Anderson Center
Competitions & Events
Welcome to the University of Tennessee’s heart of entrepreneurship, innovation, and creativity! The Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation hosts a wide variety of events including interactive lunch and learns, pitch competitions to win startup capital, cutting-edge workshops, and more throughout the semester.
Whether you’re just starting your entrepreneurial journey as a UT student, a UT faculty or staff member, a seasoned entrepreneur, or a Knoxville community member, we have an event for you. Our events are designed to elevate your skills, expand your network, and fuel your passion for startups!
Anderson Center
Competitions
Vol Court
Vol Court is an experiential learning program that helps student entrepreneurs develop a clear, confident elevator pitch through on-demand learning modules and a series of live events.
Vol Court kicks off with a sign-up and feedback session in the Student Union on September 2, 2026.
Participants then take on the role of judge at Smokey’s Den Reverse Pitches on September 9, 2026, a reverse pitch event where local business leaders present real-world ideas for students to evaluate.
The program concludes with pitch night on September 16, where students pitch their own business concepts to a panel of judges to win a portion of the $3000 Roe Prize.
Dates:
Sign-up and Feedback Session: Wednesday, September 2, 2026; 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Location TBD
Smokey’s Den Reverse Pitches: Wednesday; September 9, 2026; 4-6 p.m.; Location TBD
Vol Court Pitches: Wednesday, September 16, 2026; 4-6 p.m.; Location TBD
Graves Business Plan Competition
The Graves Business Plan Competition offers UT students the chance to share their business concepts for a portion of $20,000 in startup capital. This event only takes place in the fall semester.
Dates:
Application Deadline: October 9
Competition Date: November 6, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
Boyd Venture Challenge
The Boyd Venture Challenge is a seed-funding grant competition open to all UT System students (graduate and undergraduate). A total of $50,000 in startup capital is awarded to student-owned companies, with individual awards up to $25,000.
Dates:
Application Opens: February 22
Application Closes: April 2
Pitch Competition: April 30
Anderson Center
SPRING 2026 Events
Anderson Center Signature Speaker Series
The Signature Speaker Series introduces attendees to the visionary minds behind successful businesses.
Dates & Times:
TBD
Summer Studio
During Demo Day, Summer Studio cohort members publicly showcase business ideas developed during the summer accelerator program, providing exposure to potential customers, investors and the community.
Dates:
Applications for the 2027 cohort open February 3, 2027.
Startup Straight Talk
Join startup coaches Mark Huber (UT, ’97) and Lia Winter (MBA, ’19; UT M.S, ’19) for a one-hour virtual session during which the entrepreneurs share honest stories, answer tough questions and offer practical advice on the realities of starting and growing a business.
Dates & Times:
TBD
Location:
Virtual
Founder Friday
Founder Friday features fireside chats, hosted by Haseeb “HQ” Qureshi, from entrepreneurs who share their stories, insights and advice to help students connect with the startup community beyond the classroom.
Anderson Center Awards Ceremony
The annual awards ceremony is an evening of recognition and inspiration as the Anderson Center celebrates its vibrant community of entrepreneurial leaders, including competition winners, fellows, ambassadors, startup coaches and more. Celebrate the innovators, changemakers and bold thinkers shaping the future.
Competitions Honored: Vol Court, Graves Business Plan Competition and Boyd Venture Challenge
All are welcome to attend and celebrate the community’s entrepreneurial spirit.
Dates:
May 6, 2027