LaunchTN's 36|86 puts focus on Southeast entrepreneurs

When Launch Tennessee and PandoDaily split last year after a one-year partnership on the Southland startup conference, attendees wondered, could Launch Tennessee build on its momentum without its San Francisco-based media partner?

LaunchTN's new 36|86 conference kicks off Monday, and the state-funded nonprofit has drawn speakers from several internationally recognized companies — Warby Parker, Uber, Eventbrite — as well as 85 investment groups and several media organizations from across the U.S., quelling doubts about the event's trajectory.

Through the conference, LaunchTN seeks to bring exposure and capital to Southeast companies, providing them with networking opportunities and the chance to learn from and interact with proven entrepreneurs and investors.

"There will be some incredible connections made between entrepreneurs and investors," said Charlie Brock, LaunchTN CEO. "We want this to be the premier gathering spot in the Southeast each year where investors can say, 'I can see the best early-stage companies across the region over two days in Nashville, Tennessee.' Everybody in the Southeast benefits from that."

LaunchTN created Southland in 2013 and joined with tech publication PandoDaily the next year, which yielded a bigger platform for the event. The two groups separated after the 2014 event because of conflicting visions and behind-the-scenes tensions, and both are hosting separate entrepreneurial events this month at Marathon Music Works.

36|86 intends to maintain a more regional focus, while PandoDaily Editor-in-Chief Sarah Lacy envisions the new Pandoland as a national conference held in Nashville that also embraces the region's culture.

Highlighting Nashville

While the abundant conference lineup carries the risk of conference fatigue for attendees and sponsors, the attention these two events bring is positive for the early-stage companies in the area that might not otherwise be on national investors' radar, said Stuart McWhorter, CEO of the Nashville Entrepreneur Center.

"We want to be able to sell what's going on in this state and particularly (in) Nashville," said McWhorter, a longtime venture capital investor. "The more exposure from different parts of the country, with different expertise and industry knowledge, we can bring, the better for us. We are hoping to get as much media play and, certainly, at the conferences (make) sure folks know what we're doing here."

Brock said he is expecting 750 attendees, including 120 investors from the Southeast, but also from outside the region -- from Massachusetts, California and New York. Despite the close timing of 36|86 and Pandoland, Brock said tickets, significantly less expensive than Southland prices, have gone faster this year. The cost is $249 instead of $1,500 at Southland in 2014.

Nashville's startup network grows

In the three years since the inaugural Southland, LaunchTN's network — regionally and nationally — has matured, elevating the speaker lineup, the number of investors and the quality of the startups participating in the pitch competition. The nonprofit has taken Tennessee startups to meet with companies and investors in New York and Silicon Valley and, more recently, launched three regional pitch competitions in advance of 36|86 to reach out to more Southeast companies.

The list of speakers and panelists illustrates Launch Tennessee's advancement, but also Nashville's stature as an attractive city to visit and do business. Fast-growing companies are increasingly looking for expansion in Nashville, as evidenced by the 36|86 speakers' companies. Eventbrite, with headquarters in San Francisco, chose Nashville for its second office in 2014; New York-based eyewear company Warby Parker is opening its second corporate office in Nashville; and Uber ride-hailing company has built a local presence as well.

Local entrepreneurs also will be featured on panels focused on attracting capital and building tech talent, as well as mergers and acquisitions and issues facing the fashion and music industries. Executives of FLO|CO, iPreo, Change Healthcare, imogene + willie, AC Entertainment and Omega Apparel Inc. are among those listed.

Leading up to 36|86, the new Southern Series pitch events have helped build interest in the conference. In Columbia, S.C.; Arlington, Va.; and Atlanta, startups presented business models to judges and 12 were selected to compete in Nashville. The 36|86 pitch competition includes 36 companies, and the winner will take home $36,000 in prize money as well as have the chance to present in front of national media and investors.

"This is a really efficient way for (investors) to get a broad view of some of the great things happening in the Southeast," Brock said. "If we do that well, it brings them back here every year and gives them a reason to come here for more than just a conference."

Reach Jamie McGee at 615-259-8071 and on Twitter @JamieMcGee_.

Aboout 36|86

For 36|86 tickets and schedule, visit thirtysixeightysix.com. The event runs Monday through Wednesday at Marathon Music Works.

Nashville companies selected for 36|86 pitch competition

Utilize Health: Led by CEO Jessica Harthcock, Utilize Health connects patients with neurological disabilities to relevant facilities and therapies that could help them.

Gamewisp: GameWisp helps gamers distribute content and interact with viewers. Michael Anderson is CEO.

Scorebird: Led by CEO Jason Damewood, the Scorebird app seeks to provide real-time scores from high school sports games.