Backed by Amazon, the annual NEXT Awards returns to honor Middle Tennessee entrepreneurs for their growth and impact on the city.
Nashville, Tenn. (Aug 22, 2024) – Nashville Entrepreneur Center (EC) today announced the finalists for the 2024 NEXT Awards, an annual ceremony that recognizes entrepreneurs who are transforming industries and strengthening the Middle Tennessee community and beyond. Presented by Amazon, the 2024 NEXT Awards will be hosted at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center on Monday, October 21. Attendees can purchase tickets–Box, or Balcony–and find more details here.
The program honors businesses across different industry categories, including: Healthcare; Financial Services; Music, Sports, Gaming and Entertainment; Products and Services; Real Estate and Construction; and Hospitality and Retail.
There are three finalists in each stage and category. Two winners in each category– startup companies in business less than five years, growth companies in business more than five years.
Finalists in this year’s industry awards are:
Healthcare
Startup: LIFE COORDINATED, Inc., Local Infusion, VantageHealth
Growth: Blessed Beginnings, Psych Hub, Thalamus
Financial Services
Startup: Hilum Capital, inRev, Raise Financial
Growth: Celero Commerce, Wealth Access, Wilmoth Financial
Music, Sports, Gaming and Entertainment
Startup: Absolutely Ridiculous, Affinity Entertainment, Tennessee Voice Over Studios
Growth: Orange Thread LIVE, Single, Soundstripe
Products and Services
Startup: Flora, HeroWear, Tiny Mighty Communications
Growth: Covert Results, Pivot Technology School, Redwood Literacy
Real Estate and Construction
Startup: Ojas Partners, Populace Community Strategy, Urban Campus and Core, LLC
Growth: Eshelman Construction, Grade A Construction, LLC, Sagemont Real Estate
Hospitality and Retail
Startup: Creative Soulz Printing, Killjoy, The Modern Dog Company
Growth: D’Andrews Bakery & Café, The Cordelle, The Nashville Black Market
NEXT Awards will also honor two innovative founders across all industries with the Startup Entrepreneur of 2024 Award (less than five years in business) and Growth Entrepreneur of 2024 Award (more than five years in business).
Startup Entrepreneur of 2024
- Woody Baum, Local Infusion
- Jennifer Horne, Urban Campus and Core
- Paul Oakley, Tiny Mighty Communications
Growth Entrepreneur of 2024
- Kate Feriante, Redwood Literacy
- Angela Lee, Blessed Beginnings
- Rachelle Reigard, Grade A Construction
“We’re excited to bring the entrepreneurial community together for a night of recognition and celebration,” said Sam Davidson, Nashville Entrepreneur Center CEO. “This event honors the past and current innovators, risk-takers, and visionaries who shape our city and industry’s future.”
The evening will feature Entrepreneurs’ Hall of Fame inductees previously announced here. Amazon is Presenting Sponsor of the NEXT Awards and Entrepreneurs’ Hall of Fame evening. The co-chairs of this year’s event are: Janet Miller, Colliers Nashville CEO; Wanda Lyle, UBS (retired); Mignon Francois, The Cupcake Collection Founder & CEO; Sam Davidson, Nashville Entrepreneur Center CEO.
To learn more about NEXT Awards sponsorship opportunities, click here.
