The Tech Tribune staff has compiled the very best tech startups in Knoxville, Tennessee. In doing our research, we considered several factors including but not limited to:

1. Revenue potential
2. Leadership team
3. Brand/product traction
4. Competitive landscape

Additionally, all companies must be independent (unacquired), privately owned, at most 10 years old, and have received at least one round of funding in order to qualify.

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1. AUBO Robotics

Founded: 2013

Also honored in: 2018 Best Tech Startups in Knoxville

“AUBO Robotics manufacture lightweight collaborative robots (Co-bot). Founded in 2013 as Smokie Robotics had a name change in 2016 to AUBO Robotics. The company was developed in collaboration between three Phd professors from USA and China, to make a lightweight intelligent collaborative robot. This robot arm was specially designed with important functions from the start, combining state of the art technology with user friendliness to make this collaborative robot (Co-bot). The open source architecture enables the robot operating system (ROS) to be supported though API for industrial, research and academia use. AUBO-i5 robot uses the CAN Bus network to communicate between harmonic drives this offers un-parallel versatility to configure this robot from 3 to 7 DOF.”

2. Lirio

Founded: 2016

“Lirio is a communication technology company that uses behavioral science, personas, and machine learning to help organizations in highly specialized industries improve outcomes for the individuals they serve.”

3. Vendor Registry

Founded: 2011

Also honored in: 2018 Best Tech Startups in Knoxville

“Vendor Registry’s mission is to streamline the purchasing process for cities, counties, utilities, higher education and school boards in order to generate new revenues for vendors and suppliers, decrease costs for government and institutional purchasing departments and save valuable time for all parties involved.”

4. The Convenience Network

Founded: 2009

“We provide a unique, Location Based Marketing experience designed to motivate and influence “on-the-go”​ consumer’s buying decisions.

The Convenience Network, provides Place Based Advertising in several high profile convenience stores throughout Tennessee and Georgia. The Convenience Network, digital out of home advertising solution reaching approximately 54,000,000 impressions monthly. Our network provides clients the opportunity to geo-target markets, have real time campaign changes, and multiple repeat impressions weekly.”

5. ResQue

Founded: 2015

Also honored in: 2018 Best Tech Startups in Knoxville

“ResQue takes the mystery and hard work out of successful social media marketing for real estate agents. By uncovering the agent’s personality via a unique, psychologically driven survey, we post on the their behalf to their target demographic. Using their listings, industry and demographically related content, and our proprietary personal story generator, we execute a flawless social media marketing campaign on their behalf.

Our primary goals are uncovering motivations, aggregating data, and creating frictionless leads back to the listing agent.”