Startup Week Chattanooga Begins – WDEF

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn (WDEF) – Chattanooga startup week focuses on celebrating entrepreneurship and innovations.

The 5-day event offers multiple opportunities for entrepreneurs to learn more about how to grow their businesses.

The 5-day event is free to anyone and offers over 80 workshops and events for local companies to learn about capital, recovering from mistakes, and networking. 

“Startup Week is a week-long event that has all these different programs that have been put on by the community. We have things like angel investment and how to talk to angel investors and also how to market yourself as a business. All of this is done by the community for the community,” says Lya Kimbrough, community engagement for The Company Lab.

The small business owner of Seahorse Snacks says this week is an opportunity for local companies to connect with one another. 

“I’m here to learn about all the opportunities that there are for entrepreneurs but also to help other entrepreneurs gain exposure and grow their businesses as well. It’s really special for Chattanooga to have something like this. It’s a hugely entrepreneurial environment and things like this only help close the gap and stimulate small business,” says Stacy Martin, Seahorse Snacks.

With the cancellation of the event last year due to COVID-19, organizers say this type of networking opportunity is needed now more than ever. 

 “It has been horrible to see small businesses hit but at the same time, people have reevaluated and said ‘you know what, maybe I want to go into business for myself. No matter what side of the coin you are on there is something here for you,” says Chloe Morrison, Director of Communications for Company Lab.

For more information on the event and how to register click here.