Meet Knoxville’s Entrepreneurs

The Pitch Before the Pitch is a video series spotlighting the innovators, entrepreneurs, small business owners, and creators shaping Knoxville’s future.

Entrepreneurs and small business owners are the lifeblood of Knoxville’s economy and community. They create jobs, close market gaps, and bring forward new ideas that keep our city growing and competitive.

But their impact goes far beyond economic metrics. Small businesses reflect the character, values, and spirit of Knoxville. They strengthen neighborhoods, inspire the next generation, and fuel a shared sense of pride and possibility. When we invest in local entrepreneurs, we invest in a stronger, more vibrant future for our entire community.

Before each game at Covenant Health Park, fans will meet one featured founder on the big screen. In a short video, they share their founding journey, their local business story, and how Knoxville has inspired, supported, and strengthened their vision.

Qore Performance designs, builds, and distributes a family of simple, novel hydration and thermoregulation technologies that increase work capacity. The company serves major clients across the globe, including the U.S. Military, Chick-fil-a, and Dutch Bros.

Justin Li – Founder of Qore Performance

Real Good Kitchen, Knoxville’s first shared commercial kitchen designed specifically to support food entrepreneurs, quietly crossed a milestone this year. Real Good Kitchen opened its doors in January of 2o21. And in those six years, it has helped nearly 120 food entrepreneurs start or grow their food ventures.

Real Good Kitchen, Founder, Bailey Foster

Ascend Manufacturing was selected to work on a top-secret project with the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) to manufacture small, complex parts. What if you could print thousands of complex parts in a single day, using materials no one else can? That’s the challenge Justin Nussbaum set out to solve.

Ascend Manufacturing, Founder, Justin Nussbaum

Anna Wiggins believes the future of retail isn’t exclusively online. She still views clothing shopping as a way to slow down, connect, and be present with those around you. That conviction led her to open Surseen Boutique, a second-hand fashion shop off Kingston Pike, focused on personal styling and outfit curation.

Surseen Boutique, Owner, Anna Wiggins

Counterfeiters have adapted quickly, designing products that fool even the savviest shoppers. That leaves a critical question: How can well-known brands protect both their products and their reputations? John Brandon, the Chief Executive Officer of TreisD Corporation, believes the answer lies in the packaging.