The Clarksville Area Chamber of Commerce will host a gathering of Tennessee’s leading voices in entrepreneurship and investment as part of the Capital Conversations series.

On Aug. 14 at 4:30 p.m., the Clarksville Area Chamber of Commerce will host a gathering of Tennessee’s leading voices in entrepreneurship and investment as part of the Capital Conversations series. This event represents a crucial opportunity for local business owners, startups and aspiring entrepreneurs to connect directly with state-level resources and funding opportunities.

The InvestTN Road Tour comes to Clarksville

With generous support from the Nasdaq Foundation, Launch Tennessee, and Pinnacle Financial Partners are bringing their InvestTN Road Tour to 10 cities across the state. The initiative aims to bridge the gap between local entrepreneurs and the investment resources they need to grow their businesses. Clarksville’s inclusion in this statewide tour underscores the city’s emerging role in Tennessee’s broader innovation landscape.

The road tour focuses on three critical areas that often challenge growing businesses: securing funding, identifying investment opportunities, and accessing community resources. Rather than requiring entrepreneurs to travel to Nashville or other major metropolitan areas, the tour brings these essential connections directly to local communities.

Distinguished panel of speakers

The event features an impressive lineup of speakers who bring diverse perspectives from across Tennessee’s business ecosystem:

Lindsey Cox, CEO of Launch Tennessee, will share insights from the state’s primary hub for startups and innovation. Under her leadership, Launch Tennessee has worked to empower innovators across the state by providing the three pillars essential for business growth: capital, commercialization support, and strategic connections.

Kevin Roddey, Senior Vice President at Pinnacle Financial Partners, brings deep expertise in financial services and investment from one of the Southeast’s most prominent banking institutions. His perspective will be particularly valuable for businesses seeking traditional financing alongside venture capital options.

Dakota Simpson, Vice President of Programs at the Nashville Entrepreneur Center, represents one of the state’s most dynamic startup support organizations. The Nashville Entrepreneur Center has become a crucial launching pad for Tennessee entrepreneurs, and Simpson’s role in program development gives him unique insights into what makes businesses successful.

Niesha Wolfe, past president of the Clarksville Chamber and owner of The Gingham Café. Her dual role as both a business advocate and successful local entrepreneur makes her uniquely positioned to speak to the opportunities and challenges facing Clarksville-area businesses. Her involvement, along with the Chamber’s role as host, demonstrates the strong local support and commitment to bringing these valuable resources to the community.

Candi Henry, Chief Legal Counsel for the Greater Nashville Regional Council, rounds out the distinguished panel, bringing a unique legal and regional development perspective to the conversation. In her role, Henry provides legal expertise on regional economic development initiatives and business formation, offering valuable insights into the regulatory and legal landscape that entrepreneurs must navigate when building and scaling their businesses.

The discussion will be moderated by Emily Masters, bringing together these diverse voices in what promises to be an engaging and informative conversation.

Startups in Tennessee

Tennessee has been making significant investments in its startup and innovation infrastructure in recent years. Launch Tennessee’s mission to provide capital, commercialization support, and connections reflects a statewide recognition that entrepreneurship and innovation are key drivers of economic growth.

The involvement of the Nasdaq Foundation in supporting this road tour signals the national significance of what’s happening in Tennessee’s entrepreneurship scene.

What attendees can expect

Attendees will learn about funding options available to Tennessee businesses, and other investment opportunities. The panel will share practical tips for securing capital, explain what investors look for in startups, and business support services that entrepreneurs can access right in Clarksville.

Join us for the event

The Capital Conversations event represents more than just a single afternoon of presentations. It’s part of a broader effort to ensure that Tennessee’s economic growth is distributed across the state rather than concentrated solely in major metropolitan areas.

For Clarksville-area entrepreneurs, business owners, and anyone interested in the local business ecosystem, Aug. 14 offers a rare opportunity to engage directly with some of Tennessee’s most influential business leaders and learn about resources that could significantly impact their ventures.

Those interested in attending can register through this Eventbrite link, and additional information about Launch Tennessee is available at LaunchTN.org or by following @launchtn on social media platforms. Further information can be found at www.clarksvillechamber.com.