Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation

It's true! Small businesses make up 99% of the businesses in the United States.

So, if you've been thinking about starting something new, what are you waiting for?? Start that business and join the club!

What's your entrepreneur red flag? Follow the emoji and find out.

Then tell us: was it accurate, or a little too accurate? 👀👇

Are you an innovator or entrepreneur? Do you want to share what it takes to create new products, services, and technologies? We invite you to join the Tennessee Longitudinal Survey of Ideas: tiny.utk.edu/TLSI-1

Questions about the research study? Email Celeste K. Carruthers, University of Tennessee-Knoxville, at [email protected].

This week at Summer Studio, our student entrepreneurs focused on building and design!

Participants learned how to make quick decisions, follow the 80/20 rule for startups, solidify their minimum viable product, and build product development processes. They wrapped up the week practicing their elevator pitch and meeting with startup coaches to seek industry specific advice.

Check out this week's highlights and key takeaways from the session! ✨

🚀 Startup Spotlight: Sensory Bridges

Meet Megan Cales, founder of Sensory Bridges and creator of the Brooks Band.

Sensory Bridges is an innovative enabling technology that allows neurodivergent individuals with sensory needs to have access to real time solutions. The Brooks Band is a wearable that delivers private haptic feedback, helping users build self-regulation skills in real time.

Megan is the first student from the University of Tennessee Chattanooga to pitch in the Boyd Venture Challenge, and she took home third place in the Spring 2026 competiton, winning $12,500 in venture funding for her business!

👏 Join us in celebrating Megan and Sensory Bridges!

This week at Summer Studio, our student entrepreneurs focused on two essential skills for building a successful venture: value creation and communication.

Participants explored how to identify the value their businesses provide, communicate that value effectively to customers, and refine the way they tell their venture's story.

Check out this week's highlights and key takeaways from the session! 🚀

You don't have to be a business major to start a business! Entrepreneurship is everywhere 👉

>>> Katy Daniels, a Biosystems Engineering PhD candidate, is turning her family's East Tennessee farm into a unique entrepreneurial venture that blends agriculture, hospitality, and homesteading

From engineering to agriculture, entrepreneurship takes many forms, and Katy's venture is a great example of how passion and creativity can transform an idea into an experience ✨

What industry do you want to see next? 👇