Tennessee plans new entrepreneur centers, RFP proposals due NLT May 22
By Milt Capps
Updated: LaunchTN extended app deadline til May 22, 2023.-Ed. TENNESSEE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION dba Launch Tennessee's press release dated April 17, 2023, announced that, as VNC reported likely on March 31, the nonprofit affiliate of Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development is soliciting proposals for two (2) separate contracts to operate regional entrepreneur centers in Northwest and in Southern Middle Tennessee. Applicants will compete for a finite pool of funding of up to $250K per fiscal year, per region, subject to the availability of funds. Contracts between Tennessee regional entrepreneur centers and LaunchTN, which reports to TN ECD, are similar in structure and in provisions for performance, payments and other variables, including sole-discretion clauses. Here's an example of one such regional EC contract LTNregionalcontractEG Oversight of such programs is shared by, among others, TNECD Commissioner Stuart McWhorter, who chairs the board of directors of LaunchTN; and, by LaunchTN President and CEO Lindsey Cox. Due to the regional EC network expansion and TNECD-LaunchTN's shared duties under the recently unveiled Treasury SSBCI funding program, LaunchTN has added staff commensurate with funding growth and expanding accountability requirements. The RFP emphasizes, among other things, the requirement for each contracted center to maintain both a bricks and mortar facility and continual 1:1 matching of its own funding and-or in-kind contributions with any funding provided by LaunchTN. Launch Tennessee said in its press release, in part, "To be selected, applicants must have a brick and mortar location in Northwest or Southern Middle Tennessee regions." It added, "Northwest is defined as Lake, Dyer, Obion, Crockett, Gibson, Weakley, Carroll, Henry and Benton counties. Southern Middle is defined as Perry, Wayne, Hickman, Lewis, Lawrence, Maury, Giles, Marshall, Lincoln, Bedford, Moore, Coffee and Franklin counties." The application deadline is at midnight May 12, 2023 [extended to May 22], a LaunchTN spokesperson confirmed this morning. To ensure a link to the RFP longer-term, the verbatim text of the RFP appears below. Some links in the transcript version below were added by VNC. ________________________ REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS Expansion of LaunchTN Regional Entrepreneur Center (EC) Network Partners in Northwest and Southern Middle Tennessee regions SUMMARY LaunchTN supports entrepreneurship and innovation throughout the state of Tennessee, with a goal to make Tennessee a top state in the nation for entrepreneurs and innovators. LaunchTN strategic priorities include 1) connecting founders to entrepreneurship resources across the state, 2) increasing the availability and accessibility of capital, and 3) the commercialization of technologies and products. The LaunchTN Regional EC Network Partners support Tennessee startups within specific regions. The ECs are instrumental to the continued growth of Tennessee's economy, with a focus on innovative companies that can grow locally, attracting investment capital, connecting founders to key resources such as mentors and customers, and furthering research and development. This is a call for partners who will serve the Northwest and Southern Middle Tennessee regions. AREAS OF SERVICE LaunchTN will select partners who serve the Northwest and Southern Middle regions as detailed below. Northwest is defined as Lake, Dyer, Obion, Crockett, Gibson, Weakley, Carroll, Henry and Benton Counties. Southern Middle is defined as Perry, Wayne, Hickman, Lewis, Lawrence, Maury, Giles, Marshall, Lincoln, Bedford, Moore, Coffee and Franklin Counties. The selected Regional EC Network Partner for each region MUST have a brick and mortar location(s) in the applicable footprint and must make any and all services available to entrepreneurs/startups in the identified areas of service. The selected partners must have outreach plans to reach founders within their regions and inform them of available resources and services. CURRENT PARTNERS LaunchTN's Regional EC Network Partners currently include the below (listed from West to East). Epicenter (Memphis, TN) As a nonprofit hub organization, Epicenter's mission is to provide equitable access to the networks, programs, people, capital, and customers that entrepreneurs need to launch a business and thrive in the greater Memphis area. Using a systems approach, Epicenter drives strategy and measures impact among a network of economic development, academic, corporate, and government partners to increase support to new and existing tech startups, creative and community-based businesses, student entrepreneurs, and others across multiple industries and stages of growth. Epicenter and its partners connect these entrepreneurs and their innovative ideas to programming, capital, customers, and talent to create a just, inclusive, and growing economy that accrues to all Memphians. More information at epicentermemphis.org. theCO (Jackson, TN) As a regional innovation hub in West Tennessee, theCO helps entrepreneurs start and grow their ideas and companies. TheCO is a resource, collaborative community, and support system for everyone from serial entrepreneurs to those taking their first plunge into business ownership, problem-solving, and innovating. More information at www.attheco.com. Nashville Entrepreneur Center (Nashville, TN) The Nashville Entrepreneur Center (NEC) serves as Middle Tennessee's center for entrepreneurship, supporting visionaries--from every background, in any industry, and at all phases--by connecting them to critical resources and championing their desire to change the world. The NEC represents a partnership of local and state government support, private interests, and the Nashville business community. For more than ten years, the Nashville Entrepreneur Center has connected entrepreneurs with critical resources to create, launch, and grow their businesses. The NEC serves a diverse community of innovators through support, programming, space, funding, networking, and learning opportunities. More information at www.ec.co. The Biz Foundry (Cookeville, TN) The Biz Foundry is a nonprofit entrepreneur development center that helps businesses start and thrive in the Upper Cumberland. Entrepreneurship, innovation, and collaboration are intrinsic to economic and social vitality, so The Biz Foundry fosters these values through business resources, community programs, and one-on-one work with local businesses. More information at www.thebizfoundry.org. CO.LAB (Chattanooga, TN) The Company Lab (CO.LAB) is a 501c3 nonprofit dedicated to accelerating startups in the Southeast Tennessee region, supporting companies from launch to scale. CO.LAB envisions an innovative, inclusive and thriving Chattanooga and believes that entrepreneurship plays a pivotal role in this vision, and it is CO.LAB's job to empower this daily. More information at colab.co. Knoxville Entrepreneur Center (Knoxville, TN) Knoxville Entrepreneur Center (KEC) is a nonprofit business accelerator located in the heart of downtown Knoxville. The mission of KEC is to serve as the front door for entrepreneurship in East Tennessee and a resource for anyone looking to start or grow a business here. Knoxville Entrepreneur Center exists to help entrepreneurs and startups at every stage of the process. More information at knoxec.com. Sync Space (Kingsport, TN) Sync Space is the regional entrepreneurial hub in Northeast Tennessee with locations and partnerships throughout the Tri-Cities and Appalachian Highlands. Sync Space's programs provide early-stage startups and growing businesses connectivity to regional partners for mentorship and pilot program opportunities, all designed to help entrepreneurs be successful in Northeast Tennessee and beyond. More information at syncspace.org. FRONT DOOR SERVICES + additional early-stage company support LaunchTN intends to leverage existing best practices from our current roster of Regional EC Network Partners to guide and inform desired activities and outcomes from two new Regional EC Network Partners, who will serve the Northwest and Southern Middle regions [see regional maps in this VNC article]. Core components of a successful regional entrepreneur center include:
Each proposal will compete for a finite pool of funding available for this expansion. Organizations may apply for up to $250,000/fiscal year as long as funding is available, or in accordance with a maximum funding amount provided by funding sources. Proposals must be submitted via this application link no later than Friday, May 12, 2023. Decisions will be announced in June 2023, for a contract beginning as early as July 1, 2023. KEY EVALUATION CONSIDERATIONS Key elements under consideration include:
REQUIREMENTS
GOALS & METRICS
Please submit a proposal for work to be conducted from July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024. # of new jobs created from companies in your network Mentorship: # of mentor sessions completed Business Development: # of Pilots completed by startups Engagement: Recruitment: Applications will be reviewed internally by multiple members of the LaunchTN team and possible external reviewers. Applications will be reviewed on a scale of 1-7 in the following categories: [END LaunchTN RFP. Today, the RFP also currently appears at this link on the LaunchTN website.] .last edited 18 April 2023 1040
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