Downtown Memphis has a long history with entrepreneurs and innovators.  The very first modern grocery store opened on Downtown's Main Street, just a few blocks down from the world's first five and dime, Kress, and right down the street from where rock 'n roll was launched onto the air and into the world by Elvis.  We're an unconventional bunch ... gritty risktakers who don't like to be told we can't do something.  That unbridled spirit of the entrepreneur continues today in Downtown, and with guiding hands from some amazing organizations, our startups and entrepreneur community get a lot of support.      

StartCo is the organization helping startups launch
new ventures through a variety of programming and resources.

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The Entrepreneurship-Powered Innovation Center (EPIcenter) is a collaborative and community-wide strategic initiative that is helping entrepreneurs conceive, launch and scale businesses in the Memphis region. EPIcenter serves as a central point of contact for the region’s ecosystem and coordinates resources from various organizations in the community such as accelerators, incubators, mentors, investors, networking programs, and technical assistance programs for entrepreneurs. EPIcenter also represents the complete picture of the region’s entrepreneurial activity and resources in high-growth, scalable startups and businesses.

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Memphis ranked highly for millennial job seekers

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Memphis has made another top 10 list — this time it’s the best places for millennial job seekers in the state of Tennessee.

Emerge Memphis provides innovative and flexible office space solutions for growing businesses where new entrepreneurs can work alongside their professional peers. By supporting and strengthening the innovation ecosystem, we seek to grow the region's innovation economy. 

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Advance Memphis strives to bring economic revitalization in Memphis, Tennessee. We believe that adults can be empowered to change their lives and their community. Advance Memphis provides Biblically based programs that bring hope, knowledge, resources and skills to Memphis neighborhoods. The residents of each neighborhood then have the tools they need to affect change.

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Downtown Creative District teeming with possibilities

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The vision for a Downtown Creative District centers on the idea of a neighborhood where creative professionals thrive in a community of ideas.

INNOVA invests in early-stage, high-growth companies that have the potential to grow into significant economic contributors. Their focus is on companies with strong intellectual property or other competitive advantages in the Biosciences, Technology and AgriTech fields. Innova was created by the Memphis Bioworks Foundation to help establish Memphis as a national center of excellence in entrepreneurship. Innova’s goal is to nurture the growth of high technology and entrepreneurial efforts that will result in significant job creation, economic growth and competitiveness.

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Getting The Targets Right: Downtown Core, Vibrancy and Creative Millennials

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Russ Williams, CEO of Archer>Malmo, made a presentation to the Downtown Memphis Commission about 10 days ago that should be a call to arms about the forces that will define in large measure whether Memphis will be economically competitive in the future – downtown vibrancy, a focus on the downtown core, and creative millennials.