From left, ORNL Director Thomas Zacharia; Randy Boyd, president of the University of Tennessee; Jeff Lyash, CEO of the Tennessee Valley Authority; and Tricia Martinez, managing director of Techstars; participate in a panel discussion at Techstars Industries of the Future 2022 Demo Day, held May 26 at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
The Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory Director Thomas Zacharia joined Jeff Lyash, CEO of the Tennessee Valley Authority, and Randy Boyd, president of the University of Tennessee, for a panel discussion moderated by Tricia Martinez, managing director of Techstars, at Techstars Industries of the Future 2022 Demo Day, held May 26 at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
The three Tennessee institutions are partners in the Techstars accelerator program, which supports startups focused on emerging deep tech including artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, quantum information science, advanced wireless technology, biotechnology and clean energy technology.
“The potential for deep tech in Tennessee is untapped — there is a tremendous opportunity to build on the assets in our community,” Zacharia said. “It’s an unbeatable combination: ORNL’s deep tech expertise, TVA’s power technologies, and UT’s development of the advanced workforce needed in these areas.”
ORNL’s participation in Techstars is one of many ways the lab is contributing to a new age of high-tech leadership in Tennessee.
“Tennessee is going to lead the country in electric vehicles. The supply chain for components — such as microelectronics and energy storage — is going to be key. With the help of our community and institutions, we can help Tennessee lead the world in transportation,” he said.
Serving as the conclusion of 13 weeks of intensive coaching and business development work, which included numerous meetings with ORNL experts, Demo Day provided 10 startup founders the opportunity to pitch their businesses to and network with industry and community representatives.
Zacharia expressed his admiration for the founders and his appreciation for the growing entrepreneurial support community in the Knoxville area.
“While our three institutions are happy to be a catalyst, we could not do it without this community, such as the Knoxville Chamber, the Knoxville Entrepreneur Center and Innov865. This community is really coming together to become an entrepreneurial destination.”
The companies and their products include Armada IQ, fleet intelligence software for the trucking industry; Augurisk, a disaster risk-assessment platform for homebuyers; Be Global Safety, real-time safety incident prevention software; Cypienta, an AI-based cyber-attack detection platform; Fluix, liquid cooling solutions for high-performance computing; Grayscale AI, an efficient neuromorphic computing platform for safety applications; Modicus Prime, self-service AI for the pharmaceutical industry; Silvis Materials, bio-based emulsions to replace petroleum materials in paints, inks, coatings and adhesives; Skintelligent, diagnostic AI for skin concerns; and Spiky.AI, engagement analysis for online meetings.
“We want to continue to be engaged with these founders and see them be successful,” Zacharia said. “They’ve already enriched this community with their enthusiasm and passion for their companies.”
At least one company — Fluix — is establishing its headquarters in Knoxville.
Two more cohorts of 10 companies each are planned for the Knoxville-based Techstars accelerator.
“These 30 companies are going to put us on the map. I’m certain that in 10 or 20 years, we will look back on this day and see this as the beginning of a beautiful chapter,” Zacharia said.
UT-Battelle manages ORNL for the Department of Energy’s Office of Science, the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States. The Office of Science is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit energy.gov/science.