Promoting an entrepreneurial spirit that is growing on campus, Tusculum University is holding a special event for students and community members to present their innovative ideas for business startups.
Pioneer Pitch Day will be held Saturday, April 18, from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. in the Dr. Nancy B. Moody Lecture Hall in the Meen Center. In addition to their pitches, participants will hear feedback on their ideas and have the opportunity to network. Prizes will be awarded to winning entrants who have been selected by a panel of judges.
Tusculum’s Center for Free Enterprise and New Venture Creation is sponsoring the event, which is free and open to the public.
“We are stoked about Pitch Day and look forward to hearing more about these products from our students and community members,” said David Hite, the center’s director and an associate professor of business at the university. “We are focused on training our students to embrace their business ideas and pursue them with fervor. Similarly, we encourage community members to follow through on their dreams to launch a business or product. Pitch Day will foster that excitement.”
Individuals who are interested in presenting their business still have a chance to share their idea at Pitch Day, but they have to act fast. The deadline to register is Wednesday, April 15. To make a request, please visit https://www.tusculumbusinesslab.com/events/pitch-day. No prior pitching experience is required.
So far, some of the ventures that will be presented at Pitch Day include a tool, a clothing business, an app, a service to enhance manufacturing productivity, a studio and a photography business.
One of the student participants is T.J. Greer, a 14-year-old student at Chuckey-Doak Middle School, who has attended workshop sessions at Tusculum to learn more about developing a business or product. The other students are enrolled at Tusculum and are participating in the workshops, which are run by the center.
All of the entrants in Pitch Day will have as much as five minutes to present their products, meaning they will provide an overview with some detail but not delve into every aspect of their venture. At the conclusion, the three-judge panel will discuss the proposals and conclude which ones are the best. The judges will pick first, second and third place finishers for the students and a Best in Community Award.
The judges are:
- Isaac Deel, marketing director of Founders Forge, who prides himself on being a lifelong learner and a passionate ecosystem builder. He is a creator, storyteller and marketer dedicated to exploring new ideas and sharing stories that inspire and connect his community.
- Kathrine Hackler, founder of Hackler Hall Event Center in downtown Greeneville, who earned the Entrepreneur of the Year Award at the Northeast Tennessee Pinnacle Awards in 2025. She is now working toward establishing a co-working hub in the nonevent section of her building. She was awarded more than $250,000 through the Entrepreneurial Placemakers Grant that is administered by SyncSpace and the Northeast Tennessee Regional Hub.
- Tammy Kinser, president of the Greene County market for Apex Bank who has worked in banking and for the Greene County Partnership. She served as director of tourism for the partnership, where she marketed the community as a vacation, relocation and sports destination.
Besides the awarding of prizes, the center will recognize the free enterprise mentors. These are individuals who have spoken at the business development workshops on campus and have provided valuable tutelage to up-and-coming entrepreneurs.
Pitch Day will leave plenty of time for networking so students and community members are able to talk shop and receive tips from individuals who can further help them.
“We encourage everyone to join us to either pitch their idea or watch the entrepreneurs showcase their passion with their proposed businesses and products,” said Dr. John Alpers, dean of the School of Business, Education and Sport. “It is wonderful to see the enthusiasm of a young entrepreneur, and we want to encourage those who are pitching that day to pursue their aspirations.”
More information about the university is available at www.tusculum.edu. 
