WH AT WE DO

WE F O S T ER C O LL AB OR AT I O N
Since 2008, weve been asking startups, social entrepreneurs, self-employed professionals, and the creative class, what else do you need to thrive?

OUR VISION FOR THE CITY OF KNOXVILLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO MAKE IT LIKE A CAMPUS THAT EMPOWERS THE CREATIVE SPIRIT.
Toward the latter half of 2008, a community of self-employed folks, entrepreneurs, young professionals, and virtual employees who met at Panera Bread at Bearden once a week founded Knoxville Overground (KO). From there, a grassroots organization and a social movement was founded that quickly grew to launch the Citys first entrepreneurial community center and coworking workspace available to anyone for a membership fee starting at $49/year. Due to its awkward location, our KO Center was shut down in late 2009; however, the spirit of KO has continued. To date, weve helped produce and launch hundreds of events, podcasts, conferences, seminars, and workshops that spark creativity, personal growth, and innovation. We continue to organize trips across the US where we study best practices from other metropolitan areas that produce impressive startup companies, support high levels of art & culture, and illustrate stunning examples of social innovation. Additionally, volunteers are asked continually to speak at colleges, conferences, and to the Press about our work. Our vision is not only to help build a City where everyone, regardless of what category they fall under, feels as though every day there are ongoing opportunities and events to better themselves. In the end, we just want Knoxvillians to feel empowered, connected, and inspired to be the change they want to see in our Citys future. From being the first to launch in 2011 TEDxKnoxville (an internationally recognized brand that showcases thought leaders) to 48 Hour Launch (a 2-day event where startups and nonprofits are launched), we also continue to play a role in several other events and initiatives throughout the region, like innovateknoxville.com (an evolving online resource for entrepreneurs) and Digital Knoxville (an envisioning summit for the digital workforce collaborating on what they need to be successful entrepreneurs on September 15th). We were honored to have been named by Fast Company magazine as one of the top 51 bold ideas and brilliant urbanites who are helping to build the cities of America's future, in the United States in May 2011. All are welcome to visit us anytime at Technology 2020 in Oak Ridge, TN at 1020 Commerce Park Drive. Visit us on the Web (currently under construction) at http://knoxvilleoverground.org or find us on facebook & twitter at @overground. We are always looking for volunteers, sponsors, and more exposure in the Press!

E VE N TS & I NI TI ATI VE S
Weve helped produce and launch hundreds of events, podcasts, conferences, seminars, and workshops that spark creativity, personal growth, and innovation.

WE AR E A VOI CE
As a volunteer-powered organization, we publish new ideas, reports, and proposals in the public interest.

10 20 Co m mer ce P ark Driv e | O ak R id g e, T N 37 830

WWW .K NOX VILL E O VE RGRO UND .O RG