? 4@>A2?J[ @A6?65 H:E9 2 E62> @7 D:I[ 2?5 3J a_aa H2D 5@:?8 ?62C=J c_ A6C46?E @7 :ED H@C< :?D:56 E96 u@FC $62D@?D #6D:56?46D }2D9G:==6i ae C6D:56?46 EC2?D7@C>2E:@?D]Â k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm!9J==:D !@@=6 DE2CE65 {25J t=64EC:42= r@>A2?J H9:=6 H@C<:?8 2 7F==\E:>6 ;@3[ FD:?8 96C @H? >@?6J[ H:E9 ?@ 3FD:?6DD 324<8C@F?5] $96 :D ?@H 2 76>2=6 |2DE6C t=64EC:4:2? H9@ 92D DF34@?EC24E65 @? E96 ?6H %:E2?D DE25:F>]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm%96D6 7@F?56CD 36E @? E96>D6=G6D 2?5 H9J }2D9G:==6 D9@HD FA 2E E96 }t)% pH2C5D]k^Am
k9a 5:ClQ=ECQm%96 @3;64E:@?[ 2?5 E96 2?DH6Ck^9am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm%96 C62D@?23=6 AFD9324< :D E92E 3@@EDEC2AA:?8 :D ;FDE D=@H[ 2?5 E92E E96 G6?EFC6 A2E9 6I:DED 3642FD6 DA665 >2EE6CD]k^Am
kAm%9:D 4=2DD 5@6D ?@E DFAA@CE E92E]k^Am
kAm'x%{ H2D 7@F?565 :? a_ac 2?5 DA6?E :ED 7:CDE J62C 3@@EDEC2AA65] ~?=J E96? 5:5 :E C2:D6[ 2?5 E96 C@F?5 2CC:G65 H:E9@FE 2 A:E49 564<[ 3642FD6 E96 :?G6DE@CD 42>6 =@@<:?8] $:IE66? >@?E9D 7C@> 7@F?5:?8[ 'x%{ H2D D6CG:?8 >@C6 E92? eb_ 4=:?:4D 2?5 `[___ AC6D4C:36CD ?2E:@?H:56]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmu@F?56C r92C=:6 y@C52? 42>6 FA E9C@F89 %6??6DD66 %649 2?5 2 z?@IG:==6 6?EC6AC6?6FCD9:A AC@8C2>[ H96C6 @?6 @7 9:D >6?E@CD H2D }2D9G:==6VD |2C< |@?E8@>6CJ] ~?46 y@C52? 3F:=E 'x%{[ |@?E8@>6CJ DE@AA65 36:?8 9:D >6?E@C 2?5 3642>6 @?6 @7 9:D 6>A=@J66D] %92E :D E96 <:?5 @7 E9:?8 E92E 92AA6?D :? 2 4:EJ H96C6 E96 A6@A=6 H9@ 92G6 2=C625J 3F:=E D@>6E9:?8 DE2J 4=@D6 6?@F89 E@ ;@:? E96 ?6IE @?6]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmy2>yF:46 =2F?4965 :? y2?F2CJ a_ad] u@FCE66? >@?E9D =2E6C :E H2D @A6C2E:?8 :? E6? >2C<6ED 24C@DD D:I DE2E6D[ H:E9 6:89E 6>A=@J66D 2?5 >@?6J :? 7C@> {2F?49%}]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm$@?2E2 q2?< @A6?65 :? a_aa 2?5 7:?:D965 a_ad 7:CDE :? =@2? 8C@HE9 2>@?8 %6??6DD66 32?<D 2?5 7:CDE :? 56A@D:E 8C@HE9 2>@?8 }2D9G:==6 32?<D[ 282:?DE 4@>A6E:E@CD H:E9 564256D @7 9625 DE2CE]k^Am
kAm$A665 :D ?@E H92E }2D9G:==6 =24<D] x? 2 =2C86 ?F>36C @7 :?5FDEC:6D E96 4FDE@>6C :D 2 72DE6C 2?5 4962A6C D@FC46 @7 42A:E2= E92? 2? :?G6DE@C[ 2?5 E96 7@F?56CD 96C6 92G6 ?@E:465]k^Am
k9a 5:ClQ=ECQm%96 A2CE ?@3@5J C2?<Dk^9am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm%96 D64@?5 A2EE6C? :D H92E E96D6 4@>A2?:6D 24EF2==J >2<6]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm%96 a_ae 4=2DD :?4=F56D 2? 6=64EC:42= 4@?EC24E@C 2?5 2 >@5F=2C 9@>63F:=56C H@C<:?8 :? 4C@DD\=2>:?2E65 E:>36C]Â k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm!C:4<=J !62C r@7766 r@][ DE2CE65 3J 2? `g\J62C\@=5 H:E9 2 7@=5:?8 E23=6 2?5 2? 6DAC6DD@ >249:?6 5FC:?8 E96 a_a_ =@4<5@H?D[ ?@H CF?D EH@ DE@C67C@?ED[ EH@ 4@7766 42>A6CD 2?5 2 42E6C:?8 42CE]Â k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm{:>@ !6CFG:2? t2E6CJ 3682? :? a_`e 2D 2 7@@5 ECF4< 2E E96 }2D9G:==6 u2C>6CD |2C<6E[ :?4F32E65 3J r@?6I:@? p>6C:42D[ 2?5 :D ?@H 2 7F==\D6CG:46 C6DE2FC2?E H:E9 2 D64@?5 =@42E:@? 4@>:?8]Â k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQms6G|2C |2?F724EFC:?8 9@=5D a` 8=@32==J :DDF65 A2E6?ED @? 3:@92K2C5 23D@C36?E E649?@=@8J] }2D9G:==6 p5G6?EFC6D :D 2 G6E6C2?\@H?65 E@FC 4@>A2?J H:E9 2 7:G6\DE2C C2E:?8 2?5 >@C6 E92? E6? A6@A=6 @? A2JC@==]Â k^Am
kAmv:?2VD $<:??J xE2=:2?[ 2 D6=7\7F?565 @?6\H@>2? G6?EFC6[ C624965 2== d_ DE2E6D H:E9:? D:I >@?E9D @7 =2F?49:?8 @? p>2K@?]Â k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmp=496>J @7 u@@5 =2?565 2 ?2E:@?H:56 =2F?49 H:E9 $AC@FED u2C>6CD |2C<6E 2?5 6IA2?565 :?E@ >@C6 E92? c_ :?56A6?56?E C6E2:=6CD]Â k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmyw# !9@E@8C2A9J 3682? 2D 2 9@33J 3FD:?6DD CF? 7C@> 24E:G6 5FEJ 2?5 3642>6 2? px\?2E:G6 >65:2 @A6C2E:@? 27E6C :ED 7@F?56C C6E:C65 7C@> $A64:2= u@C46D]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm$@7EH2C6 :D AC6D6?E[ 3FE >@DE=J 2D =6G6C286 C2E96C E92? 2D E96 AC@5F4E]Â k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmv=2DDw@FD6 3F:=5D D@7EH2C6 E@ D6== E@ E96 EC256D] %9:C5 !6CD@? 3F:=5D :?7C2DECF4EFC6 7@C E9:C5\A2CEJ =@8:DE:4D AC@G:56CD] p6C2 $JDE6>D >2?F724EFC6D 9@>6D E92E :?DE2== :? b_ 52JD 2?5 FD6 g_ A6C46?E =6DD 6?6C8J[ 2?5 :ED 7:CDE 56=:G6C65 9@>6 H2D 277@C523=6 9@FD:?8 7@C 25F=ED H:E9 :?E6==64EF2= 2?5 56G6=@A>6?E2= 5:D23:=:E:6D]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm$6G6C2= @7 E96D6 7@F?56CD 2C6 2:>65 DBF2C6=J 2E }2D9G:==6VD @H? F?D@=G65 AC@3=6>D] w@FD:?8 4@DE] r9:=542C6 64@?@>:4D] %96 3@@<:?8 492@D F?56C?62E9 E96 =:G6 >FD:4 64@?@>J E96 4:EJVD 6?E:C6 3C2?5 C6DED @?]k^Am
kAm%96 D@4:2= 6?E6CAC:D6D :? E9:D 4=2DD 2C6 7C6BF6?E=J E96 AFC6DE 6IAC6DD:@? @7 E96 A2EE6C?]Â k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm(2E6CD965 (6==?6DD r~~![ 2 H@C<6C\@H?65 >6?E2= 962=E9 AC24E:46 :? |25:D@?[ 3F:=E :ED @H? :?DFC2?46 3:==:?8 :?7C2DECF4EFC6 :? J62C @?6 E@ 4=62C E96 4C656?E:2=:?8 3@EE=6?64< E92E DE2==D :?56A6?56?E AC24E:E:@?6CD[ E96? 9:C65 282:?DE :E] %96 s6A2CE>6?E @7 rFC:@FD %9:?8D DE2CE65 :ED 49:=5C6?VD 3@@< 4=F3D 7C66[ 7@F?5 2 AC:46 72>:=:6D H6C6 8=25 E@ A2J[ 2?5 EC:A=65] {:?<a{2E:?@D qFD:?6DD 96=A65 @?6 4=:6?E D64FC6 :ED 7:CDE 3FD:?6DD =@2?[ H@CE9 S`]d >:==:@?] w2C>@?:K6 pCE:DED u@F?52E:@? 92D 7F?565 E9C66 pCE:DE s6G6=@A>6?E pH2C5 H:??6CD :? EH@ J62CD]Â k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm}@?6 @7 E96> C2:D65 2 C@F?5] p== @7 E96> 3F:=E D@>6E9:?8 E92E 5:5 ?@E AC6G:@FD=J 6I:DE]k^Am
k9a 5:ClQ=ECQm(92E E@ E2<6 7C@> :Ek^9am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmx7 J@F CF? 2 4@>A2?J :? |:55=6 %6??6DD66[ E9C66 E9:?8D 96C6 2C6 H@CE9 24E:?8 @?]k^Am
kAm#6G6?F6 :D 2G2:=23=6 42A:E2=] $6G6?E66? @7 ac 7:?2=:DED 8C6H @? 4FDE@>6C >@?6J[ 2?5 D6G6C2= 8C6H 72DE] u=:<%@<[ 7@F?565 :? a_ad 2?5 E96 J@F?86DE 4@>A2?J @? E96 =:DE[ D9:AA65 :ED 2AA E@ 3@E9 >2;@C DE@C6D 2?5 @?3@2C565 :ED 7:CDE E9@FD2?5 FD6CD 367@C6 AFCDF:?8 2?JE9:?8 6=D6]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm{@42= 42A:E2= C6H2C5D AC@@7] %96 }2D9G:==6 >@?6J :? E9:D 4=2DD 2CC:G65 27E6C EC24E:@?[ ?@E 367@C6 :E] 'x%{ C2:D65 7C@> DEC6?8E9 2?5 <6AE :ED E6C>D] x7 J@F 2C6 3F:=5:?8 E@H2C5 2 C2:D6[ E96 D6BF6?46 E92E H@C<D 96C6 :D C6G6?F6 7:CDE]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm~H?6CD9:A 4@>A@F?5D] %96 7@F?56CD H9@ <6AE E96:C 6BF:EJ <6AE E96:C @AE:@?2=:EJ] %92E :D ?@E :56@=@8J[ :E :D 2 32=2?46 D966E] p?5 H96? E96D6 4@>A2?:6D 6I:E[ >@C6 @7 E96 AC@4665D DE2J H:E9 A6@A=6 H9@ =:G6 96C6]k^Am
k9a 5:ClQ=ECQm(9J E96 ?:89E >2EE6CDk^9am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmpH2C5D 2C6 62DJ E@ 36 4J?:42= 23@FE] %9:D @?6 >@G65 2 4@>A2?J 96C6] %96 qC25J D:DE6CD 2C6 E96 6G:56?46 E92E 2 4:EJ H9:49 AF3=:4=J 46=63C2E6D :ED 3F:=56CD C64CF:ED >@C6 @7 E96>]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm%92E :D 2=D@ E96 42D6 7@C DA@?D@CD9:A] $E2?5:?8 369:?5 E9:D C64@8?:E:@? :D ?@E 3C2?5 A=246>6?E ?6IE E@ 2 =@8@ H2==] xE :D 2 4@>A2?J D2J:?8[ :? E96 C@@>[ :? 7C@?E @7 e__ A6@A=6[ E92E :E :?E6?5D E@ 36 A2CE @7 9@H }2D9G:==6 EC62ED E96 A6@A=6 H9@ 3F:=5 96C6] tG6CJ 7:?2=:DE :? E9:D 2CE:4=6 H2D[ 2E D@>6 A@:?E C646?E=J[ 2 A6CD@? 564:5:?8 H96E96C E9:D 4:EJ H@F=5 E2<6 E96> D6C:@FD=J]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm%H6?EJ\7@FC @7 E96> 7@F?5 @FE E92E :E 5@6D]k^Am
k9a 5:ClQ=ECQm~?6 ?:89E[ @?6 C@@>k^9am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm%96 a_ae }t)% pH2C5D 2?5 t?EC6AC6?6FCDV w2== @7 u2>6[ AC6D6?E65 3J p>2K@?[ :D |@?52J[ ~4E@36C `h 2E E96 $496C>6C9@C? $J>A9@?J r6?E6C] p== ac 7:?2=:DED H:== 36 E96C6[ 2=@?8 H:E9 C@F89=J e__ 3FD:?6DD =6256CD[ 2 ?6H w2== @7 u2>6 4=2DD[ 2?5 6=6G6? EC@A9:6D]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm%96D6 2C6 ?@E AC@>:D:?8 :562D] %96J 2C6 4@>A2?:6D H:E9 C6G6?F6[ A2JC@== 2?5 4FDE@>6CD[ >@DE @7 E96> 3F:=E H:E9@FE A6C>:DD:@? 7C@> 2?J@?6 @? 2 4@2DE]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmr@>6 7:?5 @FE H9:49 @?6D H:?] p?5 :7 E9:D :D E96 C@@> J@FC 4@>A2?J D9@F=5 36 DE2?5:?8 :?[ E96C6 :D DE:== E:>6 E@ 36 A2CE @7 :E]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]6G6?E3C:E6]4@>^6^a_ae\?6IE\2H2C5D\2?5\6?EC6AC6?6FCD\92==\@7\72>6\E:4<6ED\`hhfdgehghcdhQmv6E E:4<6EDk^2m M k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^64]4@^?6IE\2H2C5D\a_ae^Qmq64@>6 2 a_ae DA@?D@Ck^2m k^Am
k9C ^m
kAmr@>A2?J 56E2:=D :? E9:D 2CE:4=6 2C6 D6=7\C6A@CE65 3J 7:?2=:DED :? E96:C a_ae }t)% pH2C5D 2AA=:42E:@?D]k^Am