Southern Series will elevate Nashville's tech profile

When Launch Tennessee decided to reorganize and expand our signature conference, 36|86, we knew we'd need to do more than just add some speakers and panels. Much more.

That's why we have created the Southern Series, three events leading up to 36|86 that will showcase the region's most promising early-stage companies. Held in Atlanta, Ga.; Arlington, Va.; and Columbia, S.C., the Southern Series will celebrate regional start-ups by choosing 10 to pitch at each event. Up to four of those will then double down on their pitching prowess at 36|86, with the winner walking away with $36,000 and other prizes.

These half-day events will pack a lot of punch. They'll identify up-and-coming entrepreneurs throughout the Southeast. And because the pitches will be judged by investors and other 36|86 partners, they'll create a lot of buzz on those cities around the main event in June.

In many ways, the Southern Series is just continuing what Launch Tennessee has been doing for a while now: highlighting the hottest new companies while also pulling the entrepreneurial universe's focus towards Nashville. That's paying off in many ways, with some very exciting collaborations:

•Iron Yard is setting up shop to bring tech education to Music City, offering three Academy courses.

• ConvergeSE brought its very non-traditional web conference, which includes food trucks, indie bands and craft beer, to Nashville.

• Disruption Corporation's Paul Singh, who provides tools, research and other services to corporations, angel investors and venture-capital firms, has become involved with Launch Tennessee's The TENN program.

Another exciting aspect of the Southern Series is that it further identifies the 36|86 conference in Nashville as the ultimate gathering spot for investors from the coasts to meet the best of the Southeast's early stage companies. This has been a compelling selling point over the past month with the investors we've been meeting with in California and New York during the recent TENN roadshows. We've received numerous commitments from some of the leading investment firms in Silicon Valley and New York City who want to meet these companies as well as develop relationships with our Tennessee investors so that they can work together in future syndicate deals.

Whether it's the Southern Series or collaboration between a successful tech event or funding innovator, Launch Tennessee always has its eye on how to maximize exposure throughout the region and country for Tennessee's entrepreneurs. Our unique collaborative approach is gaining the attention of investors, media and thought leaders across the country.

End result? More high-end, high-growth companies looking at Tennessee as a top place to live and work. More arrive every day, and that in turn means more want to be here. At 36|86, we bring it all together.

Charlie Brock is CEO of Launch Tennessee (www.launchtn.org), a public-private partnership focused on supporting the development of high-growth companies in Tennessee with the ultimate goal of making Tennessee the No. 1 place in the Southeast for entrepreneurs to start and grow a company. For more information on LaunchTN's flagship event 36|86, visit www.thirtysixeightysix.com.