The Patton Foundation recently brought its Entrepreneurship Challenge to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Designed to inspire innovation and entrepreneurial thinking among Tennessee students, this "Shark Tank"-style competition awarded over $8,000 in grants to student-led startups aiming to make real-world impact.

The Patton Foundation is excited to introduce The Phoenix Pitch, a premier entrepreneurial competition designed to equip young innovators with the tools, funding, and mentorship needed to launch their ventures. The competition will take place on April 17, 2025, at the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga (UTC).

The Patton Foundation today released a second pivotal white paper, The Pressure on Tennessee Families: Inflation, Education, and Mental Health in a Challenging Economy. This new report builds on the foundation’s earlier publication, Building Resilience: How Tennesseans Are Confronting Inflation, Education Gaps, and Entrepreneurial Challenges, to provide a deeper, data-driven perspective on the financial, educational, and emotional pressures facing Tennessee families. 

The Patton Foundation is thrilled to start the New Year with the highly anticipated Patton Foundation Entrepreneurship Challenge (PFEC), hosted at Vanderbilt University. Aimed at fostering entrepreneurial literacy and innovation among Tennessee’s youth, this "Shark Tank"-style competition offers students the chance to compete for grants of up to $5,000.

The Patton Foundation returned to Austin Peay State University for its second annual Entrepreneurial Grant Challenge—where six bold student teams pitched game-changing ideas. Three winners walked away with startup grants, including the creators of a mindfulness journaling app, a narrative-based finance program, and a sensory-friendly tech solution.