![The
Entrepreneurship
Buzz:
A
summary
of
the
Knoxville
Entrepreneur
Roundtable
through
the
eyes
of
a
University
of
Tennessee
student
By
Cameo
Jonas
Knoxville
is
buzzing
with
talk
about
entrepreneurship.
The
city
has
become
an
exciting
and
engaging
environment
for
startups
to
come
and
succeed.
To
discuss
this
new
landscape,
the
Knoxville
Entrepreneur
Center
hosted
its
first
Friday
Fanfare
on
November
7.
The
Fanfare
was
dedicated
to
a
Knoxville
Entrepreneur
Roundtable,
which
also
served
as
the
kick-‐off
to
Startup
Day
on
November
20.
The
Knoxville
News
Sentinel’s
Carly
Harrington
moderated
the
event.
Panelists
included:
Chuck
Morris
of
Morris
Creative
Group
and
Cirkel,
Patrick
Hunt
of
Fiveworx,
Mary
Shafer
Gill
of
ARiES
Energy
and
Tom
Ballard
of
Pershing
Yoakley
&
Associates
and
PY
Analytics.
The
panelists
discussed
how
startup
companies
succeed
and
what
factors
are
influencing
entrepreneurship
in
the
area.
They
all
agreed
that
startups
need
funding
to
succeed.
However,
there
are
a
lot
of
factors
that
go
into
receiving
the
necessary
funds.
Hunt
described
fundraising
for
startups
as
a
“numbers
game.
There
are
a
lot
of
reasons
for
[people
and
corporations]
not
to
invest
and
very
few
reasons
to
invest.
You
have
to
find
the
right
timing
and
fit,”
he
said.
Even
though
fundraising
for
a
startup
can
be
a
daunting
task,
Ballard
stated
that
it
is
important
to
always
remain
positive.
Mary
Shafer
Gill
also
suggested
obtaining
clients
that
could
someday
turn
into
investors.
Other
advice
the
panelists
gave
to
the
audience:
have
a
mentor,
find
local
customers,
and
“embrace
the
idea
of
failing
fast.”
During
the
session
the
panelists
also
discussed
how
Knoxville
could
grow
into
becoming
the
South’s
mecca
for
entrepreneurship.
According
to
the
panelists,
for
this
to
happen,
entrepreneurs
need
to
recognize
the
culture
of
the
area
and
take
advantage
of
it,
but
this
is
a
very
hard
thing
to
identify.
The
region
has
a
lot
of
strong
assets
like
the
Great
Smoky
Mountains
and
the
numerous
notable
companies
that
are
based
in
East
Tennessee,
like
the
Oak
Ridge
National
Laboratory,
the
University
of
Tennessee,
and
Alcoa,
to
name
a
few.
Ballard
stated,
“The
region
just
needs
to
set
a
brand
that
can
entice
people
to
come
here.
By
doing
this,
we
can
[also]
attract
and
maintain
the
talent
we
need
to
draw
even
more
companies
to
the
area.”](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/2a37160f-4323-489f-95e9-2b74528a6bdc-160621023729/85/KEC-Roundtable-Nov-7-Blog-1-320.jpg)
KEC Roundtable Nov. 7 Blog
- 1. The Entrepreneurship Buzz: A summary of the Knoxville Entrepreneur Roundtable through the eyes of a University of Tennessee student By Cameo Jonas Knoxville is buzzing with talk about entrepreneurship. The city has become an exciting and engaging environment for startups to come and succeed. To discuss this new landscape, the Knoxville Entrepreneur Center hosted its first Friday Fanfare on November 7. The Fanfare was dedicated to a Knoxville Entrepreneur Roundtable, which also served as the kick-‐off to Startup Day on November 20. The Knoxville News Sentinel’s Carly Harrington moderated the event. Panelists included: Chuck Morris of Morris Creative Group and Cirkel, Patrick Hunt of Fiveworx, Mary Shafer Gill of ARiES Energy and Tom Ballard of Pershing Yoakley & Associates and PY Analytics. The panelists discussed how startup companies succeed and what factors are influencing entrepreneurship in the area. They all agreed that startups need funding to succeed. However, there are a lot of factors that go into receiving the necessary funds. Hunt described fundraising for startups as a “numbers game. There are a lot of reasons for [people and corporations] not to invest and very few reasons to invest. You have to find the right timing and fit,” he said. Even though fundraising for a startup can be a daunting task, Ballard stated that it is important to always remain positive. Mary Shafer Gill also suggested obtaining clients that could someday turn into investors. Other advice the panelists gave to the audience: have a mentor, find local customers, and “embrace the idea of failing fast.” During the session the panelists also discussed how Knoxville could grow into becoming the South’s mecca for entrepreneurship. According to the panelists, for this to happen, entrepreneurs need to recognize the culture of the area and take advantage of it, but this is a very hard thing to identify. The region has a lot of strong assets like the Great Smoky Mountains and the numerous notable companies that are based in East Tennessee, like the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the University of Tennessee, and Alcoa, to name a few. Ballard stated, “The region just needs to set a brand that can entice people to come here. By doing this, we can [also] attract and maintain the talent we need to draw even more companies to the area.”
- 2. Entrepreneurship in the area will continue growing and changing, making Knoxville a great place to have these conversations. This will hopefully lead to Knoxville becoming the South’s mecca for entrepreneurship.