Fund Tennessee
Fund Tennessee, from the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, supports business growth with equity, loans, and technical assistance to advance research, innovation, and entrepreneurship statewide.
Funder: Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development
Due Dates: Rolling (applications accepted year-round for InvestTN, LendTN, AssistTN, and TAP)
Funding Amounts: $120M+ total available; equity investments (InvestTN): $25k–$3M; loans (LendTN): $1k–$5M; technical assistance: in-kind
Summary: Supports Tennessee small businesses and entrepreneurs with capital (equity, loans) and technical/business assistance through multiple statewide programs.
Description
Fund Tennessee is a statewide initiative administered by the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development to empower small businesses and entrepreneurs across all 95 Tennessee counties. Launched in 2023 as part of the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s State Small Business and Credit Initiative (SSBCI), Fund Tennessee provides access to capital, investment, and technical assistance. The program is structured into three main components:
- InvestTN: Provides equity investments for early-stage startups and venture capital funds.
- LendTN: Offers loans to new and existing small businesses through a network of Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs).
- AssistTN: Delivers technical assistance, legal, accounting, and financial advisory services, as well as angel investing education through the Tri-Star Angels Program (TAP).
The overarching goal is to foster business growth, job creation, and community transformation by ensuring equitable access to resources.
