Greater Nashville Technology Council

What Greater Nashville Technology Council does

The Greater Nashville Technology Council (GNTC) is a membership-driven not-for-profit organization founded in 1999 and headquartered at 500 Interstate Blvd. S, Suite 200, Nashville, Tennessee. It operates as the recognized voice of technology in Middle Tennessee's $8 billion tech ecosystem, serving technology companies, IT departments, solutions providers, non-profits/educational affiliates, and startups through four stated pillars: Connect, Unite, Develop, and Promote. The organization is governed by a 41-member Board of Directors and supported by a small professional staff of approximately five, including President and CEO Mark Blaze, COO Sandi Hoff, VP of Strategic Partnerships Brian Adair, Director of Programs Emily Bounds, and Events Manager Katie Hundt.

GNTC's product surface is a portfolio of community programs rather than software. Core offerings include the ELITE Emerging Leaders In Tech program (training roughly 30 leaders per cohort over three months), career-specific Peer Groups (CXO, Cyber Security Executive, Data & Analytics Executive, Revenue Ops, and Veterans), K-12 STEM and computer science pathway programs that extend into rural Tennessee counties, and signature events such as the annual GNTC Awards (currently in its 17th year, held at the Country Music Hall of Fame) and the recently launched GNTC Summit covering Data, AI, Leadership, and Innovation. Recurring event programming includes Tech Talks, NashCoffee, NashCocktail, Workshops, and exclusive Executive Dinners. GNTC does not develop proprietary technology products; it relies on Service Partner BOS Framework for its public-facing chatbot tooling.

Revenue is generated through two primary streams: tiered annual membership dues and event sponsorships. Membership pricing varies by organization type and employee count, with rates ranging from $300 for qualifying startups (under 4 years old, under $1M revenue, under 10 employees) to $3,500 annually for 20-49 employee technology companies, $4,000 for 50-99 employee firms, and tiered pricing above that. Solutions providers pay between $750 and $2,000 annually depending on size. Sponsorship revenue flows from a tiered partner architecture comprising Vision Partners (AllianceBernstein, Amazon, HCA Healthcare), Mission Partners (CGI, Velocity, S3 Recycling Solutions, Comcast Business, Baker Tilly), and Service Partners (String Fellow, Becton Dickinson, BOS Framework, Ankura, JMC Marketing & Communications). GNTC also received a $2,000,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration in July 2023 to support ecosystem development.

Name

Greater Nashville Technology Council

Legal name

Greater Nashville Technology Council

Website

https://technologycouncil.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Greater Nashville Technology Council is a membership-driven not-for-profit founded in 1999 that serves as the leading voice of Middle Tennessee's $8 billion technology ecosystem, connecting 300+ member companies through leadership programs, peer groups, K-12 STEM pathways, and signature events including awards and summits.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Technology Industry Association

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Executive Summits & Invitation-Only Forums (MPAGAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sponsorship, Exhibitor & Partnership Management Services (THAHACAK), Public Career & Technical Education (CTE) Centers & Programs (EDAJAAAJ)

Keywords

• Technology industry association
• Membership-based networking
• Tech community programs
• Professional peer groups
• Technology event sponsorship

Headquarters

HQ city

Nashville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from technology companies, IT departments, solutions providers, nonprofits/educational affiliates, and startups. Fees are structured by employee count and organization type.
2. Event Sponsorships: Sponsorship revenue from signature events including GNTC Awards, Summit, ELITE Graduation, Spring Fling, Holiday Party, Tech Talks, NashCoffee/NashCocktail, Workshops, and Peer Groups.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Greater Nashville Technology Council is a membership-driven, not-for-profit technology trade association that connects, unites, develops, and promotes the Middle Tennessee tech ecosystem through organization-based memberships, signature events (GNTC Awards, GNTC Summit, ELITE Graduation), career-specific peer groups, K-12 STEM pathway programs, and recurring networking programming (Tech Talks, NashCoffee, NashCocktail, workshops, executive dinners). It does not develop or sell a technology product; its offering is community, advocacy, professional development, and events for the regional tech industry.

Product overview

The Greater Nashville Technology Council operates as a membership-driven not-for-profit organization serving as the leading voice of technology in Middle Tennessee. Rather than offering a unified software product, GNTC provides a portfolio of professional programs and services including: the ELITE leadership development program for emerging tech leaders; signature events such as the annual GNTC Awards ceremony and GNTC Summit conference; peer group communities for CXOs, cybersecurity executives, data & analytics professionals, and other career-specific groups; K-12 STEM and computer science pathway programs; and recurring event programming including Tech Talks, NashCoffee, NashCocktail, Workshops, and Executive Dinners. GNTC functions as a technology community organization rather than a technology product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• GNTC Membership Annual organization-based membership providing access to events, peer groups, professional development, advocacy, and networking for technology companies, IT departments, solutions providers, non-profit/educational affiliates, and startups in Middle Tennessee.
• ELITE – Emerging Leaders In Tech Professional development program that trains technology professionals and aspiring leaders in Middle Tennessee's tech community through formal instruction, community projects, dialogue, and mentoring on core leadership skills.
• GNTC Awards Annual awards ceremony recognizing outstanding technology professionals, companies, and initiatives in Middle Tennessee across 15 categories including CDO, CIO, CISO, CTO of the Year, Community Leader, Data Professional, Emerging Leader, InfoSec Professional, Innovation Initiative, Senior Tech Sales Exec, Software Engineer, Team Catalyst, Tech Company, Tech Educator, and Tech for Good.
• GNTC Summit Annual single-day conference bringing together hundreds of tech professionals for curated content and displays of cutting-edge technology covering Data, AI, Leadership, and Innovation programming.
• Peer Groups Career-specific peer-to-peer learning communities including CXO Group, Cyber Security Executive Group, Data & Analytics Executive Group, Revenue Ops Group, and Veterans Group for technology professionals in Middle Tennessee.
• K-12 Programs Computer science and STEM pathway opportunities designed to extend tech workforce development into K-12 education and rural counties in Tennessee.
• Recurring Event Programming (Tech Talks, NashCoffee, NashCocktail, Workshops, Executive Dinners) Recurring member programming including Tech Talks educational sessions, NashCoffee and NashCocktail networking events, hands-on workshops, and C-suite exclusive executive dinner discussions for the Middle Tennessee tech community.

Quantifiable outcome

• GNTC connects 300+ member companies in Middle Tennessee's $8 billion tech ecosystem
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered vision partner, mission partner and service partner.

• AllianceBernsteinvision partnerOthersVision Partner supporting GNTC's mission to advance Middle Tennessee's tech ecosystem. AllianceBernstein is a leading investment management firm providing strategic support to the technology council.
• Amazonvision partnerOthersVision Partner supporting GNTC through Amazon's commitment to regional technology ecosystem development.
• HCA Healthcarevision partnerOthersVision Partner representing major healthcare technology employer in Middle Tennessee supporting GNTC initiatives.
• CGImission partnerOthersMission Partner - CGI is an IT and business consulting services firm providing support for GNTC programs and events.
• Velocitymission partnerOthersMission Partner supporting GNTC through sponsorship of events and programs.
• S3 Recycling Solutionsmission partnerOthersMission Partner - S3 Recycling Solutions is represented on GNTC Executive Committee with Board Chair Rod McDaniel.
• Comcast Businessmission partnerOthersMission Partner and presenting sponsor of the 2026 GNTC Awards. Comcast Business provides technology solutions and event sponsorship.
• Baker Tillymission partnerOthersMission Partner - Baker Tilly is an advisory and consulting firm providing sponsorship and board leadership (Finance Chair Josh Hedrick).
• LBMCservice partnerOthersService Partner - LBMC is a business advisory firm with representation on GNTC Executive Committee (Programs Chair Charlie Apigian).
• String Fellowservice partnerOthersService Partner providing support for GNTC events and programs.
• Becton Dickinson (BD)service partnerOthersService Partner supporting GNTC through corporate sponsorship.
• BOS Frameworkservice partnerOthersService Partner powering GNTC's public assistant chatbot and providing technology support for the organization.
• Ankuraservice partnerOthersService Partner - Expert services firm with representation on GNTC Board (Kevin Cowherd).
• JMC Marketing & Communicationsservice partnerOthersService Partner - Full-service marketing firm (Tosha Jones on Board) providing creative services. Site developer for GNTC website.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Technology Councils of North America (TECNA): TECNA is the umbrella trade body for regional technology councils across North America, of which GNTC is effectively a member. Directly comparable in mission (regional tech advocacy, member services) but operates at a continental scale, coordinating policy and best practices across councils like GNTC.
• CompTIA (Computing Technology Industry Association): CompTIA is a national, IT-channel-focused trade association offering membership, certifications, advocacy, and events. Comparable to GNTC in association/membership model and industry-advocacy role but operates nationally with a vendor/channel focus.

Direct peers

• Technology Association of Georgia (TAG): TAG is one of the largest U.S. state-level technology associations, running member programs, peer groups, signature awards, and policy advocacy for Georgia's tech ecosystem — a direct structural analog to GNTC's Nashville-focused model.
• Mass Technology Leadership Council (MassTLC): MassTLC is a Massachusetts-based membership trade association for the tech industry, providing peer groups, leadership programs, advocacy, and signature events — a close peer in mission, programming structure, and member composition to GNTC.
• NC TECH (North Carolina Technology Association): NC TECH is a state-level technology trade association offering membership, awards, leadership programs, and advocacy across North Carolina — functionally identical to GNTC's role in Middle Tennessee and a strong direct peer.
• Colorado Technology Association: Colorado Technology Association is a regional/state tech industry association running membership programs, peer communities, and signature events serving Colorado's tech sector — a direct comparable in scope, model, and programming mix to GNTC.
• Austin Technology Council: Austin Technology Council is a Texas-based regional tech association that connects, develops, and advocates for the Austin tech community through events and programming — a near-identical structural peer to GNTC operating in a different but comparable Sun Belt tech hub.

Emerging players

• Cincinnati Tech / Cintrifuse: Cintrifuse is a Cincinnati-based tech ecosystem organization that combines membership-style programming with innovation services and corporate partnerships. Comparable to GNTC's regional tech-community-builder role but with a more venture/ecosystem-development orientation.

Regional players

• TEN: The Entrepreneurship Network (Nashville): TEN is a Nashville-based entrepreneurship network that overlaps with GNTC's community-building mission for the local tech/startup ecosystem — a regional peer competing for the same Nashville entrepreneur audience and corporate sponsor attention.

Others

• Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce: The Nashville Area Chamber is the broader regional business-membership organization that encompasses tech alongside other industries. Comparable membership/revenue model and Middle Tennessee focus, but horizontal across industries rather than tech-vertical like GNTC.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nashtechcouncil
• Facebookfacebook.com/NashvilleTechCouncil
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nashville-technology-council
• Instagraminstagram.com/nashtechcouncil

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Greater Nashville Technology Council