Community Events
Join us to connect and grow with the Upper Cumberland Entrepreneurial Ecosystem. We offer a variety of networking, informational and community events in The Upper Cumberland to help you connect with the local entrepreneur community and start or grow your business.
Monthly Events
1st Wed.
Join us for Entrepreneur’s Lunch Club
When & Where: Wednesday, February 4th, 2026 12:00–1:00 PM at The Biz Foundry in Cookeville. Entrepreneur’s Lunch Club welcomes Hannah Istvanko co-owner of Privy Clear Advertising, focused on helping business owners make smarter marketing decisions. Hannah will cover how to stop paying for “busy” marketing, and focus on what actually moves revenue.
This isn’t a simple strategy session. It’s defining what advertising streams make money for your business and how to spot “opportunitues” to market that may not make sense. You’ll learn how to think in terms of the customer journey, which metrics matter at each stage, and how to build a simple plan that matches your current goals—whether that’s leads, booked calls, or purchases.
Reserve your spot today and plan on walking away with a clearer, more confident way to spend your marketing dollars, and prove what you’re getting back in return.
2nd Thurs.
Join us for the Powered By Her Cookeville
When & Where: Thursday, February 12, 12:00–1:00 PM.
A practical, clarity-driven session for small business owners who are ready to get out of the weeds and into control of their business. Seaira, founder of Next Phase Solutions & Support, brings real-world experience in accounting, payroll, HR, and systems to help owners finally understand their numbers and operations.
This isn’t theory—it’s phase-based, actionable support designed to help you clean up your books, organize your processes, and replace chaos with confidence. Seaira focuses on what matters now so you can make smarter decisions and build a foundation that actually supports growth.
Come ready to learn, ask questions, and walk away with a clearer picture of where your business stands and what the next phase should look like.
Special Events
Entrepreneur’s Lunch Club
Join us for Entrepreneur’s Lunch Club, a working lunch for entrepreneurs and small-business owners who want to become truly funding-ready. Getting capital isn’t just about having a great idea—it’s about showing lenders and investors that you run a strong, stable, investable business. Over lunch, you’ll learn what banks and investors actually look for, how better day-to-day management can strengthen your financials, and simple changes you can make now to set your business up for long-term success.
When & Where: Tuesday, December 3, 12:00–1:00 PM at The Biz Foundry in Cookeville. Bring your questions, your numbers, and a notebook—this hour is designed to be practical, tactical, and immediately useful.
Ready to get your business funding-ready? Register for Entrepreneur’s Lunch Club to reserve your seat.
Small Business Workshop
Jan. 20, 2026 at 6PM
The Biz invites you to a monthly workshop series held every third Thursday, designed to spark fresh ideas, real conversations, and hands-on learning for creative professionals.
This month’s session dives into all things social media, creating space to workshop trends, challenges, and strategies in a collaborative setting. Built primarily for social media professionals, this gathering is an opportunity to connect, share insights, and sharpen your skills alongside others in the field.
Powered By Her: Holiday Celebration
Join us for the Powered By Her Holiday Lunch, a year-end gathering for women entrepreneurs, professionals, and leaders across the Upper Cumberland. This isn’t just another holiday event—it’s a chance to get your brand in front of dozens of driven, like-minded women who are actively building businesses and careers.
Bring 25 small branded “gifts” (samples, coupons, or something fun with your logo), and we’ll turn traditional networking into a relaxed, intentional gift swap where your brand actually gets remembered.
You’ll leave with real connections, warm leads, and a room full of women who know who you are and what you do. Come for lunch, stay for the conversations, and walk away with visibility, community, and momentum heading into the new year.
When & Where: Wednesday, December 11, 12:00–1:00 PM.
Ready to celebrate, Powered By Her style? Register today to reserve your spot.
Coming in August: Small Business & Entrepreneur Conference
Running a business is hard—we get it. That’s why this one-day conference was built for folks just like you. Whether you’re feeling stuck or just ready to grow, this event will give you the tools, tips, and connections to keep moving forward.
You’ll learn from breakout sessions on the stuff that matters: marketing, IT, legal, finance, and even AI (we’ll make it make sense).
What’s included:
A keynote session with former Disney exec Vance Morris (yes, the guy behind the “Dine with a Character” magic)
A professional headshot booth (get that polished look for your LinkedIn or website)
A chance to connect with 100+ local entrepreneurs
Breakfast, lunch, snacks, drinks, and Wi-Fi (yep, it’s all covered)
VIP ticket holders get an exclusive dinner + workshop with Vance the night before
Don’t wait—tickets are limited and this event will fill up fast.
👉 Learn more and grab your ticket at sbe-conference.com
Powered by Her Lunch - COOKEVILLE
Thursday September 14th, 2023
12:00 – 1:00 PM
The Biz Foundry
114 N Cedar Ave, Cookeville TN
FREE
Join us for an open conversation on the topic of burnout. What are some strategies that work for you or what do you struggle with the most.
This lunch is free thanks to BRIK and All Good Nutrition.
Powered by Her Lunch - LIVINGSTON
Tuesday September 19th, 2023
12:00 – 1:00 PM
222 E Main St, Livingston TN
FREE
Topic TBD
HAPPY HOUR SPARTA
Tuesday May 23rd, 2023
5:30 – 7:00 PM
The Biz Foundry
21 N Main St, Sparta, TN
FREE
Come network and mingle with your fellow Upper Cumberland professionals at our Sparta location. Free beer and snacks will be provided.