All ACEI 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!
See our Spring 2024 Events
Accelerator Lunch & Learns
Throughout this series, you will find a vast variety of topics that are relevant to any entrepreneur, intrapreneur and innovative thinkers. Lunch is always provided, so you can enjoy a delicious meal while gaining practical tips and networking with like-minded individuals.
Date: February 1st, February 22nd, and April 9th
Time: 12-1 p.m.
Location: ACEI Business Incubator
Vol Court
Vol Court is a four-week entrepreneurial speaker series that culminates in a business idea pitch competition. Participants put what they’ve learned into practice by pitching their business ideas to a panel of successful entrepreneurs for a chance to win $1,500.
Date: Every Tuesday, February 6 – 27
Time: 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Location: HBB 202
Bridging Research & Practice
Our Bridging Research & Practice event series, where professionals and researchers from diverse industries come together to forge meaningful connections, share experiences, and strengthen their networks. This event’s dialogue will be focused on taking smart risks.
Date: February 12
Time: 4-6 p.m.
Location: UT Creamery
Graves Business Plan Competition
The Graves Business Plan Competition offers University of Tennessee, Knoxville students enrolled in undergraduate and master’s degree programs the opportunity to win part of the $20,000 start-up capital for an original business idea.
Application Dates: February 19th – March 3rd
Network with Shane Quillin
UT students, faculty and staff are invited to drop in to the Anderson Center to meet and network with him and try some delicious Sugar Shane’s cookies.
Event Date: February 20th
Meet the Founders Series
Meet the Founders is a unique series that introduces attendees to the visionary minds behind groundbreaking startups. These events offer intimate glimpses into the founders’ inspirations and journeys, as well as the challenges they’ve overcome to shape the future of their industries.
Boyd Venture Challenge
The Boyd Venture Challenge is a seed-fund grant competition conducted in the spring semester each year. Companies are awarded up to $30,000 in startup capital.
Application Dates: March 25th – April 7th
Social Entrepreneurship Lunch & Learn
Lilly Tench, Director of the Spark Innovation Center, is joining us for a Lunch & Learn on social entrepreneurship! She recently released her book, Good Business: An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Creating a Better World, all about how entrepreneurs are using business as an opportunity to do good in the world.
Event Date: April 10th