LAUNCH Updates: June 2026

LAUNCH Newsletter: June 2026

A MESSAGE FROM LAUNCH'S CO-CEOS

Chattanooga’s entrepreneurial ecosystem is in full swing.


As the KIC Catalyst Spring ‘26 program approaches Week 10, the Startup Matrix cohort celebrated the graduation of 20 innovative entrepreneurs and visionaries.


In May, we hosted the Chattanooga Entrepreneur Week (CEW) KICk-off with a day of activities, educational sessions, and local business showcases during Food Truck Friday at KIC, including the grand opening of Mama O’s Sarap Stop.


Additionally, LAUNCH traveled to Atlanta for the Gordon’s Food Show to support our KIC Catalyst students in testing and analyzing top-market food products, advancing their ongoing business development and menu creation.


As June commenced, Moser Manor Farms celebrated a successful grand opening, and two of our LAUNCH entrepreneurs pitched their products to major grocery chains across the country at the Pick TN conference, hosted right here in Chattanooga this year.


Looking ahead, we are preparing for our flagship event in 2026: KIC Nights: Juneteenth Celebration, in partnership with the Urban League of Greater Chattanooga, Chattanooga Business Elite (CB), and Artsbuild. We invite you to join us on Juneteenth (June 19) for an evening of live music and performances, dancing, food, celebration, and community engagement. If interested in becoming a vendor for KIC Nights, please register here.


Hal Bowling & DeJuan Jordan | Co-CEOs, LAUNCH

CONGRATULATIONS MARK!


Mark recently graduated from Leadership Chattanooga and was invited to speak at the East Ridge Chamber of Commerce. Great job, Mark! LAUNCH is lucky to have a leader like you.

FEATURED: HAL BOWLING


Our fearless leader Hal Bowling was listed by Chattanooga City Lifestyle as ‘Five Local Men You Should Know’ and we couldn’t agree more! Thank you for all that you do, Hal.

AT A GLANCE


  • 💰 Support LAUNCH: For 15 years, LAUNCH has supported real people with real dreams. In fact, we have trained nearly 1000 people across the Chattanooga area. Your gift today of $25, $100, $1,000, or any amount supports real people in our community. It says: "Your dream matters. We believe in you." Will you stand with us?


UPCOMING EVENTS

KIC Nights: Juneteenth Celebration | Jun. 19 | 6 - 9 PM

We’re excited to announce our first KIC Night event of 2026, celebrating Juneteenth and it’s free to anyone and everyone! This isn’t just an event...it’s a moment. Learn more here.


Consumer Packaged Goods Roundtable | Jul. 1 | 6 - 7:30 PM

Interested in getting into the Consumer Packaged Goods space? Join us at the Kitchen Incubator of Chattanooga (KIC) for a roundtable discussion, facilitated by Mark Holland. Register here.


LAUNCH and Learn: Own Your Future (Pt. 1) | Jul. 9 | 6 - 7:30 PM

As an entrepreneur, learn how to create a financial game plan that is tailored specifically to you and your needs. This will allow you to retire on your terms and no one else’s. Register here.


Open Source Solutions for Small Businesses | Jul. 11 | 6 - 7:30 PM

Explore open source solutions for small business accounting. We will cover the options, key considerations, and how collaboration can help you to own your accounting (and other!) software. Register here.


LAUNCH and Learn: Own Your Future (Pt. 2) | Jul. 16 | 6 - 7:30 PM

As an entrepreneur, learn how to create a financial game plan that is tailored specifically to you and your needs. This will allow you to retire on your terms and no one else’s. Register here.


Canva 101 | Jul. 20 | 6 - 7:30 PM

No graphic design experience? No problem! This beginner-friendly class will introduce you to the ins and outs of Canva, while helping participants develop the eye of a graphic designer and marketer. Register here.

LAUNCHEPRENEUR SPOTLIGHT

  • Moser Manor Farms celebrated a Grand Opening last week with pre-picked bouquets, farm animals, food trucks, and a chance to tour the beautiful grounds. Be sure to explore this new, intentionally curated space for yourself and support our LAUNCHepreneurs! Plus, who doesn’t want to try goat yoga?
  • Congratulations to Jay Carillo, owner of Mama O’s Sarap Stop, on a successful grand opening in May. Jay celebrated with the community, including the City of Chattanooga council members, and then sold out before Food Truck Friday was over. Be sure to check out where he’ll be next by clicking below!
  • Join us in welcoming our Start-Up Matrix Graduates:
  • Starlanda Rawlings
  • Adria Smith
  • Geoffrey Moore
  • Quintana Nance
  • Tequilla Martin
  • Corbin Snardon
  • Jessica Wicker
  • Kenya Houston
  • LaToya Stevenson
  • Zoey Parsons
  • Brittney Mason
  • Cortney Blake
  • Emily Pendergrass
  • Jacob McDermott
  • Savannah Ault
  • Latoya Thomas
  • Nicole Williams
  • Robin Brown
  • Tonya Short
  • Vincent Barberon

Let’s Celebrate!

Juneteenth is a pivotal national holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the U.S. and a powerful reminder of freedom, progress, and possibility.


In that spirit, LAUNCH, the Urban League of Greater Chattanooga (ULGC), ArtsBuild, and Chattanooga Business Elite (CBE) have teamed up to continue empowering and educating our community.


And this year… we’re doing something different.


We’re excited to announce our first KIC Night event of 2026, celebrating Juneteenth and it’s free to everyone!


This isn’t just an event...it’s a moment. And it’s going to be BIG!



Interested in Sponsoring?
Sponsorship opportunities start at $250 and offer a chance to support community impact while gaining visibility.

Congratulations to Locals Only Gifts & Goods on being recognized by City of Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly for an exceptional job in the community. LAUNCH was honored to attend this special recognition ceremony, while highlighting LAUNCHepreneur products inside the store.


Did you know Locals Only holds several LAUNCHepreneur products inside the store?


See our entrepreneurs in action, as well as other updates from LAUNCH.


Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn!

NEWS & OPPORTUNITIES

💰 Southeast Bank Business Loans: Starting, scaling, and maintaining your dream business costs money. Whether you need to hire employees, buy equipment, or expand to a new location, SouthEast Bank has financing options to help your business move forward.


🏫 Family Businesses Are Embracing AI (And 5 Ways Your Business Can, Too): In a survey of more than 1,500 family businesses in 35 countries, 86% reported actively or selectively using AI across their organizations. Many now view digital transformation as essential for “adaptability and resilience,” according to the report.


👨‍💻 SBA announces new grants for small manufacturers: The U.S. Small Business Administration has announced a new funding program targeting growth in small-scale manufacturing.



📚 Book Recommendation: The Lean Startup by Eric Ries. Most startups fail. But many of those failures are preventable. The Lean Startup is a new approach being adopted across the globe, changing the way companies are built and new products are launched.

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