In May 2014, Launch Tennessee kicked off a program that gives Tennessee college students the opportunity to gain exposure to the state's entrepreneurial ecosystem. The first class included 27 students who spent their summer working in five accelerator programs across the state, including former Vanderbilt University student Brittany Burgess. Burgess, who spent the summer of 2014 working at the Nashville Entrepreneur Center, is now working full-time for Launch TN and now runs the Specialist Program.
"Our goal for the Specialist Program is to not only provide support for the accelerators and participating entrepreneurs, but also to attract and retain talent in Tennessee," said Burgess. "The results of our first year exceeded expectations as several specialists are still engaged in our entrepreneurial ecosystem or acting as unofficial 'ambassadors' for entrepreneurship in Tennessee. We had two students, myself included, who continued work with accelerators after completing the program; two who are currently interning with companies in The TENN; one specialist received equity in a company; and one other was hired on permanently with a company."
Applications for the summer program are now being accepted. Click here to learn more or to register for the summer program.
The program was made possible by a grant from the Blackstone Charitable Foundation, which supports new initiatives that foster development in entrepreneurial ecosystems.