These Tennessee Startups Are Heading to SXSW

A cohort of startups and civic leaders from Nashville, Chattanooga, Knoxville, and Memphis will represent the State of Tennessee at South by Southwest (SXSW), pitching innovations that range from consumer safety to quantum computing under the banner of the Tennessee House.

Meet Some Founders Pitching at SXSW 

Among the most attention-grabbing entries is Spikey, founded by Nashville teenager Abigail Goddard. She developed adhesive strips capable of detecting date rape drugs in beverages. The product, which targets a problem that affects tens of thousands of people annually, earned Goddard the audience choice award at last year’s 3686 pitch competition, signaling early market validation for what could become a widely-used safety tool.

Orion Therapeutics, out of Knoxville, is also making the trip. The company is focused on RNA-based therapies and vaccines, with a particular emphasis on targeted drug delivery — a space that drew enormous investment and public attention following the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine rollout. Orion will be pitching alongside other East Tennessee companies in a showcase that doubles as a window into the region’s growing life sciences ambitions.

City by City

The Tennessee House, a central meeting place for innovators across the state heading to SXSW, will highlight the tech and business ecosystems building in Nashville, Memphis, Chattanooga and Knoxville.

Inside The Tennessee House, visitors will experience structured programming, giving each major city a dedicated block to showcase its economic identity.

On Saturday morning, Chattanooga will take over, leaning into what has become the city’s dual reputation as a manufacturing hub and technology testbed. Mayor Tim Kelly will appear alongside founders from Shappi and Branch Technology, while panels will cover smart mobility, intelligent traffic systems, and quantum computing. There will also be a conversation with FreightWaves founder Craig Fuller, examining Chattanooga’s transition from a freight corridor into a legitimate innovation hub.

Nashville picks up the baton Saturday evening with a startup pitch session — moderated by Sam Davidson — featuring local companies Daily Crunch, Potluck, Rebel Audio, Spikey, and Whisper Aero. Vanderbilt University anchors the programming’s more institutional side, with sessions on research commercialization and technology transfer. The night closes out with Hip Hop Karaoke and late-night line dancing in honor of Dolly Parton’s 80th birthday.

Sunday, March 15 turns the corners of the state. Knoxville’s programming inside The Tennessee House centers on nuclear energy — a fitting focus given the region’s Oak Ridge legacy and renewed federal interest in advanced nuclear as a clean energy solution. A startup showcase rounds out the morning, giving East Tennessee’s emerging companies a national stage.

Memphis closes out the two-day run with sessions tied to Ford’s BlueOval City electric vehicle manufacturing initiative, as well as programming from the University of Memphis and a local startup showcase.

Why It Matters

Tennessee’s presence at SXSW reflects a broader push by the state’s startup ecosystem to build a national profile outside the usual coastal narratives. A lot of that effort has grown through work at Launch Tennessee and InvestTN.

Heading to Austin for SXSW? Registration for the Tennessee House is currently open.