Speaker: Rodolphe Pierre-Louis, Founder & CEO of ActionVFX

Join Rodolphe Pierre-Louis, Founder & CEO of ActionVFX, for a transformative talk on breaking free from the entrepreneurial rut. If you’re working tirelessly but not seeing results, this session is your guide to unlocking 7-figure growth. Leveraging his experience from bootstrapping ActionVFX to Hollywood success, Rodolphe offers practical steps to help you pivot from stagnation to exponential growth.

Speaker: Asia Orangio, Founder + CEO of DemandMaven

You’ve been down the road before — you interview a few prospects, ask them a bunch of questions, and land on a few clear features to go and build. You build them. You’re excited, the prospect is excited (or at least they seem to be). You come back and say “Okay I built the thing! Now use it? Maybe also pay extra for it?” and that’s when you get the dreaded blank stare. Or worse — you hear nothing at all. They completely ghosted. What happened? Didn’t we build what they wanted? Weren’t we on the same page? Here’s the thing: it all comes down to the questions we ask, how we ask them, and how we interpret what we’re hearing. This is true for product, marketing, and pretty much any customer-facing function. In this talk, we’ll cover:

• introduction to the Jobs-to-be-done (JTBD) framework
• how you can ask better questions to get better answers
• common pitfalls of research projects

Speaker: Samantha Lane, Founder, Origami Day

Have you ever stopped to think how you spend each day is how you spend your life? If you are not happy with how you are spending your days, listen up! As a business owner, you are in charge of your days. So, how do you shape your time to be present in life while being even more productive in your business? How do you build without burnout? Invest the time in this session and learn how to make the most of your time through a few simple steps.

Speaker: John Phillips, CEO of Primeaux Cutlery

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to create something from nothing? Join artist John Phillips in his inspiring journey, from hammering scrap farm implements in his garage to becoming one of the world’s top knife makers. You’ll hear first hand the trials, tribulations and amazing victories that come along with forging your own path.  Discover how John evolved from Phillips Forged Knives alone in his garage metal to launching his new innovative brand PRIMEAUX, which is taking the leap into the world of augmented reality, where they have pioneered a platform that allows you to design your very own custom cutlery, that is all handcrafted in their Knoxville, TN studio.

Speaker: Luke Thompson, COO of ActionVFX

Think a small budget is a limitation? Think again! Explore the myriad ways automation can help you maximize your startup’s efficiency and impact. From eliminating time-consuming tasks to improving customer interactions, this session will guide you through versatile strategies designed to stretch every dollar further. Don’t miss out on essential tips for smarter, more cost-effective business scaling.

Speaker: Glen Yelton, Global Head of ESG at Invesco, Inc.

Topical Overview –

• Authenticity: The currency of trust, celebrating unique identities, and building genuine connections.
• Entrepreneurship: Seeing market needs, crafting solutions, and reflecting individual or group passion and vision.
• Stewardship: Ensuring long-term sustainability by caring for resources, focusing on lasting impact, and considering the broader community and environment.
• The Synergy: When combined, these concepts lead to businesses that thrive and inspire, and leaders who leave a positive legacy.
• Action Steps: Embrace personal authenticity, foster innovation, and prioritize long-term impact over short-term gains.

Speaker: Joe McKenna, CEO of CloudWise Academy

In this talk, you’ll learn the crucial mindsets to make you successful and resourceful in the AI-enhanced world. If you’re short on time but big on ambition, come listen to how Joe learned the hard ways so you don’t have to. From small businesses to early stage startups and beyond, you can put these principles to work right now.

Speaker: Greg Digneo, Founder + CEO of ContentGuppy

Marketing your startup seems to be one of the biggest challenges that most entrepreneurs have despite all the options.  Greg Digneo has helped build one bootstrapped company to $10mm and is now building another successful company by using just 3 marketing strategies. 

Moderator: Karlee Goodwin, Founder, Spark Women, SHRM-CP

Participating Speakers: Jose Castillo, President of Flavor, Inc., Aundrea Wilcox, MBA, CEcD and Executive Director of KOSBE, Ryan Hayes, Lead Software Engineer at Global Payments, Inc., and Samantha Lane of Origami Day.

As an entrepreneur, it can be easy to fall into the trap of believing that you have to do everything on your own. However, the truth is that nobody can succeed entirely alone. In this workshop, we will explore the power of leaning on others and building a supportive network of peers and learn from the experiences of other driven entrepreneurs.

We will cover a range of topics, including:

• The benefits of building a support network of other entrepreneurs
• Techniques for cultivating strong relationships with other entrepreneurs 
• The importance of vulnerability and authenticity in building trust and connection with others
• Strategies for effectively communicating your needs and asking for help when you need it
• The role of mentorship and sponsorship in helping you achieve your goals

The workshop will be highly interactive! You will have the opportunity to connect with other like-minded Founders, share your experiences and insights, and learn from the experiences of others.

Speaker: Heath Guinn, President of Sync Space

LaunchTN’s InvestTN program is a unique opportunity for Tennessee startups to receive a matching investment when raising capital. Heath will cover this program and other ecosystem opportunities provided to the region.