DREW’S NEWS
photo courtesy of Newschannel 9
Greetings from Chattanooga,
Last issue, we spoke of empowerment, and how empowering individuals with a similar purpose can collectively build momentum in a community. If you haven’t seen the headlines of the planned demise of the BDC (and the displacement of the INCubator, one of the most successful in the nation), this is where the theory meets the pavement. With a fresh generation of local founders moving into the energy, manufacturing and robotics space, and a critical vote on the BDC looming, we are seeing the literal physical presence of Chattanooga small business entrepreneurship being reshaped in real-time.
Growth is never a frictionless process, and while public sectors often tout grand visions and even bigger promises, it’s important to remember we cannot rely on siloed efforts to carry us through. It requires a synchronized push from all of us — public and private — to maintain our velocity. When local government protects the "soil" and private innovators plant the "seeds," we drive the kind of momentum that inertia can't stop.
So tonight (Wednesday, April 30th), I encourage you to drop by the pavilion at Renaissance Park (directly across from the BDC) at 5:30 PM. Come hear from the seed planters—the small business owners and tenants who currently occupy the BDC—to find out what they need from the county to protect our soil, together.
After all, we’re entrepreneurs, aren’t we? We know first hand that ideas are a dime a dozen. It’s the execution and timing that matter most.
See you around town,
Drew
🚀 Connections + Congrats
Do it right, not right now: The fight for the Business Development Center (BDC) has reached a fever pitch as we approach the final May 6th vote. The Chattanooga Times Free Press recently detailed how this facility became a powerhouse for small business growth, serving as the launchpad for companies that define our modern economy.
Chattanooga Entrepreneur Week: Starting Friday, Chattanooga Entrepreneur Week 2026 is officially in full swing, and the itinerary spans the spectrum, from grant writing to crisis communication. Spend an hour or the week learning and providing value where you can.
Public sector leveraging resources: In a recent interview, Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly offered a 50,000 foot view of how the city is leveraging generative AI and quantum computing to improve government efficiency and continuity. He highlighted that AI tools have already boosted IT productivity by 65% and drastically cut correspondence time. It’s an important reminder how leadership
Brickyard Fund II’s First Check: Congrats to Maanav Iyengar and Vishrut Bohara of Retina Robotics. They’ve officially become the inaugural investment for Brickyard Fund II. It’s a strong signal that Brickyard continues to recruit high-intensity founders to the area (at least temporarily).
Energy Accelerator Sprint: CO.LAB’s The Energy Innovation Accelerator has officially kicked off. Four founders are spending six weeks in town to partner with local industry giants, focusing on "Decision AI" to optimize how our region produces and consumes power. Meet the cohort here.
Southside Pizza Goes North: A St. Elmo staple is expanding. Mr. T’s Pizza and Ice Cream is bringing its iconic brand to Ooltewah. It’s awesome to see a local businesses scale their footprint while keeping their culture intact. More importantly, it’s a story of how ETA’s (entrepreneurs through acquisition) can execute a modern expansion vision on a classic local brand.
Fundraising Rules (4/30): Today is the day! CO.LAB and VentureSouth are hosting a deep dive into Fundraising Rules for Startups. As Marielle Santos recently shared, understanding the "why" behind the numbers is what separates a pitch from a partnership.
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
Hamilton County BDC Meet, Greet and Tour
Let’s talk, learn and tour the BDC to better understand the upcoming vote on whether to sell this unique entrepreneur center.
Date: April 29, 2026, 5:30 pm
Location: Renaissance Park Pavilion
RSVP here: LINK
Chattanooga Entrepreneur Week
CEW will be spread out at various entrepreneur organizations around the city, with different topics and themes for each day.
Date: May 1 - 8,
Location: Various
RSVP here: LINK
Fundraising Rules for Startups
Paul Clark, VentureSouth
Date: April 30, 2026, 11:30-1pm
Location:Chambliss
RSVP here: LINK
Spring Forum: Thoughtfully Preparing Communities for Energy & AI
Date: Friday, May 1st, 10am
Location: Chattanooga Aquarium
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 AI Reality Check: Andrew Youderian just dropped a startling nugget for e-commerce brands: in a study of 300+ companies, 72% of AI adopters saw zero financial edge. Is that likely to change? Sure, but Subscriptions to "AI tools" won't save a bad business model; substance and operational efficiency are still king.
🔑 Connections + Opportunities
Our friends at Delegator are hiring, looking for strategic talent to join their growing digital marketing and media teams. Current openings include specialized roles for Search Engine Marketing (SEM) Managers, Paid Social Media Managers, and Digital Media Strategists. If you’re ready to drive measurable results for national brands from right here in Chattanooga, check out their current opportunities.
Link: Delegator Careers
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.