What Nashville Entrepreneur Center does

The Nashville Entrepreneur Center (EC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2010, headquartered at the historic Trolley Barns campus at 41 Peabody Street in Nashville, Tennessee. Its mission is to make Nashville the best place to start and grow a business by increasing the likelihood of success for entrepreneurs. The organization operates a multi-program accelerator model with three flagship 12-week programs: TakeOff (idea-to-launch, $500 fee), InFlight (revenue-to-scale for $100K-$1M ARR founders, $1,000 fee), and Project Healthcare (health tech specialization leveraging Nashville's ecosystem, $6,000 fee). Supporting programming includes Twendé (Twendé) for Black and Brown founders (fully sponsored), Project Healthcare Commercialization in partnership with Life Science Tennessee, and Founders Circles for underrepresented founders. The EC runs three podcast series and operates a tiered coworking membership (Connect $49-$44/month, CoWork+ $149-$134/month, All Access $300-$270/month) plus space rental (Chase Studio, Learning Center, Ingram Board Room).

Revenue is generated through a hybrid nonprofit model combining earned income (program fees, membership dues, space rentals, event tickets) with contributed revenue (corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, individual giving via McWhorter Circle, and the $5M+ EC Endowment). Signature events include the annual NEXT Awards (with Amazon as 2026 presenting sponsor) and bi-annual Nashville Entrepreneur Day at GEODIS Park, which host non-dilutive Impact Grants competitions awarding $40K per event. The EC serves as one of seven Regional Seed Fund partners for InvestTN's $28M Tennessee initiative, deploying $25K-$250K investments to accelerator graduates. It takes no equity from founders - a core differentiator.

Outcomes to date include 537 founders served, 244 alumni companies (generating $256M in collective revenue and $146M in capital raised), ~2,000 jobs created in Middle Tennessee, and a Spring 2026 NPS of 76. The organization employs approximately 20 staff, led by CEO Sam Davidson, COO Mira Hanna, Chief Program Officer Dakota Simpson, and Chief Strategic Alliances Officer Donna Mattick, with strategic partnerships spanning HCA Healthcare, Lifepoint Health, Ascension Saint Thomas, Vanderbilt UMC, Launch Tennessee, Pinnacle Financial Partners, Baker Donelson, and Amazon.

Name

Nashville Entrepreneur Center

Legal name

Nashville Entrepreneur Center

Website

https://ec.co

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Nashville Entrepreneur Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2010 that runs three flagship accelerators (TakeOff, InFlight, Project Healthcare), tiered coworking memberships, and non-dilutive Impact Grants for early-stage and growth-stage founders in Middle Tennessee. It serves Nashville-based entrepreneurs through a multi-stakeholder community model anchored by deep healthcare system and investor partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Accelerator Services

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

akta.pro primary industry

Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Venture Creation Centers (EDAHAHAH), Leadership, Management & Teamwork for Business (EDAMAHAI), Professional & Certification Expos Organizers (THAHABAD), Corporate Accelerators & Startup Programs (FSANAHAD)

Keywords

• Startup accelerator programs
• Entrepreneur coworking space
• Small business mentorship
• Founder community building
• Nonprofit business support

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Program/Accelerator Fees: Earned revenue from accelerator program tuition. TakeOff $500, InFlight $1,000, Project Healthcare $6,000. Twendé program fully sponsored.
2. Membership Dues: Monthly membership tiers: Connect ($49-44/month), CoWork+ ($149-134/month), All Access ($300-270/month). Recurring revenue from startup community.
3. Event Fees: Revenue from events including 36|86 entrepreneur conference, Nashville Entrepreneur Day, NEXT Awards. Includes ticket sales and sponsorship revenue.
4. Space Rental: Rental revenue from Chase Studio (podcast/video production), Learning Center (up to 100 people), Ingram Board Room (up to 18), Meeting Rooms (6-8 people), and DIY Studio.
5. Contributed Revenue: State and local partnerships, business community partners, individual contributions, foundation giving, and corporate sponsorships. Includes McWhorter Circle annual giving society.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Nashville Entrepreneur Center (EC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs structured startup accelerator programs (TakeOff for idea-to-launch founders, InFlight for revenue-to-scale founders, and Project Healthcare for health tech entrepreneurs), provides tiered coworking memberships, and produces signature events such as Nashville Entrepreneur Day and the NEXT Awards. It supports founders with mentorship, capital connections, non-dilutive Impact Grants, space rental, and an advisor network without taking equity.

Product overview

The Nashville Entrepreneur Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit accelerator and coworking organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs for entrepreneurs at every stage. The core offering consists of three accelerator programs: TakeOff (idea-to-launch), InFlight (revenue-to-scale), and Project Healthcare (health tech specialization). Supporting services include tiered membership tiers (Connect, CoWork+, All Access) for workspace and community access, the Impact Grants program for non-dilutive funding, the Founders Circles initiative for underrepresented founders, and the Capital Connector for funding readiness. Signature events include Nashville Entrepreneur Day (GEODIS Park showcase) and the annual NEXT Awards. Additional offerings span podcast content, space rental, mentorship through the Advisor Network, and the McWhorter Circle annual giving society. The organization takes no equity from founders in any program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TakeOff: Early-stage accelerator program for founders with a validated business plan looking to launch in the next 2-3 months or who have recently launched.
• InFlight
• Project Healthcare
• Founders Circles
• NEXT Awards
• Nashville Entrepreneur Day
• McWhorter Circle
• EC Impact Grants

Products and services

• TakeOff Accelerator Launch-phase accelerator for Nashville-based founders with validated business plans looking to launch in 2-3 months or who have recently launched. Includes mentorship, curriculum, peer community, and access to 200+ volunteer advisor network.
• InFlight Accelerator Growth-stage accelerator for founders with $100K-$1M revenue and 3-8 team members focused on operational excellence and building scalable systems. Curriculum covers leadership, sales, marketing, finance, and capital access.
• Project Healthcare Accelerator Healthcare-specific accelerator for health tech entrepreneurs leveraging Nashville's healthcare ecosystem. Includes industry immersion site visits to HCA, Lifepoint, Ascension Saint Thomas and more, with focus on go-to-market, regulatory compliance, and health system sales.
• EC Membership Tiers Tiered coworking and community memberships for entrepreneurs: Connect ($49/month virtual and in-person access), CoWork+ ($149/month daily drop-in coworking), and All Access ($300/month with dedicated desk and 24/7 access). Includes meeting room hours, events, mentorship network access, and discounts.
• EC Impact Grants Non-dilutive cash awards for accelerator graduates competing at Nashville Entrepreneur Day. Awards total $40,000 per event ($25K, $10K, $5K) plus in-kind services, funded by the EC Endowment.
• Founders Circles Community initiative for underrepresented founders including women, founders of color, veterans, and LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs. Three pillars: Capital education and readiness, peer cohort community, and representation amplification through media and speaking placements.
• Nashville Entrepreneur Day Twice-yearly showcase event at GEODIS Park where accelerator cohorts graduate publicly. Features founder market with 80+ booths, Impact Grant pitch competition, and networking with investors and connectors.
• NEXT Awards and Entrepreneurs' Hall of Fame Annual awards ceremony at Schermerhorn Symphony Center recognizing Middle Tennessee entrepreneurs across 8 industry categories plus Entrepreneur of the Year and legacy awards, including induction of iconic Nashville entrepreneurs into the Entrepreneurs' Hall of Fame.
• Capital Connector Capital readiness initiative mapping the local capital landscape for entrepreneurs. Includes Capital A.R.C. framework (Awareness, Readiness, Connection), monthly capital events, and partnership with InvestTN for Regional Seed Fund deployments.
• Space Rental Rental of workspace facilities including Chase Studio (podcast/video production with professional lighting and teleprompter), Learning Center (up to 100 people with A/V), Ingram Board Room (up to 18 for executive meetings), Meeting Rooms (6-8 people), and DIY Studio (green screen for social content).
• EC Podcasts Podcast programming including Circle Back (interviews with iconic entrepreneurs), Friends of Project Healthcare (healthcare industry topics), and Twende (supporting Black and Brown founders).
• Project Healthcare Commercialization Subcohort Partnership with Life Science Tennessee and LaunchTN to accelerate Tennessee healthcare startups through a specialized commercialization subcohort of Project Healthcare.

Quantifiable outcome

• 76 NPS score Spring 2026
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• Launch Tennessee (LaunchTN)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026LaunchTN is a key partner providing funding connections including InvestTN regional seed fund ($28M Tennessee initiative) and LaunchTN investment. EC is one of seven Regional Seed Fund partners across Tennessee's 95 counties.
• Life Science TennesseecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Life Science Tennessee for Project Healthcare Commercialization Spring 2026 subcohort. Helps commercialize Tennessee healthcare innovations by pairing Project Healthcare curriculum with LST's life sciences network.
• EO NashvillemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerGuiding partner providing mentorship connections, event collaboration (Catalyst program info luncheons), and ecosystem support for growth-stage founders.
• 4FocussupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerGuiding partner for InFlight program, providing relationship-first business development expertise.
• Pinnacle Financial PartnersmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerGrowth Partner providing banking expertise and connections to the entrepreneur ecosystem.
• RJ YoungsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerTechnology Growth Partner providing IT services and expertise to EC members.
• Baker DonelsonsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerGrowth Partner providing legal expertise and support for EC programs.
• Lifepoint HealthsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerGrowth Partner connecting healthcare entrepreneurs with Lifepoint's regional health system network.
• HCA HealthcaremajorGTM or Marketing PartnerAlumni Circle Partner and Project Healthcare partner. Provides site visits, mentorship, and healthcare industry access. One of seven largest health systems in Nashville.
• Healthcare CouncilsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerProgram partner for Project Healthcare providing healthcare industry connections and expertise.
• Ascension Saint ThomassupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerHealthcare system partner for Project Healthcare program site visits and mentorship.
• Vanderbilt University Medical CentersupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerHealthcare system partner providing introductions and connections for Project Healthcare alumni.
• Nashville Health Care CouncilsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for healthcare industry events and connections. Co-sponsor through board member.

Scale indicators20 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Rev1 Ventures: Columbus-based startup accelerator and investor. Comparable as a regional entrepreneur support organization combining accelerator programming with capital connections.
• gener8tor: Nonprofit accelerator network running 12-week programs across U.S. cities. Directly comparable as a nonprofit, accelerator-style program serving founders with mentorship and investor connections.
• Capital Factory: Austin-based accelerator and coworking hub for startups. Directly comparable as a city-anchored entrepreneur center combining accelerator cohorts, coworking memberships, and signature events.
• MassChallenge: Global nonprofit accelerator supporting early-stage founders across multiple sectors. Comparable as a nonprofit, equity-free accelerator with cohort-based programming and a mentor-driven model.
• 1871: Chicago-based nonprofit tech hub and coworking/incubator operator serving early-stage founders. Comparable as a community-first entrepreneur support organization with memberships, events, and accelerator-style programming.
• Boomtown Accelerators: Boulder-based accelerator running cohort programs for early-stage founders. Comparable as a city-based accelerator offering mentorship and investor introductions.
• Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC): Coworking and innovation campus operator hosting accelerators and venture firms. Comparable in providing tiered memberships, event space, and an entrepreneur community ecosystem.

Regional players

• Launch Tennessee (LaunchTN): Tennessee statewide venture development organization and EC's InvestTN partner. Comparable in supporting Tennessee founders with capital readiness and ecosystem coordination, though operating at state rather than city level.

Broad incumbents

• Techstars: Large global accelerator running 13-week cohort programs with equity investment. Comparable as an accelerator serving early-stage founders, but differs in taking equity and operating at global scale.

Emerging players

• BioEnterprise (JumpStart Health): Health-focused accelerator and venture organization. Comparable as a healthcare-specialized accelerator providing commercialization support, similar to EC's Project Healthcare vertical.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@NashvilleEntrepreneurCenter
• Facebookfacebook.com/NashvilleEntrepreneurCenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nashville-entrepreneur-center
• Instagraminstagram.com/entrecenter
• Xx.com/entrecenter

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments109 records

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

Frequently asked questions about Nashville Entrepreneur Center