In 2018, Build In SE was launched with a mission to increase the number of startup success stories in the Southeastern U.S. by leveraging a collaborative, cross-regional network.
Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, Build In SE defines the Southeast as a collection of 10 states including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Build In SE’s History
Co-founders Monique Villa and Grace Huefner met after relocating to Nashville and quickly found a shared interest in community building and impact initiatives, each having worked for non-profits as volunteers, employees, and board members. Monique’s background in venture capital combined with Grace’s background in consulting and media entertainment provided a cross-industry opportunity to build something new.
After completing a driving tour from Nashville to over a dozen emerging startup ecosystems in the Southeast, Build In SE launched with an initial focus on research, published resources for startup founders, and hosted events. The core of Build In SE’s purpose is to foster collaboration across the region to build a more connected community in support of entrepreneurs choosing to build in the Southeast (#BuildInSE).
#BuildInSE’s Impact Across the Region
Since launching, Build In SE’s team launched several regional initiatives, produced over 25 events, curated 60 investor-founder meetings for the Southeast CEO Summit, and published over 40 online resources for the Southeast, including:
- WISE (Women Investors in the Southeast) – bringing together a growing community of women investors based across the Southeastern U.S. with monthly deal flow calls, curated annual dinners (Comfort Food + Conversation during 3686 Festival) and breakfast events (Women in VC Coffee Chat during Venture Atlanta), and an online community
- #BuildInSE Founder Dinners – a curated, invite-only dinner series for CEOs and founders building growth-stage startups in the Southeast
- Tech Ecosystem Guides – guides for each of our cities to accelerate access to the Southeast, created by Build In SE’s team of Ecosystem Curators (local experts in cities across the region)
- SE Exit Database – a growing database and analysis for the region to highlight the remarkable home-grown startup success stories
- SE Accelerators – a growing database of Southeast-based accelerators that help entrepreneurs to build, market, and ultimately find funding for their startups
- #BuildInSE Alliance – a curated network of the Southeast region’s leading organizations providing brick-and-mortar space, programming, and networks for local startups
- #BuildInSE Pop-Up Lemonade Stand – a mobile initiative launched during Chattanooga Startup Week to serve fresh lemonade and connect with local startup founders, funders, and supporters
These initiatives were made possible by Build In SE’s team members from all across the Southeast (listed in alphabetical order): Beca Ramón, Charlton Cunningham, Colleen Flynn, Chris Redd, Dan Holahan, Ellie Puckett, Emily Elia, Emily Jerkins Hall, Genesee Semon, Jalen Hatton, Jordan DeTar, Kathy Quigley, Kelly Reeser, Kristen Ostro (Strategic Advisor), Ryan Pellegrino, Sasha Pines, Sean McCroskey, Topher Price, and Virginia Sauer.
Nashville Tech Gives Back
In 2020, Build In SE partnered locally with Nashville Entrepreneur Week and AllianceBernstein to launch Nashville Tech Gives Back – an annual charity drive (#615TechDrive) and gatherings bringing together tech leaders with the greater purpose of giving back to our neighbors in need. In 2022, Build In SE partnered with local startup communities StartupNash and NashTech to raise funds for charities and host events for Nashville’s tech ecosystem. More information can be found online: nashvilletechgivesback.com
Get Involved
Are you a founder, funder, ecosystem builder, or just love the SE? Whether you are an SE native who never left, maybe left and came back, or are a newcomer, what matters most is your choice to #BuildInSE. Join us: buildinse.com
Build In SE, Inc. is an entirely volunteer-led organization and, as of 2022, is a registered Benefit Corporation in the State of Tennessee.
