Chattanooga nonprofit The Company Lab just celebrated 11 years of supporting local entrepreneurs, and the new team is starting 2022 with fresh offerings and opportunities.
Here are five things you need to know about The Company Lab:
1. The team has launched a new angel investing network, called the Chattanooga Cherubs
Cherub (n): winged angel
Angel investor (n): Generally, a person with high net worth who provides early financial backing for a startup or entrepreneur, at a higher than usual risk
The group just had its first meeting, and will continue to gather every third Thursday of the month.
Each meeting, which is free and open to the public, will cover a different topic related to angel investing. 
2. As an extension of Startup Week, CO.LAB is starting a monthly workshop series, called Stay Savvy
The first workshop, which will be done virtually, is a panel discussion about the pros and cons of branding your business a family. It’s a popular concept, but recent findings show that it could have negative effects.
The monthly workshops will continue as a way for the Company Lab to support entrepreneurs and members of the community through learning. Register here.
3. There’s a new outdoor accelerator coming
Compass Reccelerator is a new 12-week program that will support businesses whose products and services are focused on outdoor rec and conservation.
It will build on the city’s rebirth from most-polluted to best outdoors in the country through a curriculum that includes mentorship, one-on-one sessions and a partnership with Reflection Riding, which may serve as a testbed for ideas.
4. CO.LAB is re-imaging Gig Tank
The CO.LAB team is relaunching Gig Tank, which started years ago as a pitch competition with a monetary prize, as a year-round, stage-gate mentor program.
The new vision includes a hybrid model that relies on well-respected and seasoned mentors, combined with support from CO.LAB’s programs director Christine DiPietro.
5. The team is new
CEO Lindsey Cox took over CO.LAB in April 2021, with most of the rest of the team joining over the summer.
Other new team members include:
- Operations Coordinator, Armon Butler
- Capital Access and Community Engagement Manager, Lya Kimbrough
- Director of Programs, Christine DiPietro
- Director of Communications, Chloé Morrison
Learn more about the exciting developments at CO.LAB by visiting their website, here.
Images courtesy of The Company Lab. Main image: CO.LAB team with Chattanooga Football Club players after Startup Week Awards. Second image: CO.LAB team during an outing. Bottom image: CO.LAB CEO, Lindsey Cox, during Startup Week.
Author Bio:
Chloé Morrison is a communications veteran who spent 14 years as a Chattanooga journalist and now serves as the Director of Communications for The Company Lab.
