Applications for the 8th Annual Idea Leap Grant Competition Open on Friday, October 4th
Stay tuned for updates!
Congratulations to All the Winning Finalists of the 7th Annual Idea Leap Grant Pitch Competition!
| Chattanooga | Ocoee | Northwest Georgia |
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Creekside Flower Farm LLC (People’s Choice Winner) Runner Up- $10,000 |
Ace Kayaking School (People’s Choice Winner) Runner Up- $10,000 |
Cake Addicts (People’s Choice Winner) First Place- $30,000 |
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Divine Purity Aurapothecary, LLC Runner Up- $10,000 |
Second Place- $15,000 |
Runner Up- $10,000 |
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Runner Up- $10,000 |
Runner Up- $10,000 |
Runner Up- $10,000 |
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Second Place- $15,000 |
First Place- $30,000 |
Runner Up- $10,000 |
|
First Place- $30,000 |
Runner Up- $10,000 |
Second Place- $15,000 |
Registration Will Open Soon!
Check back here to access registration for Northwest Georgia, Ocoee Region and Chattanooga Area Idea Leap Events
2024 CEW Conference
This 3 day conference event was held during National Small Business Week. Stay tuned for announcements about 2025 Chattanooga Entrepreneurship Week!
6th Annual Idea Leap Grant winners in Chattanooga
Sleepyhead Coffee wins $20,000 in 2022
Dr. Little wins the top prize in the first-ever Northwest Georgia Area Idea Leap Grant
Cocoa Asante wins $30,000 in the 2023 Chattanooga Area Idea Leap Grant
The Local Juicery presents their pitch in 2023
Please review the competition rules in full before applying.
REGLAS OFICIALES PARA EL CONCURSO DE APOYOS ECONÓMICOS “IDEA LEAP” DE TVFCU
The History and Impact of Idea Leap
Idea Leap Loan
TVFCU started the Idea Leap Loan program in 2016 to fill a void in the community for capital for start-up and early-stage businesses.
Idea Leap Grant
In 2018, after two very successful years of Idea Leap Loans, TVFCU started the Idea Leap Grant to reinvest proceeds from the loan program back into the local small business ecosystem. In the first Idea Leap Grant, the credit union awarded $52,500 in grants, with the Chattanooga School of Language winning the top prize of $20,000. In 2022, to celebrate the 5th Anniversary of the grant program, TVFCU awarded a $50,000 grant to Be Caffeinated - the largest Idea Leap Grant to-date. In 2023, TVFCU expanded the program once again by hosting separate Idea Leap Grant competitions in the Chattanooga, Ocoee and Northwest Georgia regions. In 2024, the credit union awarded $75,000 in grants in each of the three areas, investing $225,000 in 15 locally owned businesses.
Nearly 60 unique businesses have received Idea Leap Grants. Through grants and scholarships, the program has invested over $700,000 in the local entrepreneurial ecosystem.