TN Small Business Development Center at TSU

05/05/2026

Aaaand that’s a wrap! Last week all Centers in the TSBDC network came together in one room to learn, collaborate, and celebrate. 🙌

We’re proud to invest in the professional development of our staff, knowing that stronger teams mean stronger communities, and better support for Tennessee’s small businesses!

A special thank you to our event sponsors - you made this incredible week possible!
🔹 First Horizon Bank
🔹 Truist
🔹 Republic Bank
🔹 Three Roots Capital
🔹 Pinnacle Financial Partners

04/27/2026

This is how we lived our Open House at the TSU Business Incubation Center! ✨🏢

Yesterday, April 23, 2026, we opened the doors of our headquarters at 315 10th Ave North, and the energy was incredible! 🤩 Together with our TSU Vice President and the SBDC Director, we welcomed students and entrepreneurs ready to take their ideas to the next level.

Our center offers much more than just walls: we provide a success ecosystem designed to facilitate entrepreneurship and innovation.

Looking for a place to grow? Look at what we have for you:
📍 28 private offices in the heart of downtown Nashville.
📍 Incubate Program: Direct support for startups and Stage I/II businesses.
📍 Coworking spaces and growth workshops.
📍 24/7 access for our program members.
📍 Specialized business training workshops and small business consultations.

A special thank you to the partners who joined us for a great evening: 🙌 .tn (Tennessee Governor's Office of Diversity Business Enterprise) 🙌 (Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce) 🙌 (Latin American Chamber of Commerce) (Tennessee Small Business Development Network)

Your business deserves a home that fuels your vision! Come and visit us. 🐯💙

04/27/2026

Successful Kick-off of the New Farmer Academy

Headline: A Successful Start to the New Farmer Academy: Business Planning Workshop! 🚜💼

We are thrilled to announce the successful completion of Business Planning Session 1: Foundations, History, and Vision, marking the beginning of our five-month strategic roadmap for 30 agricultural producers.

Led by Gregory Jones, Director of the TSBDC at Tennessee State University, this session focused on aligning farm planning teams with their core values and long-term direction.

We are excited to carry this momentum into Session 2 in May, where we will dive into assessing physical and human resources.

Special thanks to organizers and participants: 🤝 TSU College of Agriculture 🤝 TSU Cooperative Extension 🤝 Tennessee State University (TSU) 🤝 U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) 🤝 Tennessee Small Business Development Center (TSBDC)

04/25/2026

Most businesses don't think about disaster preparedness until they need it. Our Blue Sky series gives you a plan before that moment comes.

We’re partnering with the Department of Economic & Community Development for a week of no-cost hybrid training covering practical steps before, during, and after a disaster.

🔹 May 4: Innovation & Tech
🔹 May 5: Manufacturing
🔹 May 6: Main Street Business
🔹 May 7: Agriculture & Food
🔹 May 8: General Business, Micro & Solopreneurs

Learn more and register at tsbdc.org/tnblueskyseries

04/20/2026

Are you ready to export your U.S. product or service to new foreign markets?

The SBA is hosting Export Week May 4-8 with virtual seminars to help U.S. businesses expand into foreign markets.

Two sessions that might be particularly helpful:

Monday, May 4th | 11am-12pm ET | Export Week Kick-Off: Navigating Export Resources for U.S. Manufacturers Learn about federal export resources, trade counseling, and market intelligence. Register: 3d114ccd-b6d8-479b-902f-6cf0726e4faa@a1d183f2-6c7b-4d9a-b994-5f2f31b3f780" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/3d114ccd-b6d8-479b-902f-6cf0726e4faa@a1d183f2-6c7b-4d9a-b994-5f2f31b3f780

Tuesday, May 5th | 9-10am CT | Tennessee STEP Grant Program Learn about grant funding to help Tennessee small businesses enter and expand into international markets. Register: f1a16eef-270d-4e8a-b4d8-53b07fbde079@3c89fd8a-7f68-4667-aa15-41ebf2208961" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/f1a16eef-270d-4e8a-b4d8-53b07fbde079@3c89fd8a-7f68-4667-aa15-41ebf2208961

Both sessions are free and virtual. If you're considering international expansion, this is a great place to start!

04/10/2026

Last week on LinkedIn, we asked what the hardest part of running a business is. The results were split between staying motivated and knowing when to pivot.

Here's what both of those struggles have in common: they're signs you need clarity.

If staying motivated is hard, you might need clearer goals, better boundaries, or a reminder of why you started. Burnout often means you're working in the business without stepping back to work on it.

If knowing when to pivot is hard, you're stuck between what you've built and what might work better. That decision gets easier when you have data, outside perspective, and a strategic plan.

The good news is that you don't have to figure this out alone! Our consultants can help you work through challenges like these - whether it's getting unstuck, making tough calls, or building a clearer path forward.

03/18/2026

For most people, today is just March 18th... but for us it's National SBDC Day! A day when we celebrate our incredible teams and the difference they make for thousands of small businesses across Tennessee.

In 2025 alone, our network served 3,097 clients and facilitated $68.9M in capital infusion.

We also helped launch 172 new businesses, create 686 jobs, and retain 1,465 more.

It's no secret: SBDCs help small businesses start, grow, and thrive!

Join us in celebrating by sharing how the SBDC has helped your business succeed! 🥳

03/12/2026

Last week on LinkedIn, we asked business owners what they’re spending most of their time on. The results were split (somewhat) evenly among sales, client/customer work, admin, and managing employees.

Truly there's no one-size-fits-all answer to where your time should go. It all depends on your business, your strengths, and your goals.

But there’s three questions worth asking:
- Are you spending time on what you're good at?
- Are you doing what you WANT to be doing?
- Are you spending time on what moves your business forward?

If you're stuck doing tasks you hate or aren't skilled at, that's a sign it's time to delegate, automate, or outsource. The goal isn't to do everything - it's to spend your time where you create the most value.

TSBDC consultants can help you identify what's worth your time and what's better handled by someone else. tsbdc.org/centers

02/20/2026

Want to know what banks look for when evaluating loan applications?

In our latest blog post, we break down the 5 C's of Credit, because understanding these can help you position your business for funding - or identify what you need to work on first.

Read more:

The Secret Ingredient to Getting Cash for Your Business Financial I picked up the phone at the office, and after my greeting, I heard, “Hey, um…they told me to give you a call. I have a great idea for a business, and they said that you were the man!” He said, “I have talked to at least 3 oth...

02/13/2026

Last week on LinkedIn, we asked business owners what they do when they hit a roadblock. The results were a mix of asking other business owners, using AI/google, and consulting an expert.

Here's how to make each of those approaches work better:

🔹Build a trusted circle. Surround yourself with business owners who have different experiences and perspectives than you do. They'll see blind spots you miss.

🔹Work with an expert regularly. Don't wait until you're in crisis mode to reach out. Regular check-ins with a consultant (cough cough... us 😉) help you stay ahead of problems, not just react to them.

🔹Check your sources. Google and AI are helpful starting points, but they're not always accurate or relevant to your specific situation. Verify what you find before acting on it.

The best business owners know when (and how) to ask for help!

02/04/2026

The dream: Be your own boss, set your own hours, pursue your passion.

The reality: Building something sustainable takes time, sacrifice, and strategy - often more than most people expect.

In our latest blog post, we break down the myths vs. reality of entrepreneurship so you can go in with your eyes wide open.

Read the full post:

The allure of entrepreneurship often paints a picture-perfect image of freedom, flexibility, and unbounded success. It's easy to get carried away by the romanticized notion of being your own boss, charting your course, and turning your passion into profit. However, the truth behind this facade is fa...