Drew's News
Vol: 9
November 4, 2025
Greetings from Chattanooga - I just wrapped up an AMA answering questions from a group of very accomplished digital business owners from around the world (literally), and I sometimes have to pinch myself. Being an entrepreneur is awesome. I was also reminded it can be lonely. And we all could use help to get through the highs, lows and in-betweens. So if you're reading this, and you're a business owner and need to vent, or brag, or cry to someone, I'm here for you. I get it, all of it. And if you're on the other side, helping small business owners and entrepreneurs, don't forget the emotional and mental toll of taking these risks. It's why building this entrepreneur community is so important. Let's share in the wins, grieve the losses and keep our heads up. We're all in this together. Best,
|
Shout Outs and Celebrations
Thank you to Morgan Hull for the tour and sharing his vision for Overlooked Materials at our latest Chattanooga Founders Forum. Overlooked Materials is in a pilot program with the City of Chattanooga to recycle and process glass locally. Click here to see if you live in the pilot zone to support Morgan and his team.
Congrats to Marcherie Savage on her cover story in this month's Edge Magazine. Marcherie, among many others, are champions of entrepreneurship in Chattanooga, and her creativity and leadership at the INCubator is helping our ecosystem with opportunities through mentorship, a new makerspace and resources for small business startups.
The Quantum train keeps rolling in Chattanooga. The NSF (U.S. National Science Foundation) is investing $1.3M to build and integrate a computing and test bed for electric grid security. A recent McKinsey report on Quantum Technology outlined a 50 percent increase in investment YOY (up to $2B), and Chattanooga is well positioned to take advantage. A shout out to Co:Lab, UTC, EPB and Chattanooga Quantum Collaborative for their vision in driving these initiatives in this nascent market.
Station, a Chattanooga-based startup within Brickyard, is getting attention for their AI Revenue Assistant. The product allows podcasters and digital creators (think YouTubers, etc...) to analyze new revenue opportunities. They count Jason and Travis Kelce's New Heights podcast as clients. More here.
Congrats to Erik and Amanda Niel and the Little Coyote team for a Michelin Guide Bib Gourmands award for the American South, announced last night. More here.
Connections + Coffee I had coffee with Ryan Seaberg, Co-founder and CEO of EirSystems. A former professional football player, Seaberg is building an eMAR (electronic medication administration record) that plugs into existing EHR (electronic hospital records) systems, allowing better communication between inpatient and outpatient facilities. He's exited once already in the health care space, and has raised $1.5M round for his latest venture, including investments from Atlanta Tech Angels. |
Talent + Connections Bolt Family Treehouse is hiring an Executive Operations Coordinator. LINK Brickyard-backed Harmony.ai is hiring a software engineer. LINK Chattanooga Football Club (CFC) is hiring a Chief Business Officer. Learn more here. Public Education Foundation (PEF) is hiring for a Director of Development. Learn more here. |
Capital + Connections
TVFCU Idea Leap Loans and Grants- LINK
Applications open - 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.
Morgan Stanley Inclusive & Sustainable Ventures - LINK
Morgan Stanley provide early-stage innovators with access to capital and resources to help them develop and scale. The mission is to foster a more equitable and sustainable investment landscape.
Connections + Events
INCubator - Product Packaging 101, Thursday, November 6th, 6pm (LINK), 100 Cherokee Blvd, Chattanooga, TN 37405
Chattanooga Founders Forum, November 19, 12pm. Meet with like-minded folks who want to drive the Chattanooga startup ecosystem. RSVP here.
Have an event? Reply to this email.
What I’m Reading (still ..) 1929 by Andrew Ross Sorkin Sorkin provides a detailed account of Wall Street Crash of 1929, and what parallels he sees now. |
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. More later. |