By Erica Friedmann
Today marks the beginning of Nashville Startup Week 2017, an exciting opportunity to bring Nashville's community of entrepreneurs together for a week of collaboration and education. Several panels, pitch events, and networking opportunities will be taking place around the city, so be sure to check out the schedule and add a few to your calendar.
This week serves as a chance to celebrate Nashville's unique role as a thriving entrepreneurial hub. The city is comprised of all the essential ingredients that individuals look for when launching a new business, rendering its ecosystem ideal for startups. For those in the music industry or the medical field, Nashville is a natural choice: music is the language here, and the city’s top medical schools and its role as a pivotal center for health-care innovation is widely known. But there are other aspects that make Nashville an appealing city for an entrepreneur in just about any field.
A lack of state income tax is a huge draw, as are the multitude of resources, organizations, and acceleration/incubation programs available to and created solely for aspiring business owners. Perhaps it is Nashville’s personality that is the biggest attraction: it is known as a friendly city, with a sense of community that allows individuals to grow networks and create meaningful connections and relationships – all of which are very important when launching a new business.
Especially noteworthy is the start of iFundWomen in Nashville. The crowdfunding platform, designed specifically for women-owned businesses, recently publicized a new partnership with the Office of Mayor Megan Barry and officially launches today. This is the first regional crowdfunding platform of its kind, and the organization's choice of Nashville as its first “hub” speaks volumes for the state of entrepreneurship here. The new platform invites local residents to explore and directly invest in women-led businesses.
Be sure to check out our list of local Entrepreneur Resources.