SCHEDULE
9:00 AM
Registration + Breakfast
Brooklyn Bowl
925 3rd Ave N
Start your 3686 day with coffee and breakfast bites to fuel up for all the conversations and connections ahead. Check in and grab your conference badge before diving into the day’s programming—and be sure to give yourself a few extra minutes, as all attendees must check-in and receive their badge before entering the conference.
9:00 AM
Swag Station
Brooklyn Bowl
925 3rd Ave N
Swing by the Swag Station to grab this year’s exclusive conference tote, featuring a collection of Tennessee icons and designed to carry a little Volunteer State spirit wherever you go. Trust us, you won't want to miss this.
9:00 AM
Photo Studio
Brooklyn Bowl
925 3rd Ave N
Ready for your close-up? Step into the 3686 Photo Studio, strike a pose, and walk away with a one-of-a-kind portrait perfect for your profile, your feed, or just showing off that 3686 energy.
9:00 AM
Work Lounge
Presented By
Brooklyn Bowl
925 3rd Ave N
We know—the workday doesn’t stop just because you’re at 3686. Duck into the Work Lounge to catch up on emails, take a call, or tackle a few to-dos, then get back out there and keep the momentum going.
9:30 AM -
3:30 PM
Connect Deck
Presented By
Brooklyn Bowl
925 3rd Ave N
Some of the biggest breakthroughs start with a simple conversation. Step out onto the Connect Deck for founder meetups, investor chats, customer calls, spontaneous introductions... or just a little fresh air. It's your outdoor hub for making connections—and making things happen.
10:00 AM -
11:00 AM
Brooklyn Bowl
925 3rd Ave N
Defense tech and quantum technologies are among the emerging sectors reshaping Tennessee’s innovation economy. Explore these and other trends, opportunities, and forces—from new technologies to new sources of capital—that will define the next chapter of innovation and venture across the state, with insights from leading experts across key industries.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Shaun Gleason
Claritas & Blackbird Capital
John Gordon
U.S. Department of War
Gary Landuyt
Quantinuum
Ryan McKenney
U.S. Department of Energy
Frank Salomone
11:00 -
11:30 AM
Brooklyn Bowl
925 3rd Ave N
Great companies are built on more than capital—they’re built on relationships, conviction, and the right partners at the right time. Scott Sohr and Chase Gilbert will share the story of Canary Ventures and Built Technologies, exploring the early bets, lessons, and pivotal moments that helped turn a big idea into a category-defining company.
LaunchTN
Lindsey Cox
Built Technologies, Inc
Chase Gilbert
Canary Ventures
Scott Sohr
11:30 AM -
12:00 PM
Brooklyn Bowl
925 3rd Ave N
Metropolis started with a simple idea: make parking better. What followed was a much bigger vision for how AI can transform the physical world. This intimate conversation will unpack the company’s journey—from early bets and breakthrough technology to rapid scale, bold expansion, and the opportunity ahead.
LaunchTN
Lindsey Cox
Metropolis
Courtney Fukuda
Assembly Ventures
Jessica Robinson
12:00 -
1:00 PM
Lunch
Presented By
Brooklyn Bowl
925 3rd Ave N
Grab a box lunch, pull up a seat, and keep the conversations going. Refuel, reconnect, and make a few new friends before diving into an action-packed afternoon at 3686.
1:00 -
2:00 PM
Brooklyn Bowl
925 3rd Ave N
What does it take to turn AI’s enormous potential into real-world impact? Explore how Tennessee businesses are applying AI to solve complex challenges, create new opportunities, and reshape industries—and why the state is uniquely positioned as a national leader to shape what comes next.
Enterprise Sensor Systems
James Buck
AI Tennessee
Caleb Knight
2:00 PM -
3:00 PM
Brooklyn Bowl
925 3rd Ave N
Great brands don’t just follow the playbook—they rewrite it. Hear how some of Tennessee’s most creative entrepreneurs have turned unconventional ideas, bold strategic bets, and a willingness to do things differently into businesses that stand out, scale, and endure. Plus, the advice they’d give to the innovators building what’s next.
Big Ears Festival
Ashley Capps
Joan of Arc Music
Cindy Mabe
imogene + willie
K.P. McNeill
The Peach Truck
Stephen & Jessica Rose
Nashville Business Journal
Eric Snyder
11:00 AM -
2:00 PM
6:30 -
11:00 PM
Brooklyn Bowl
925 3rd Ave N
Close out 3686 Week in style at Startup Homecoming—an unforgettable celebration packed with capital, corsages, cover bands, and plenty of surprises. Relive the glory days with a killer ’90s cover band, then grab the mic yourself for live piano karaoke. Plus, cheer on the people and companies shaping Tennessee’s innovation ecosystem with yearbook-style honors spotlighting some of the best and most admired in the Tennessee entrepreneurial ecosystem… with delightfully arbitrary titles. Come ready to connect, celebrate, and cut loose with the 3686 crowd–no awkward slow dances required.
