2025 NEXT AWARDS APPLICATION

2025 NEXT AWARDS APPLICATION

Monday, October 20th at Schermerhorn Symphony Center
The Nashville Entrepreneur Center is honored to host the 2025 NEXT Awards to celebrate each of you – entrepreneurs in Middle Tennessee who are transforming industries and making our world better.

As part of the show, we will be awarding companies in six industry categories in each of the following stages:
- Startup - Companies in business for 5 years or less
- Growth - Companies in business for more than 5 years
We will also be awarding two Individual Awards:
- Startup Entrepreneur of 2025
- Growth Entrepreneur of 2025
Qualifications (please read these carefully):
- Company must be headquartered in Middle Tennessee
- Founder of company must still be actively involved with the company
- Proven growth, success and some level of scale
- Must have made a significant impact within past 12 months
- Must be a for-profit company
- Company cannot have won a NEXT Award in 2024
Applications close April 30, 2025, at 11:59pm. Late applications will NOT be accepted. You must fill out all of the information below in order to be considered.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR COMPANY
What year was your company founded?*
Describe your business. *
For example, you can describe the problem you solve, the customer you serve, how your solution solves your customer's problem, or any other elements that you think define what makes your business unique.
Describe your company's journey so far.*
For example, you can describe major milestones, achievements, awards, fundraising, challenges, pivots, or other events that have shaped the history of your company to date.
What’s NEXT for your company?*
For example, you can share company goals, upcoming product or service development, new business, plans to fundraise, expansion efforts, or other milestones you hope to achieve, either in the short or long term.

Please fill in the following table with your business's quantitative metrics to the best of your ability:*

	2025 (to date)	2024	2023
Revenue
Employees
Capital Raised
Profit (write Losses as negative numbers)

If your business was formed before 2023, please provide your lifetime revenue:
If your business was formed before 2023, please provide your lifetime capital raised:

SELF-IDENTIFICATION AND SUBMISSION
Founder Gender Identity:*

FemaleMaleRather not sayOther
Founder Ethnicity:*
Founder Age:*
Does founder identify as LGBTQIA+?*

YesNoRather not say
How did you hear about this opportunity?*
I certify: This information is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge.*

Clear
Please sign here.
Before you submit, nominate another founder who deserves recognition!

First NameLast Name
Nominated founder email:
example@example.com
Should be Empty: