It’s no coincidence that the namesake of the state’s largest entrepreneur event points you right to Nashville.
The city is hosting the 3686 conference — a nod to Nashville’s geographic coordinates — for its 11th year from Monday, Sept. 9 through Wednesday, Sept. 11. Three days of specialty programming for investors, tech enthusiasts, and other entrepreneurs will draw hundreds of people from all over the US — but you’re in luck. There are still tickets available, and here’s a look at seven opportunities one will grant you:
1. All the mayors | Mayors from the state’s major cities — Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, and Chattanooga — will discuss past successes and visions for the future of startups, as well as what challenges they are working to overcome as it relates to innovation in their respective cities.
2. The man behind shoes worn by Taylor Swift + more | Keynote speaker Stuart Weitzman, a famed shoe designer, will discuss his entrepreneurial journey.
3. Startup showcase | Attendees can get up close to interactive technologies brought by 10 innovative companies.
4. InvestTN pitch competition | Five startups will showcase their businesses to a panel for the chance to secure funding and accelerate growth via a cash prize for the winner and more opportunities through Launch Tennessee’s investment arm, InvestTN.
5. Investor-exclusive content | On Wednesday, expect investor-specific programming across various topics, including how Tennessee is positioned to capture the venture capital scene.
6. Partner pop-ups | Also on Wednesday, organizations and businesses will host workshops across Nashville. The day starts with a morning run and workshop topics cover marketing and how to capture an investor’s attention, just to name a couple.
7. One-on-one meetings | Last year, Launch Tennessee conducted 900 one-on-one meetings, which give entrepreneurs a chance to meet with other business people who may want to invest in their companies.
