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Join DEIC on a road trip to Tennessee!
DEIC and the University of Tennessee Spark Innovation Center (UT Spark), with support from the Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN2) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, are planning two Innovation Road Trips to connect Virginia and Tennessee startups, utilities, and energy stakeholders with national labs, universities, and peer innovation ecosystems.
The first road trip will take us to Knoxville, TN on November 19 & 20, 2025: Join us on the road for the Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council’s Opportunities in Energy conference, UT Spark Cleantech Accelerator Demo Day featuring 12 startups, an exclusive tour at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and a Dominion Energy/Tennessee Valley Authority utility workshop. Travel and accommodation expenses will be covered for DEIC alumni and partners.
Then, in March, we’ll welcome UT Spark to Richmond to attend Energy Tech 2026 and our SPARK Virginia pitch competition, followed by hands-on workshops and utility site visits.
Space is limited — registration opens next week! Contact Braden Croy with questions or your interest – Braden@dominnovation.com.
Happening around the DEIC
- The Accelerate and Hyperscaled programs continue. Both groups held their kick off meetings, and we hosted Utibe Bassey, Dominion Energy’s VP of Customer Experience, for a session.
- Executive Director Adam Sledd attended RE+ in Las Vegas last week, connecting with energy innovators and catching up with portfolio companies. DEIC and CSC Leasing teamed up for a happy hour that welcomed 20 innovators to network and learn more about CSC Leasing.
- We held a webinar with the Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission’s Jerry Silva about their Energy Ingenuity Fund, which supports energy-focused projects across southern and southwest Virginia. Miss it? Watch the recording here >>
- We’re welcoming a new student mentee interested in sustainability and entrepreneurship from the Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School. Klara will be providing some research assistance and learning more about our work.