Supporting Entrepreneurs and New Ventures
Dedicated team members in the Office of Entrepreneurship and New Ventures provide early-stage entrepreneurial support and technology commercialization. We help students, faculty, staff, and community members move their research, technologies, and inventions from the lab into the marketplace, creating real-world solutions and driving meaningful economic impact.
Accelerating your growth
UT supports a complete pipeline of resources and services for entrepreneurs. Our team facilitates participation in several key programs within UT’s vibrant ecosystem. These programs are designed to guide innovators across Tennessee toward their goals.
AI TechX Startup Connect
This no-cost program enables qualifying Tennessee-based AI start-ups to join the AI TechX Consortium. It provides access to corporate partners, enhanced visibility, university expertise, talent engagement, and commercialization resources through AI Tennessee.
Who can participate in AI TechX Startup Connect?
AI TechX Startup Connect is open to companies that meet the following criteria:
- Are open to hosting student projects or internships
- Are based in Tennessee and tax compliant
- Develop or commercialize AI-related technologies
- Have fewer than 20 full-time employees
National Science Foundation
I-Corps
This program empowers innovators to evaluate and develop their ideas through an evidence-based approach and expert mentorship, reducing the time it takes for early-stage technology de-risking and market mapping. UT is a part of the I-Corps Mid-South Hub, led by Vanderbilt University—one of several regional hubs serving as an operational backbone for the National Innovation Network.
Who is eligible to participate in the regional I-Corps program?
Faculty, staff, students, and alumni from any UT System institution or Mid-South I-Corps Hub institution, as well as community members in the Knoxville ecosystem, are eligible to participate in the regional I-Corps program.
Who is eligible for the national I-Corps program?
National I-Corps program applicants must have a technology development affiliation with an institution of higher education and submit an application through that institution. Eligible applicants include researchers who have had an active National Science Foundation award in the past five years and (with a letter of recommendation) regional I-Corps graduates. If you are interested in applying, you can sign up for an interest list.
Chancellor’s Innovation Fund
This competitive internal seed fund provides critical short-term funding to support the commercialization of impactful research and increase Technology Readiness Levels. Established in 2023, this $1.25 million fund is committed over five years and aims to bridge the gap between publicly funded academic research and private financing or licensure to existing companies. Each year, five faculty members are awarded up to $50,000 for projects with strong commercial potential.
Who can apply for the Chancellor’s Innovation Fund?
The Chancellor’s Innovation Fund is open only to UT Knoxville faculty and researchers.
Patent & Trademark Resource Center
The UT Libraries provide the only patent and trademark resource center (PTRC) in Tennessee and the surrounding region. The center makes intellectual property literacy services available to the public.
Ready to kick-start your success?
When you join UT’s thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem, you’ll have valuable support right at your fingertips.