Last week, the Tri-Star Angel Program held its first kickoff meeting in downtown Memphis. The Angel Capital Association, under its Angel Investor Foundation entity, is partnering with the Department of Economic and Community Development of State of Tennessee, to launch the Tri-Star Angels Program. This program is designed to support Tennessee’s entrepreneurial ecosystem specifically addressing underrepresented investor participation and founder capital access. The program aims to educate angel investors to enable successful engagement with current and future venture opportunities, and thus enabling emerging entrepreneurs to become fully investor ready.

During the program timeframe, TN residents will have access to high quality angel investor education and receive mentoring services with experienced angel investors. Program participants will be eligible to enroll in up to ten two-hour course sessions of the Ann and Bill Payne ACA Angel University Program. Special consideration will be paid to individuals not traditionally represented in the early stage investing landscape. Funding for this program will come from the following sources: Delta Regional Authority (DRA), Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), and the U.S. Treasury

According to TNECD Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter, “Tennessee has the right leadership and economic climate to ensure that our businesses and entrepreneurs are supported from the ground up,” said “The Tri-Star Angels Program (TAP) will further build out and strengthen Tennessee’s entrepreneurial ecosystem by delivering training that aligns with the needs of potential investors, angels, entrepreneurs and startups, and I look forward to seeing the positive impact and growth TAP will bring to this community statewide.”

The remaining TN kickoff events will be held on the following dates and locations:

August 29, 2024: Nashville Kickoff

• The Nashville Entrepreneur Center, 41 Peabody St, Nashville, TN 37210
• RSVP: https://TriStarAngelsNashvilleKickoff.eventbrite.com

September 5, 2024: Chattanooga Kickoff

• 401 E M L King Blvd Suite 301, Chattanooga, TN 37403
• RSVP: https://TriStarAngelsChattanoogaKickoff.eventbrite.com

September, 18, 2024: Knoxville Kickoff

• 9630 Parkside Lane, Knoxville, TN 39722
• RSVP: https://TriStarAngelsKnoxville.eventbrite.com