Meet 100Knoxville’s 12th Cohort!
Media Contact:
Knoxville Entrepreneur Center
Kelsi Walker, Communications Director
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August 28 , 2025, KNOXVILLE, TN
Knoxville Entrepreneur Center announces 100Knoxville Cohort 12.
The Knoxville Entrepreneur Center (KEC) is thrilled to celebrate the next cohort of the 100Knoxville Grant Program. This group of five founders has teamed up with an exceptional lineup of mentors for a dynamic five-week sprint that started last week, led by 100Knoxville Facilitator Kandis Troutman. Throughout the program, participants will refine their business strategies, expand their entrepreneurial networks, enhance operational efficiency, and learn how to boost sales.
Meet the founders and their mentors:
Aaron Ingram | House of Lamar, LLC
Mentor: Saray Taylor-Roman
House of Lamar is an Interior and Architectural Photography business. Their customers are interior designers, design firms, architects, and home builders. Aaron is an involved member of the Knoxville entrepreneur and creative community, serving as Chair for the 2026 Maker City Summit.
Jaleria Rivera | SpaceCraft
Mentor: Ashleigh Walters
SpaceCraft is Knoxville's first arts studio cooperative and creative reuse center (SpaceJunk). They are a conduit for culture and host consistent gatherings that inspire joy, play, and community care. As a growing artists constellation, we understand that art flourishes when you give space to explore in a low-stakes and caring environment. Our mission is to minimize the barriers to becoming an artist through equitable access to community, space, and art supplies.
Annette Polanco | Legacy Pour Promotions
Mentor: Courtney DeLaura
Premium experiential marketing and staffing agency specializing in liquor brand activations, providing expertly trained brand ambassadors to increase product visibility, consumer engagement, and retail sales.
Monica Smith-Albright | D’vyne Creations
Mentor: Mike Robinson and Kaleena Goldsworthy - PROOF
D’vyne Creations is a made-to-order bakery specializing in gourmet cookies—including the signature Oatmeal D’vyne Cookies—along with custom and specialty cakes, and other custom dessert creations. Each creation is handcrafted, inspired from a God-given recipe and made with love, purpose, and you in mind.
Jeremy Donald | Nappywingz
Mentor: Nolan Sherrill - Central Creamery
NappyWingz offers Memphis style hot wings as well as other comfort food that is inspired by Memphis recipes. Along with those food items NappyWingz also offers catering for events such as weddings, birthdays, anniversaries and other special occasions.
Each company will also receive $10,000 towards growing their business. We are grateful to the community of 100Knoxville supporters who have helped to make this happen.
For more information, to apply for the next cohort, or to support 100Knoxville, please visit 100knoxville.com.
Assets:
100Knoxville high resolution logo
Knoxville Entrepreneur Center logo
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About 100Knoxville
100Knoxville is a program dedicated to helping Black-owned businesses in Knoxville grow by $10,000,000 in 5 years through investment of time and talent, and access to social and financial capital. Each cohort is facilitated by strategist & business consultant Kandis Troutman. Learn more at 100knoxville.com.
About Knoxville Entrepreneur Center
Knoxville Entrepreneur Center is a business accelerator located in downtown Knoxville, Tennessee, dedicated to changing lives through entrepreneurship.. Our mission is to create a thriving entrepreneurial community that is accessible, diverse, and sustainable to make Knoxville the most founder-friendly city in America. Learn more at www.knoxec.com.
