DREW’S NEWS
Greetings from Chattanooga,
I’m tweaking a few things with the newsletter. I hope you enjoy the new look (and the new hosting platform). I’m hopeful this improves deliverability and engagement.
I’m looking for feedback for Drew’s News, so if you have ideas, reply back. We’re all in this together.
See you around town,
Drew
🚀 Connections + Congrats
Ryan Seaberg’s EirSystems is bring some much-needed precision to medication administration, and their recent progress is a textbook example of Chattanooga health-tech innovation. They are tackling a gap in patient safety, proving once again that some of the best solutions for global healthcare are being built right here in our backyard.
The Sports Business Journal’s deep dive into our new Lookout’s MiLB ballpark development is a great read for anyone interested in urban growth. It highlights how Chattanooga is using sports-anchored development to create a truly authentic community space, rather than just another cookie-cutter stadium.
One to One Health has secured a $12 million investment from Frist Cressey Ventures to accelerate their AI-enabled primary care platform. This minority growth investment is a huge signal for our local health-tech scene; it’s designed to scale their proprietary "Intelligent Care Manager" nationwide as employer demand for high-ROI healthcare models continues to surge.
Congrats to two local favorites, Neidlov’s and Caliope, on making the semifinalist list for the 2026 James Beard Awards.
Pinch AI just raised $5M in a round co-led by Chattanooga’s own Dynamo and Infinity Ventures. While not local, the investment round is, and seeing our local VCs lead a major seed round for a high-growth AI startup is a reminder how we’re punching above our weight.
Ji Hoon Heo and his team at DIY Wrap Club is seeing strong growth and just launched a fresh rebrand to match their scaling operations. They are a great example of a "product-led" Chattanooga business finding its groove in a niche market.
Finally, check out how Homestand AI is decoding complex HOA rules to save homeowners and real estate pros a massive headache. A Brickyard company, they are utilizing a Vertical AI approach and taking a specific, painful problem (HOA rules) and using tech to make it disappear.
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
Entrepreneurs Through Acquisition (ETA) Meetup
Join aspiring entrepreneurs, SMB owners and those interested in learning about ETA.
Date: February 13, 2026, 8:30 to 9:30 AM
Location: The Daily Ration
RSVP here: LINK
Entrepreneurial Networking Resource Group (ENRG)
Collaborate with EOS-driven business owners and community leaders
Date: February 26, 8 AM
Location: Society of Work @ The Edney
RSVP here: Link
Have an event? Reply to this email.
☕️ Connections + Coffee
Thanks once again to Chattanooga Founders Forum organizers Jay Shaffer, Jake Fishman and Hudson Brock for inviting Valerie Health CEO Peter Shalek to join us. The Bay Area exec spoke openly about failure, pivots and the importance of team culture. What a great and well-attended event.
VentureSouth’s Paul Clark hosted an Angel Investing 101 workshop last Friday at the Chattanooga Chamber. A well attended event and a great resource for the good, bad and ugly of Angel Investing.
Ernie Lopez on his continued progress with MergerAI. Exciting things to come.
A local, well-capitalized ETA candidate looking for a lower middle market business to buy.
A highly-regarded advertising executive and rainmaker looking to support the startup ecosystem.
An experienced marketer and successful entrepreneur interested in helping SMB owners prepare to sell their businesses.
A lower middle market business owner contemplating the sale of his local service business.
💰 Connections + Capital
TVFCU Idea Leap Loans and Grants- LINK
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 - LINK
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 - LINK
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
If you are tracking the ETA market, the latest BizBuySell Insight Report shows that small business transactions are picking up heat. It’s a great time to be looking at the "buy-then-build" model as market sentiment shifts back toward growth.
🔑 Connections + Opportunities
Our friends at CO.LAB are currently hiring for a new Director of Marketing and Communications to help tell the Chattanooga startup story. If you’re a storyteller who wants to be at the center of the ecosystem, this is the seat you want to be in.
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. I hope to launch Q1, so let me know if you’d like a sneak peek.