On November 13, 2025, our community came together at Makeshift for an inspiring and high-energy evening celebrating innovation, creativity, and the entrepreneurial spirit. The Rural Frontier Startup Pitch Competition showcased bold ideas from emerging founders who are shaping the future of Rural Frontier Entrepreneurship.
Thanks to the generous support of the University of Tennessee Research Foundation, we awarded a $500 first-place prize, helping fuel the next chapter for one promising new business.
The following companies presented at the event:
- PeaceandParadise – presented by Michael Bell
- The Social Court – presented by Hamza Asif & Rafael Gallegos
- Blue Velvet – presented by Kylie Blackwell
- First-Due Locator – presented by Grady Thompson
- Parknson – presented by Tim Otis
- REC 101 – presented by Chase Kelly
- GoodWorks TN Foundation – presented by Dr Tesa and Ashley Griggs
Announcing Our Winner: Kylie Blackwell, Blue Velvet Baking Company
We are proud to congratulate Kylie Blackwell, founder of Blue Velvet Baking Company, on winning first place in this year’s competition. Kylie delivered a compelling pitch grounded in authenticity, passion, and a vision for scaling her handcrafted baking business right here in our region. Her blend of creativity and business readiness set her apart, demonstrating exactly what rural frontier entrepreneurs bring to today’s marketplace—resourcefulness, cultural connection, and community-driven innovation. To our other competitors, thank you for sharing your vision and courage. We can’t wait to see where your ideas take you next.
Find out more about Blue Velvet Baking Company!
A Night of Ideas, Community, and Momentum
This year’s competition brought together students, mentors, small business owners, and supporters from across the region. The atmosphere at Makeshift was electric as each entrepreneur took the stage to present their concept, share their story, and make their case for growth.
The event highlighted:
- The rising momentum of rural entrepreneurship
- The importance of accessible pitch platforms
- Support ecosystems—universities, community partners, and local businesses—working together
- The incredible talent emerging from our region
- These events are more than competitions; they are catalysts for visibility, confidence, and early-stage business traction. Every participant left with new connections, strengthened storytelling skills, and a clearer path forward.
Why This Matters: The Frontier of Rural Entrepreneurship
Rural frontier entrepreneurship represents one of the most dynamic and under-recognized sectors in the innovation economy. Founders in these areas are:
- Solving local problems with scalable solutions
- Building resilient small businesses
- Bringing diversity of thought into the entrepreneurial landscape
- Strengthening local economies through job creation and community engagement
During the RFE talk at the start of the event, we asked the audience to give us feedback in real-time on what other ideas they have for NOVA. Here is the word cloud that was generated by the audience in real-time.
Fan Favorite Vote
We also asked the fans to vote on their favorite as well, and the results are below! Great job to all the companies who presented!
Gratitude for Our Partners
This event would not have been possible without the support of LaunchTN, the University of Tennessee Southern, and the University of Tennessee Research Foundation. Their investment in early-stage innovation continues to open doors for founders across Tennessee and contributes significantly to our region’s entrepreneurial growth. A special thank-you also goes out to our volunteers, judges, and community supporters who helped bring this event to life.
Several Southern Middle Tennessee Counties attended the pitch event, including Giles, Maury, Mashall, Lincoln, Wayne, and Bedford. In addition, we had Williamson and Davidson Counties (Nashville) represented, as well as others from Alabama, and even all the way from Spain!
Looking Ahead:
As we celebrate the success of this year’s competition, we also look forward to expanding opportunities for emerging founders. More workshops, more pitch events, and more collaborations will continue to strengthen the pipeline of rural frontier entrepreneurs!
The future of Rural Frontier Entrepreneurship is bright!!!!
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