Partnership in action with Startup Mountain Summit

We believe the best things happen when people invest in each other’s growth. That’s what partnership is about, sharing your strengths to help someone else move forward with clarity and confidence.

By joining forces with Founders Forge and Startup Mountain Summit, we’re investing in the future of this region. Not just in business, but in the people behind it. The founders who stay up late refining their pitch decks. The ones who take risks. The ones who keep showing up.

The Pitch

Our participation with Founders Forge begins on night one of Startup Mountain Summit with The Pitch at TVA Credit Union Ballpark.

If you’ve never been, picture Shark Tank with a local twist. Founders, small businesses, and nonprofits step up to share their ideas for a chance at $10,000 and, honestly, something just as valuable: validation.

Our brand strategist, Kevin Mullins, will be part of the judging panel this year, helping choose one standout founder to receive Cumberland Marketing’s Brand Accelerator. It’s our way of giving back what we do best: clarity. The Brand Accelerator helps businesses define their brand identity, refine their message, and build an actionable plan to bring it all to life.

“[Putting language to your story] is the absolute hardest thing, and that is the thing that sells your business. How people perceive the communication you're putting out.”

Startup Mountain Summit

After The Pitch, the momentum continues with the two-day conference at ETSU’s Brinkley Center. 

Ten speakers. Adventure networking. Breakout sessions and workshops.

Our team will be there capturing content, cheering founders on, and sharing stories in fun, unexpected ways (with a few CM-branded giveaways).

Because we don’t just want to watch this community grow. We want to be part of it.

Lauren Glass-Mullins, Personality Pool

One of the highlights of this year’s Summit is hearing from Lauren Glass-Mullins, founder of Personality Pool and one of Cumberland’s own success stories.

Lauren first pitched her idea at The Pitch in 2022. Fast-forward to now, and she’s helping host the very event where her own startup journey began.

“The Founders Forge team does a really good job at getting speakers…from different walks of the startup business world so there really is something for everybody.”

She recently joined Tori to talk about what that full-circle moment feels like, from the nerves of pitching in front of a crowd to the confidence of helping other founders find their footing.

Looking ahead

For us, partnership with Founders Forge looks like this: showing up where ideas are born, adding value where we can, and celebrating every step of the journey. First pitch to full launch.

We can’t wait to see what the region’s founders build next.

Join us at the Startup Mountain Summit.

Save 25% on tickets with code CLIMB25.

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