Research Guides: Entrepreneurship & Innovation: Community & Support

Community & Support

Connect with local and professional organizations that offer mentorship, networking, and resources to help you grow your business. Whether you're looking for peer support, expert guidance, or opportunities to collaborate, this page highlights groups that can help you stay connected and thrive.

Tennessee Resources

Alliance for Better Nonprofits | United Way of Greater Knoxville
Provides inclusive nonprofit support, training, and resources to strengthen community impact across East Tennessee—now integrated with United Way.
East Knoxville Business & Professional Association
Supports East Knoxville’s economic growth through networking, advocacy, and collaboration among local businesses and professionals.
Farragut West Knox Chamber of Commerce
Promotes business development and community engagement in West Knox and Farragut through events, advocacy, and member services.
Fountain City Business & Professional Association
Encourages local business growth and civic involvement in Fountain City through networking, education, and community partnerships.
Greater Knoxville SCORE
A local service agency with free counseling and low-cost workshops. The "Library" of information sheets on the website includes topics for nonprofits.
Halls Business & Professional Association
Fosters business success and community pride in Halls through monthly meetings, local events, and collaborative initiatives.
KnoxDevs
An online community for the Knoxville area software development community putting developers and companies in touch with each other.
Knoxville Area Urban League
"The Knoxville Area Urban League, an affiliate of the National Urban League, is dedicated to empowering communities and changing lives. Our mission is to enable African Americans, other minority groups and the underserved to secure economic self-reliance, parity, power and civil rights." - Knoxville Area Urban League
Knoxville Entrepreneur Center
A business accelerator that serves as the front door for entrepreneurs in our region, and a resource for anyone looking to start or grow a business here.
The Maker City
The Maker City connects Knoxville’s makers, creatives, and small manufacturers through partnerships, programming, and resources that drive business success.
North Knoxville Business & Professional Association
Connects North Knoxville businesses to promote economic development, community involvement, and professional networking opportunities.
Referral Excellence Organization
A business networking group focused on generating qualified referrals and building trusted relationships among Knoxville-area professionals.
StartupKnox Ecosystem Guide
"A comprehensive guide to the local startup ecosystem in the greater Knoxville area."
Young Professionals of Knoxville
Connects, develops, and empowers young professionals through networking, leadership training, and community service to strengthen Knoxville’s future leaders.

Blount Partnership | Chamber of Commerce
Promotes economic growth, tourism, and workforce development in Blount County through business support, advocacy, and regional collaboration.
Businesses | Tennessee Secretary of State
Provides tools to register businesses, file annual reports, search entities, manage trademarks, and access official business documents statewide.
Business Resources | Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development
Offers tools, data, and support for small businesses, startups, and entrepreneurs to launch, grow, and succeed across Tennessee.
LaunchTN
Interactive hub for startup founders across all 95 counties. Access to events, programs, and entrepreneurial support organizations. Bi-weekly newsletter with startup news and opportunities. Great for discovering local funding, mentorship, and networking tailored to Tennessee’s startup ecosystem.
Loudon County Chamber of Commerce
Supports local businesses and promotes economic vitality in Loudon County through networking, advocacy, and community engagement.
Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce
Advances business success and innovation in Oak Ridge through strategic partnerships, advocacy, and support for science and technology enterprises.
Seymour Area Chamber of Commerce
Connects and supports Seymour-area businesses through networking, community events, and local economic development initiatives.
SmartStart™ | TN Department of Economic & Community Development
Step-by-step guidance for launching and growing a business. Provides interactive tools for underutilized businesses and microenterprises. Highlights community-based initiatives and placemaking resources. Ideal for small business owners seeking practical support and local development programs.
Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development
Supports business growth through grants, site selection, workforce development, and infrastructure to strengthen Tennessee’s economy and local communities.
Tennessee Small Business Development Center
A network of professional business consultants with 20 locations geographically disbursed throughout the state, providing expert business advice to all types of businesses.
Tennessee State Data Center | Boyd Center for Business and Economic Research
The Census State Data Center (SDC) program is a State/Census Bureau cooperative program with a mission of providing efficient access to US Census data and products, providing training and technical assistance to data users, and providing feedback to the Census Bureau on data usability, as well as state and local government data needs and operational issues.

Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation | Haslam College of Business
The Anderson Center at UT's Haslam College supports student entrepreneurs through coaching, grants, accelerators, and events that foster startup growth and regional impact.
Invention Disclosure Enterprise Application (IDEA) Dashboard
The University of Tennessee IDEA portal (Innovation Discovery & Entrepreneurship Accelerator) is a NetID‑secured hub for managing invention disclosures, accessing commercialization tools, funding opportunities (e.g., Venture Launch Program, Chancellor’s Innovation Fund), and startup/accelerator support via UTRF.
Partnerships & Economic Development | Office of Research, Innovation & Economic Development (ORIED)
The University of Tennessee’s Division of Partnerships & Economic Development connects faculty, students, and external partners—corporate, nonprofit, and community—to advance innovation, commercialization, entrepreneurship, workforce development, and regional economic growth.
Spark Innovation Center at UT Research Park
Spark Innovation Center supports hard-tech startups with lab space, mentoring, and accelerator programs to advance cleantech innovation and commercialization.
UT Entrepreneurship Resources Search | Haslam College of Business
Discover tailored UT resources, programs, and tools to support entrepreneurship, innovation, and small business development at every stage.
UT Research Foundation (UTRF)
The University of Tennessee Research Foundation (UTRF) is a non‑profit 501(c)(3) organization that facilitates commercialization of UT innovations, supports research and startups, and fosters regional economic development.
UTRF Business Incubator
The UTRF Business Incubator offers affordable space, mentoring, and resources to help early-stage tech startups grow and succeed.

Business Incubator Associations

Association of University Research Parks (AURP)
Supports innovation by connecting research institutions with industry through tech parks, fostering technology transfer and economic development globally.
Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM)
Global network advancing technology transfer through education, advocacy, and collaboration among professionals in academia, government, and industry.
International Business Incubation Association (InBIA)
Global leader supporting entrepreneurship and business incubation with over 1,900 members across 60+ countries.

Professional Associations & Organizations

America's Small Business Development Centers (SBDC)
Nationwide network offering small business support, hosted by universities and funded partly by Congress and the Small Business Administration.
American Association of Franchisees & Dealers (AAFD)
National trade group protecting franchisees’ investments and improving franchising through advocacy, education, and industry standards.
American Small Business Alliance (ASBA)
Advocates for small business interests in public policy, offering resources on healthcare, taxes, technology, and civic engagement.
Better Business Bureau (BBB)
Promotes marketplace trust through business reviews, dispute resolution, advertising standards, and consumer education across the United States.
Edward Lowe Foundation
Supports entrepreneurship through “economic gardening,” offering resources on leadership, marketing, finance, HR, and legal issues.
International Franchise Association (IFA)
Global organization promoting franchising through advocacy, education, and public relations to support franchise growth and protection.
Kauffman Foundation
Entrepreneurship-focused foundation offering top-tier articles, videos, and tools to educate and empower business founders.
National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB)
Influential small business advocacy group tracking legislation, offering resources, and representing owners in national policy discussions.
Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE)
Nationwide nonprofit offering free mentoring and education to entrepreneurs through experienced volunteer business professionals.

Government Organizations

Minority Business Development Agency | U.S. Department of Commerce
Only federal agency supporting minority-owned businesses through resources for socially and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs across communities.
Office of Native American Affairs | U.S. Small Business Administration
Supports Native American entrepreneurs with resources and programs to start, grow, and sustain small businesses.
Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization | U.S. Department of Commerce
Promotes small, minority, and women-owned businesses by helping them secure federal contracts and comply with procurement regulations.
Office of Women’s Business Ownership | U.S. Small Business Administration
Empowers women entrepreneurs through mentorship, success stories, and educational resources across a national support network.
Rural Businesses | U.S. Small Business Administration
Provides resources and support for rural small businesses to strengthen local economies and community development.
Veteran-Owned Businesses | U.S. Small Business Administration
Helps veteran entrepreneurs access contracts, financing, and data to support small business ownership and growth.

Entrepreneurship & Innovation

Community & Support

On this page:

Tennessee Resources

Business Incubator Associations

Professional Associations & Organizations

Government Organizations