Lindsey Cox is having a homecoming. The incoming CEO of Launch Tennessee is returning to an organization where she worked from 2013 to 2019, before taking an economic development position with the federal government. She initially didn't interview for the job, because she had just landed at Chattanooga's startup accelerator months before. Then she decided to seize what she calls her "dream job," leading a Nashville-based organization that aims to foster entrepreneurship and spark startups around the state. The Business Journal spoke with Cox at LaunchTN's Innovation Week event in downtown Nashville.
NBJ: You're obviously familiar with Launch, but what was it that spurred you to seek the CEO job? I really believe in what we do and the work of tech-based economic development and investment. I don't think there's anywhere better for me to do that work than here. I know "a change of heart" was referenced … you don't want to disappoint anyone or feel like you're leaving something too soon. Just with the opportunity to do that work on a statewide level, it felt like an opportunity I needed to take.
Did you surprise yourself a little bit? I surprised myself. I surprised my husband. Ultimately, I feel really good about it and my ability to support Chattanooga and all of the regions in this job.
What's the big opportunity you see for Tennessee, or even Nashville, in this startup space? I went to [Washington] D.C., to the Department of Commerce's Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship. And the reason I did that was to sell what all these other states and communities were doing in this space. I figured out that Tennessee is doing something really amazing with this network-partner model, with the mentor networks, with the industry focus. Being able to expand on that — it's kind of a no-brainer for me.
What's the biggest difference you see in Nashville, from just that short time ago when you last worked here? It's just the volume of people, ideas, things, excitement. It just feels like more, more, more. I think that's great. We talked a little bit before about legacy Nashville, folks who have been here for awhile, and folks who are new on the scene. The Nashville [Entrepreneur Center] is doing a great job bringing those groups together. We want to help and foster that. We want to make sure companies are getting funding, getting access to mentors, making sure they're growing and thriving.
What did you hear at Innovation Week that stood out to you? The enthusiasm is still here. Covid put a damper on all of us — personally, professionally. The enthusiasm and the excitement around the work that we do is still here.
You'll be the fourth CEO of Launch in four years. How can you create some stability there, internally? I do think I inherently bring in some stability, as someone who was with the organization for such a long time and knows the ins and outs of both Launch Tennessee's mission and values and also the network partners, their missions and their values, what they care about. … I do think people who know me personally know this has been my dream job for a long time. So I'm not going anywhere.
