What is 3686?
We always say, 3686 is the best way to get to know Tennessee startups. Rooted in Nashville and named for the city’s geographic coordinates, the three-day event is the state’s leading entrepreneur conference and one of the largest gatherings of its kind in the southeast. For over a decade, 3686 has brought together leading voices and fresh perspectives to tackle the ideas, trends, and challenges shaping what’s next—paired with high-impact networking that puts founders and innovators face-to-face with investors from across the country.
I’m not familiar with Launch Tennessee. What is that?
Launch Tennessee is Tennessee’s hub for startups and innovation and a 501c3 nonprofit as well as a public-private partnership with the state’s Economic and Community Development department that supports entrepreneurship across the state by providing capital, commercialization, and connections. LaunchTN is the organizer and host of 3686, now in its 13th year. To learn more about Launch Tennessee, please visit www.launchtn.org
Where is 3686 2026?
3686 is a dynamic week-long conference with events taking place in a number of venues. This year, 3686 moves to Nashville’s historic Germantown neighborhood, creating a campus headquartered at Brooklyn Bowl and spread across multiple sites, including Tailgate Brewery, the Tennessee State Museum, the Tennessee State Library & Archives, and Von Elrod’s Beer Hall & Kitchen. Specific programming and locations will be announced with the schedule, later this summer.
I’m not seeing information about this year’s programming schedule.
Thanks for your patience. We anticipate announcing speakers and revealing the conference’s schedule in mid-August, roughly 4 weeks before 3686. We encourage you to keep an eye on attend3686.com as well as Launch Tennessee’s social media channels (@LaunchTN) for news. Additionally, be sure to sign up for LaunchTN’s bi-weekly email newsletter, The Pitch, and our 3686 news alerts, to stay on top of all updates.
What is the 3686 cancellation policy?
If you need to cancel your 3686 ticket, please email us directly at 3686@launchtn.org. Refunds are available until Friday, August 14, 2026. All sales are considered final after August 14.
I keep hearing about an InvestTN Summit. What is that, and how do I attend?
In 2025, Launch Tennessee introduced the InvestTN Summit, a private invite-only, day-long event for Launch Tennessee portfolio companies and their co-investors, as an adjacent companion to the 3686 conference. The Summit convenes the roster of startups with LaunchTN backing alongside the investor community and top venture firms from across the country for exclusive programming and connections. s If you meet these criteria and want to request an invitation to attend the Summit, please contact the LaunchTN Capital team at info@launchtn.org. Please note: the InvestTN Summit is separate from the 3686 programming schedule, and your ticket to 3686 does not grant you access to the Summit.
What is Brella?
Brella is an AI-powered networking platform that helps attendees discover and schedule 1:1 meetings with other participants. Using Brella, you can request and book recommended meetings with investors, founders, corporate partners, and service providers based on your goals and interests. If you’ve attended 3686 before, you’ll likely be familiar with the platform—we’ve used it for several years to strong feedback and meaningful results. NEW FOR 2026: By popular demand, this year Brella access will be extended beyond the core conference window. In addition to the 36 hours of main programming as in past years, ticket holders will now be able to use Brella throughout the full week of 3686 events AND the week after, to continue conversations and deepen connections. All registered attendees will receive an invitation ahead of the conference to create a profile and receive personalized connection recommendations. From there, you can schedule meetings in designated meeting space on-site at 3686, elsewhere in Nashville, or virtually via video chat. As September approaches, keep an eye on your inbox for an email from Brella to get started. If you don’t see it, we recommend checking your spam or promotions folders before reaching out to us at 3686@launchtn.org.
My company would like to sponsor 3686. How can we explore opportunities?
We would love to work with you! If you’re interested in partnering with us, please email Emily Masters, Vice President of Development, at emily@launchtn.org.
I’m interested in suggesting a speaker for this year’s 3686. Who do I talk to about that?
3686’s editorial programming is produced by the team at Launch Tennessee. With any speaker pitches or panel proposals, please email 3686@launchtn.org with subject line SPEAKER/PANEL PROPOSAL by July 31, 2026. Due to the volume of submissions, we are only able to respond to opportunities we wish to explore in more detail.
Can I volunteer at 3686?
We are accepting volunteers to help out with production and execution of the conference, aid around the venue, interact with guests, and assist with conference speakers. Please email 3686@launchtn.org if you’re interested in learning more about the 2026 3686 volunteer opportunities. We will reach out to you roughly two to three weeks before the conference to confirm your participation and on-site schedule.
Can I take part in 3686 virtually? How do I stream this year’s conference programming?
Unfortunately, access to 3686 is only available live and in-person. The conference content will not be streamed nor will it be made available for viewing after the event.
I’m a member of the media, looking to cover 3686 2026. How do I get media credentials?
With any media inquiries about this year’s conference, please contact Chloé Morrison, LaunchTN’s Communications Director, at chloe@launchtn.org.