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Chattanooga Renaissance Fund is a formalized angel capital and venture fund based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, that invests in seed and early-stage companies across the southeastern United States. The firm targets regional startups operating in diverse sectors, including software-as-a-service, healthcare, biotechnology, logistics, and artificial intelligence, providing both financial capital and strategic mentorship. Operating primarily through member contributions, the organization currently manages three distinct investment funds and has raised $11 million in total funding to support its operations. The firm maintains an active portfolio ranging from 25 to 46 companies and has recorded three successful exits while building relationships with other southern venture funds. Notable portfolio investments backed by the organization include Branch Technology, Vendor Registry, GreenPrint, and Everly. Chattanooga Renaissance Fund was founded in 2011 by Charlie Brock and Miller Welborn alongside other local business leaders.
Key people at Chattanooga Renaissance Fund.
Key people at Chattanooga Renaissance Fund.
Chattanooga Renaissance Fund has 4 tracked investments across 4 companies. The latest tracked deal is $1.8M Seed in Vendor Registry in February 2017.
| Date | Company | Round | Lead Investor(s) | Co-Investor(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 3, 2017 | Vendor Registry | $1.8M Seed | — | John C. McIlwraith, Cantos, Geoff Robson, VentureSouth |
| Jun 3, 2013 | Variable | $1.3M Series A | — | Atlanta Technology Angels, Pangea's Edge, Westcott Investment Group |
| Apr 18, 2012 | RentStuff.com | $660K Seed | Solidus Company | — |
| Sep 29, 2011 | Advanced Catheter Therapies | $3.0M Series A | — | ACT I Investments, Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise, Maclellan Foundation, Medical Device Development Group |
Chattanooga Renaissance Fund (CRF) is a formalized angel capital fund founded to encourage entrepreneurship and fuel economic growth in Tennessee and surrounding regions, investing in seed and early-stage companies with strong habits and growth potential.[2][3][5] Its mission centers on bridging the gap for entrepreneurs beyond initial ideas but needing mentorship and connections, primarily targeting Chattanooga and nearby cities like Knoxville, Nashville, and northern Atlanta, while maintaining ties to southern funds in Charlotte, Birmingham, Memphis, and Greenville.[2][5] CRF has made 46 investments across three funds (CRF I, CRF II, and others), raising $11M total with 3 successful exits, focusing on sectors like healthcare, SaaS, e-commerce, software, big data, finance, and financial services.[3][7] By providing capital and expertise, CRF bolsters the local startup ecosystem, complementing Chattanooga's tech infrastructure like the EPB gigabit fiber network and major corporate investments from Volkswagen and Amazon.[5]
CRF emerged around Chattanooga's entrepreneurial renaissance during the post-Great Recession era, filling the void for formalized angel capital and mentorship amid the city's revitalization efforts.[4][5] Founded in 2011, it was co-founded by figures like Charlie Brock, an early advisor who later led The Company Lab (CO.LAB) and Launch Tennessee, building on prior initiatives like Create Here’s entrepreneurial programs.[3][4][5] The fund's evolution reflects Chattanooga's shift from socioeconomic challenges—vacant buildings, crime, and corporate flight—to a "Dynamo of Dixie" hub, leveraging resources like the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga's Simulation Center and attracting billion-dollar investments.[4][5] Key partners bring diverse expertise, evolving CRF's focus from local seed investments to a network supporting sustained growth across the Southeast.[2][6]
CRF rides the wave of Chattanooga's tech and economic revival, transforming a Rust Belt-like city into a startup hub through gigabit internet, major corporate anchors, and initiatives like CO.LAB and Launch Tennessee.[4][5] Timing aligns with post-recession small-business emphasis, where democratizing entrepreneurship counters high startup failure rates, influencing Tennessee's ecosystem by legitimizing local founders and scaling models statewide.[3][4] Market forces like regional investments and fiber infrastructure favor CRF, amplifying its role in sectors like healthcare tech and SaaS amid Southeast growth, while connecting to broader southern VC networks.[2][7]
CRF is poised to expand influence as Chattanooga's ecosystem matures, potentially increasing exits and fund sizes amid rising Southeast tech migration and Tennessee's entrepreneur-friendly policies. Trends like AI-driven SaaS, healthcare innovation, and sustainable tech (e.g., GreenPrint's emissions programs) will shape its portfolio, with stronger ties to Nashville and Atlanta accelerating deal flow.[2][3][7] Its evolution from local bridge to regional powerhouse could inspire similar funds, sustaining Chattanooga's dynamo status by nurturing the next wave of scalable startups—echoing its founding mission as the vital capital-mentorship link in a thriving Tennessee landscape.[5]
