The Blackstone Charitable Foundation has awarded Launch Tennessee (LaunchTN) a $250,000 grant as part of its support for non-profit groups that strengthen entrepreneurial ecosystems and support high-growth entrepreneurs. This is the third year that LaunchTN has been an Innovation Grants recipient.
Previous awards were used to launch The TENN and Specialist Programs. This grant will help fund LaunchTN's flagship 36'86 conference as well as The 36'86 Southern Series. 36'86's mission is to become the annual meeting place to celebrate Southeastern entrepreneurship and innovation. As a way to identify top Southeastern entrepreneurs, a prelude of entrepreneurial pitch events, named The Southern Series, will be held leading up to 36'86, which occurs June 8-10 in Nashville.
"With this year's award, we will be able to help spread our mission and further promote entrepreneurship and innovation throughout Tennessee and the larger Southeast region," LaunchTN Director Charlie Brock said.
Through the Blackstone Innovation Grant program, the foundation is providing support to 20 innovative organizations that directly support entrepreneurs as they pilot, expand or replicate programs that will catalyze the growth of successful businesses.