Nashville Entrepreneur Center (NEC) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) startup ecosystem builder based in Nashville, Tennessee, USA that supports founders through education, programming, mentorship, community, and capital readiness resources, rather than acting as a traditional venture fund with standardized cash investments and equity stakes.

Pre-Seed / Seed Support: NEC’s core programs are designed to help early-stage founders refine their business, connect with investors, and prepare for capital raises; the center itself does not generally provide direct equity capital as a core business activity.
Growth: NEC connects founders to external funding sources (e.g., Tennessee’s InvestTN Regional Seed Fund) that invest capital into local startups.

• Equity Taken by NEC: NEC’s accelerator and support programs do not take a fixed equity share in companies simply for participating. Instead, they focus on programming, mentorship, and investor readiness without standardized cash for equity deals.
• NEC Impact Grants: Participating founders in NEC’s accelerator programs can compete for non-dilutive grant awards (e.g., up to $25,000) without giving up equity. Winners keep 100% of their equity.
• Access to Equity Capital: NEC is a partner of InvestTN’s Regional Seed Fund — a statewide early-stage investment vehicle. Through this, eligible Nashville-area startups can pursue equity investment from $25,000 to $250,000 (Regional Seed Fund) with negotiation of terms and valuation done separately, not by NEC itself.
– The Regional Seed Fund seeks to support venture-backable startups and often requires a 1:1 private match before InvestTN commits capital; the eventual ownership percentage is negotiated per investment between the startup and InvestTN/other investors.

Submission Method: Founders apply to NEC’s accelerator programs (e.g., TakeOff, InFlight, Twendé, Project Healthcare, Project FinTech) through the online application process. Each program has its own focus and stage criteria.
Capital Connections: For capital through InvestTN, NEC acts as a regional connector; founders work with NEC to prepare and submit applications to the Regional Seed Fund. 

Sector Focus: Broad — NEC’s programs serve founders from across industries, including healthcare, fintech, consumer, B2B tech, and more.
 Geography: Primarily Middle Tennessee/Nashville region, though strong connection to the broader LaunchTN and InvestTN ecosystem links founders to statewide capital resources. 
Stage: Pre-seed to early growth; program specifics vary by accelerator track. 
Team: Founders committed to scaling and leveraging mentorship and capital pathways. 

NEC runs multiple cohort programs that provide structured curriculum, mentorship, community support, and exposure to investors and ecosystem events:
• TakeOff: Designed for founders ready to launch or move to market.
• InFlight: Focuses on companies progressing from early traction.
• Project Healthcare, Project FinTech, Twendé: Industry-specific accelerators with tailored support.
• Impact Grants: Competitive, non-dilutive cash awards given to outstanding cohort founders.

• Program Support: Structured accelerator tracks with mentor guidance, learning curriculum, and founder community.
• Ecosystem Access: Connections to investors, advisors, and ecosystem partners through events like Nashville Entrepreneur Day and LaunchTN’s 3686 festival.
• Non-Dilutive Funding: Eligibility to compete for Impact Grants that do not require giving up equity.
• Capital Readiness & Funding Pathways: Support in preparing for external equity investment, including access to InvestTN’s Regional Seed Fund and co-investor networks.
• Workspace & Community: CoWork+ memberships and office resources for founders in the region.