Greetings from Chattanooga,

There is a distinct difference between "announcing" a vision and "executing" one, and this week in Chattanooga, the scale feels like it’s finally tipping toward the latter. For years, we’ve talked about the "potential" of our quantum assets, our logistics leadership and our emerging energy infrastructure poised for next-century benefit. But as we move deeper into 2026, the local conversation has shifted from "what if" to "what now."

We’re seeing that shift in the transparency of the Times Free Press editorial on the true value of local journalism, and in strategic plans that treats our talent pipeline like a high-stakes industrial roadmap. Whether it’s Dynamo Ventures proving that local VC leadership can pick global winners in robotics or Brickyard portfolio company Harmony embedding their AI directly onto factory floors, our city is, quite literally, executing.

I sense the momentum is shifting around us. I’m curious if you feel it too.

See you around town,

Drew

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Seed the South Capital Summit - The Big Pitch at Seed The South showcases the Southeast's most promising venture-scale technology startups. Ten selected companies will pitch to two judging panels—one of investors and one of founders—for a chance to win $50,000 investments from The Charlotte Fund.

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

As some of you may know, I cut my teeth in publishing and journalism, and I hold the “fourth estate” in high value. Chattanooga Times Free Press Editor-in-Chief Allison Gerber penned an op-ed over the weekend worthy of sharing. What News is Really Worth is a transparent look at the "hidden" costs of providing local accountability. Gerber argues that while social media provides information for free, it doesn't provide the verified, resource-intensive reporting that uncovers corruption or tracks local tax spending. A single investigative piece can take hundreds of hours of work—a reality that is increasingly difficult to sustain without a shift in how readers value and pay for local content. It’s a call to action for the community to see a subscription not as a "product" purchase, but as an investment in the city’s civic health.

🔑 Connections + Opportunities

Digital Marketing Manager | PlayCore Help lead the digital strategy for a Chattanooga-based leader in play and recreation.

Special Events Programs Supervisor | City of Chattanooga Activate the City’s public spaces.

Account Executive / Founding GTM (Go-To-Market) leader at Harmony.AI to drive the next chapter of their growth. You will own the entire sales cycle—from cold outreach and storytelling to closing multi-threaded, high-value deals with factory operators and ownership teams.

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.