DREW’S NEWS
Greetings from Chattanooga,
What does empowerment look like to you? For me, the momentum in Chattanooga right now isn't just coming from the founders and ecosystem connectors; it’s bubbling up from your neighbors. Whether it’s citizens pitching "seeds" to grow our National Park City status or entrepreneurs buying classic Chattanooga brands (shout out to Clumpies), there is a sense that we are no longer waiting for permission to make this city better—we are just doing it.
If you want to see what an empowered community looks like, look no further than the National Park City Seeds dashboard. It’s a literal map of our collective work to be better—residents pitching everything from "River to Ridge" run clubs to multi-cultural markets at Coolidge Park (and I’m partial to the idea of creating a recreation area on Maclellen Island and connecting to the Riverwalk, just sayin’.) This isn’t just fairy dust pitches that will never see the light of day; it’s about a city (and citizens) that feels equipped to design its own future.
Let’s call it our Empowerment Era, and I’m here for it.
See you around town,
Drew
🚀 Connections + Congrats
What are we doing, y’all? Did you know the heart of Chattanooga’s startup scene is currently under threat? Today, April 15th, a proposal will be presented to the Hamilton County Commission to sell the Business Development Center (BDC)—the 100-year-old former American Lava building on the North Shore. As the home of the INCubator (the 3rd largest in the U.S.), this facility was a public gift intended to serve as a permanent engine for local jobs. Selling it for a one-time real estate profit risks sabotaging the specialized infrastructure—think manufacturing, mechatronics, and robotics—that simply cannot be replicated in luxury condos or traditional office spaces. Learn how you can help here.
A BDC Success Story: If you want to know what we stand to lose, look at Ella Livingston and Cocoa Asante. Ella quietly built her ethically sourced, bean-to-bar chocolate business inside the INCubator for years. When she had a "unicorn moment" in 2023—with a Keith Lee review that generated $100,000 in orders in a single month—the only reason she could handle the scale was the BDC’s specialized industrial infrastructure. Recently, she secured capital to scale even further, and is now projecting $50M in revenue by 2029, all from here in Chattanooga (and thanks to the BDC). And maybe the most important note of all: She’s creating jobs! Here’s one for Head of Operations.
Emerging from Stealth: Backed by Brickyard, Askari Defense founders Robbie van Zyl, Marc van Zyl, and Benjamin Airdo are building low-cost, handheld kinetic defense systems to counter the rising threat of malicious drones. It’s another example of high-stakes technology being forged by founders who chose Chattanooga as their launchpad.
Sweet Deal: A huge congratulations to Ashley Bottoms, the new owner of the iconic Clumpies Ice Cream Co. Rock City Gardens (See Rock City Inc.) announced the sale this week as they shift their focus back to their core Lookout Mountain attractions. Ashley is a veteran of the brand who has spent years helping build the Clumpies experience.
Camp with Goats: In one of the most uniquely Chattanooga stories of the year, Backpacker Magazine featured our Maclellan Island goats. Bonus: you can now camp with them. The goats aren't just for atmosphere; they are the "landscaping crew" helping to restore the island's ecosystem by grazing on invasive species. It’s a primitive camping experience right in the heart of downtown (and I’ll remind you, one we need to connect to the Riverwalk.)
Paying it Forward: UTC recently profiled Cap Nguyen, a standout alum who credits the university for "taking a chance" on him. It’s Drews-News-worthy because Nguyen is now a project manager for NASA in Houston and worked on Artemis II. Congrats to Cap, and a reflection of local talent doing truly amazing work.
Introducing an acquisition newsletter for the serious buyer
I’ve started a separate weekly acquisition brief called Letter of Intent, a highly-curated brief at regional and remote cash-flowing SMBs for serious buyers.
🗓️ Upcoming Events
Chattanooga Founders Forum
XPeditions with Builder Brock
Date: April 16, 2026, noon
Location:The Arena
RSVP here: LINK
Planning for Growth and Transition
in Your Business
An Exclusive Panel for Business Owners
Date: April 23, 8 AM
Location: Chambliss
RSVP here: LINK
Fundraising Rules for Startups
Paul Clark, VentureSouth
Date: April 30, 2026, 11:30-1pm
Location:Chambliss
RSVP here: LINK
Standing Invite: Career Pivots
Join Mary Stargel at Studio Ours for the next "Standing Invite." This session focuses on Career Pivots, providing a space for those looking to transition from traditional corporate roles into the entrepreneurial or community-building space.
Date: April 17th
Location: Studio Ours
RSVP here: Link
Have an event? Reply to this email.
💰 Connections + Capital
TVFCU Idea Leap Loans and Grants - Applications open again in July 2026 - TVFCU's Idea Leap initiative is distributing $225,000 in grants of up to $30,000 each to qualified small businesses. Eligibility requirements include: 2-25 employees (owner included), maximum annual revenue of $2.5 million, at least 12 months of operational history with proven revenue generation, and location within TVFCU's 17-county service area.
InvestTN Regional Seed Fund - This is a $28M Tennessee-focused initiative investing in startups served by 7 Regional Entrepreneur Centers across all 95 counties. Investments range from $25,000 to $250,000.
Small Business Innovation Research Program - Transform your innovations into market-ready solutions with the SBIR Program. This strategic federal funding initiative empowers small businesses to commercialize cutting-edge research and technology. Whether you're developing next-generation solutions or pioneering scientific breakthroughs, SBIR provides the capital and resources to accelerate your journey from concept to commercialization.
📈 Connections + Insights
The Axial Q1 2026 SMB M&A Pipeline report reveals a market defined by "cautious optimism," where high-quality, cash-flowing businesses remain the most sought-after assets despite increased valuation discipline. While 70.5% of dealmakers expect a stronger year, the "SBA rug pull" regarding new delinquency rules is creating fresh friction for first-time and minority investors looking to acquire local legacies. The data shows that most stalled deals are merely on "hold" for better financial readiness rather than dying outright, proving that in 2026, substance and preparation are the only true currencies.
🔑 Connections + Opportunities
Community Land Trust Director | Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise (CNE)
CNE is looking for an entrepreneurial, development-focused leader to manage their Land Trust. This role is critical for securing the long-term affordability and sustainable growth of our neighborhoods. LINK
Special Events Programs Supervisor | City of Chattanooga
Help manage the literal "activation" of the public spaces we’ve been talking about. Link
Footnotes
My mission is to cultivate the startup community through connection. I'm a big believer in building this newsletter in public, so if you have ideas on how to further this ecosystem initiative, reply back to this email and let's work on this together.
This community is made up of small business owners, investment bankers, organizers, investors and economic development leaders who all share a belief that a rising tide lifts all boats. Share this email to someone who will provide value to this community.
We are (slowly) building a database for Chattanooga that will be published soon for free. Have you submitted your startup? Help me build this community resource here.
I'm also building a curated database of businesses for sale. Trying to slog through the noise has been tricky. If you know of a business owner who might be thinking of an exit, let me know. I have a database of pre-vetted buyers ready to buy and scale local businesses.