KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) – Knoxville’s annual entrepreneurship festival, Innov865 Week has gone virtual this year.

Innov865 Week, Sept. 28-Oct. 2, boasts a range of events for everyone in the community to support local economic development, from investors and regional entrepreneurs to community leaders and students.

The week’s premier event is Startup Day, held on Tuesday, Sept. 29. Startup Day will be presented virtually using Knoxville based technology platform, Lunchpool. Startup Day is an annual “Shark-Tank”-style pitch competition for a chance to win up to $10,000 in cash prizes. Six of Knoxville’s most investable startups will pitch their businesses in front of a panel of expert judges. In addition to the opportunity to spotlight their startup for investors, entrepreneurs will compete for a “crowd favorite” cash prize presented by BB&T and SunTrust Bank, now Truist.

Added to the Startup Day program this year is a special award and recognition of startups and inventors that have made a positive impact on the fight against COVID-19, presented by Verizon.

Before the startups take on panel of judges at Startup Day, each entrepreneur will give their sixty-second “elevator pitch” to WATE’s Bo Williams. This year’s pitches include predictive software for heart attacks, an untraceable password generator, glowing human cells to deliver medicine, converting food into renewable electricity, a way to improve workplace safety through song, and a community-based certification system to champion youth fitness and education.

Watch the 2020 Elevator Sessions now. Who do you think will take home the winning prize?

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