Anderson Center

Summer Studio

Take Your Idea to Market

Summer Studio is a 12-week intensive program designed to help you launch or scale your business. Hosted by the Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (ACEI), this opportunity is exclusively open to current University of Tennessee, Knoxville, students and alumni who have graduated within 12 months of applying.

Applications open February 23!

DISCOVER SUMMER STUDIO

Learn from Launching

Starting and growing a business can be challenging. This 12-week program is designed to move your idea toward market or accelerate your company’s growth through interactive workshops, seminars focused on the entrepreneurial mindset, networking opportunities and personalized one-on-one and group coaching. Participants showcase their progress and celebrate their achievements at Summer Studio Demo Day, hosted at 121 Tech Hub in Knoxville.

Collaborative Environment

Summer Studio is intentionally interdisciplinary, bringing together peers from colleges across UT to collaborate as they develop and launch products and services. This cross-disciplinary environment strengthens ventures by combining perspectives and skill sets to create more market-ready solutions.

Signature Support

As a Summer Studio participant, you’ll join the ACEI community, an ecosystem dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs, strengthening businesses and supporting you at every stage of your entrepreneurial journey.

Summer Studio

AT A GLANCE

Summer 2026 Cohort

ACEI’s Summer Studio consists of 10 to 15 teams working collaboratively across the Startup and Scale-Up tracks, offering viewpoints that enable adaptability and resilience.

Startup Track: Early-Stage Venture Development

Transform early-stage ideas into validated business concepts with clear paths to market through intensive workshops, mentorship and hands-on experience. This track focuses on customer discovery, problem validation and minimum viable product (MVP) development.

Scale-Up Track: Established Venture Growth

Transform your business into a streamlined, efficient and revenue-generating venture through intensive workshops, mentorship and hands-on experience. This track is designed for entrepreneurs who have launched business concepts and are ready to scale.

Summer Timeframe

Summer offers a unique window to pursue new ideas with focus and flexibility. Free from the pace and demands of the fall and spring semesters, it’s an ideal time to explore and develop your entrepreneurial ambitions.

Part-Time

Summer Studio participants must commit at least 15 hours per week (12-week total) to the program and individual business ideas.

In-Person

Summer Studio has space dedicated to in-person meetings and collaboration in at 121 Tech Hub in downtown Knoxville.

Demo Day

In August 2026, Summer Studio participants from both tracks will present at Demo Day, a public event highlighting the cohort’s work and progress for the broader community. The event offers valuable exposure, connecting emerging ventures with potential customers, partners and investors.

Summer Studio

Curriculum1

From Idea to Launch

Over this 12-week program, you’ll test your idea, refine your target market and build a solid business foundation, establishing your entity, agreements and key compliance pieces.

Clarify Your Purpose

Define your “why” and see how that clarity strengthens your direction, improves decision-making and helps you move forward with confidence.

Understand Your Market

Learn how to calculate your total addressable market (TAM) and evaluate your opportunity from a realistic growth perspective.

Prioritize What Matters

Build a product strategy that separates must-haves from nice-to-haves and identifies what can wait.

Shape Your Business Model

Develop a model that supports your customers, aligns with your mission and positions you for long-term success.

Cover the Legal Basics

Get access to formation support and contract templates designed to help you avoid common compliance and legal pitfalls.

Learn How Funding Works

Explore different funding options, how they function and how to use capital wisely, no matter the amount.

Build Your Prototype

Experiment with solutions to customer problems and create your prototype while working alongside peers who push your thinking and execution.

Launch Your MVP

Put your product or service into customers’ hands. An MVP builds momentum, creates real feedback and helps you improve with each version.

Grow Your Entrepreneurial Mindset

Develop a practical mindset for navigating uncertainty, solving problems and learning as you go, skills you can use in any career path.

1Each track will have different emphases; these topics may change based on the needs of the cohort.

Summer Studio

Internship Credit

Building a Business or Supporting the Teams

Selection and involvement in Summer Studio may qualify as internship credit or as three credit hours for entrepreneurship minors. Internship credit varies by colleges and programs. The ACEI will work with you and your respective college on an individual basis to determine internship eligibility and requirements.

Summer Studio

Eligibility

  • Current UT students and alumni who graduated within 12 months of applying are eligible for the program
  • UT faculty, staff and community members are not eligible but can explore other ACEI opportunities and resources
  • Both product and service ideas are welcome

Anyone interested in Summer Studio is encouraged to apply, regardless of whether an idea seems to meet the qualifications.

Register for Summer Studio