Pittco, Innova execs counsel entrepreneurs

EmergeMemphis' gathering of entrepreneurs and VCs was sold-out at 50-strong, and execs including Andrew Seamons (left) of Pittco and Ken Woody of Innova Fund advised entrepreneurs to be passionate, but well informed and realistic. The CA has it.

Nashville's Pitt Hyde?

Over in Memphis, entrepreneur Pitt Hyde (at left) has for decades spurred sales of everything from biotech to batteries. The AutoZone founder and philanthropist helped found MB Venture Partners, Memphis Bioworks and more. For the past few years, there's been a good bit of questioning in Middle Tennessee regarding whence may come comparable leadership in the high-growth, high-tech arenas, apart from healthcare services, where a clutch of Frists have helped spawn so many ventures. Well, one candidate has got to be Harry R. Jacobson, M.D., Vanderbilt's now vice chancellor emeritus for health affairs, an advisor to ICA, a board member at Merck, co-founder of the new Tri-Star TNInvestco fund, and much more. Here's our story covering some of Jacobson's thinking, his entrepreneurial track record and his views on Informatics Corporation of America, ICA, where he's an advisor.