The Biz Foundry
2026 Investor Campaign

Building the Upper Cumberland's Entrepreneurial Economy

Imagine · Start · Grow

Entrepreneurship is the often-overlooked third leg of the economic development stool, beside business retention & expansion and attraction. The regions that win over the next decade won't just recruit jobs; they will create them. For 14 years, The Biz Foundry has been the Upper Cumberland's trusted engine for that work, and now is the time to scale.

Entrepreneur Stories
Results that matter

Recent impact

Real companies. Real jobs.
800+
Startups served through coaching, bootcamps & events
$18M
Capital secured & invested into our region
$1M+
Tennessee's first EC-sponsored angel fund
200+
Companies served every single year
14 yrs
A LaunchTN Entrepreneur Center, 1 of 9 statewide
100+
Combined years of leadership experience
A region positioned for growth

The opportunity

Our advantages

  • Tennessee Tech University
  • Strong quality of life & growing population
  • Emerging entrepreneurial ecosystem
  • Regional business leadership
  • Affordable cost structure

The gaps we close

  • Limited startup capital
  • Talent retention challenges
  • Rural access barriers
  • Limited support capacity
  • Stronger commercialization pathways
Entrepreneurship in action

Founders who build here

Meg's Bread

Pandemic-born startup that became a local institution, with 10x growth.

fufild

Large local investment, multiple jobs, scaling to a top regional tech company.

Skip The Line

100+ venues, $8M in transactions, 2x staff growth in 8 months.

MetaFlex

TTU Eagleworks winner & first UCIA investment, launched in Cookeville.

The ask & how to engage

A three-year investment in regional growth

$900K over 3 years
Building the capacity to match the opportunity.
Annual goal: $300,000

Funds will be used to

  • Expand entrepreneurial capacity
  • Support innovation commercialization
  • Increase access to capital
  • Grow regional impact
Founder's Circle
$50K+
Innovation Partners
$25K
Growth Partners
$10K
Community Partners
$5K
Friends of Entrepreneurship
$2.5K
Campaign materials

Download the collateral

Everything you need, in one place.

Accountability

We measure businesses launched, capital raised, jobs created, entrepreneurs served, survival rates, and student & rural entrepreneurs reached, reported through quarterly dashboards, an annual investor briefing, and transparent reporting.

View the live Impact Dashboard →
Trusted partners & sponsors:
LaunchTN · TSBDC · Tennessee Tech (Center for Rural Innovation & Eagleworks) · TN Rural Development Fund · UCIA · Upper Cumberland Development District · USDA · Twin Lakes · City of Cookeville · Cumberland County · Historic Cookeville CityScape · Eye Centers of TN · Home Caregivers · Mastered in Tennessee · DOTReady

The entrepreneurs are here.The opportunities are here.The momentum is here.

Now we must build the capacity to match the opportunity. Imagine. Start. Grow.