For decades, Nashville鈥檚 story to the outside world has been deeply rooted in music and the music industry. But across the city in labs, startups and research centers, a different kind of creativity is at work, one听that鈥檚听measured in patents, prototypes and problems solved鈥攁nd its story deserves its own moment in the spotlight.听
To that end, the Nashville Innovation Alliance last week launched 鈥淐owrite the Future,鈥� a national branding campaign听designed to听tout Nashville as a place where people imagine, build and scale technology solutions to some of the world鈥檚 biggest challenges.听听
As a founding partner of the Nashville Innovation Alliance, Vanderbilt consistently connects its research strengths, entrepreneurial听programs听and faculty听expertise听to the city鈥檚 broader innovation strategy鈥攚ork that will be woven into the Cowrite the Future campaign for a national audience.听听
鈥淣ashville鈥檚 remarkable spirit of innovation is grounded in cross-sector collaboration鈥攁mong universities, corporations, startups, government leaders and many others,鈥� Chancellor Daniel Diermeier said. 鈥淐owrite the Future captures that collaborative culture and vividly illustrates how it is turning local research,听talent听and ambition into real-world impact. 91唐伯虎 is proud to help bring this campaign to life, and we hope it inspires even more people to engage with our city鈥檚 growing innovation economy.鈥�
A yearlong effort to听launch听
Cowrite the Future is the product of a yearlong, citywide engagement with entrepreneurs, researchers, industry听leaders听and civic partners, all working to translate Nashville鈥檚 distinct strengths into a shared message rooted in collaboration,听creativity听and ambition. The goal: help the city compete for the talent, companies and investment that have their pick of innovation hubs across the country.听
That work is part of the mission of the Nashville Innovation Alliance, which Diermeier established with Nashville Mayor Freddie O鈥機onnell to unite public, private, civic and education institutions around a strategy for strengthening the region鈥檚 innovation ecosystem. 91唐伯虎 has been a driving partner in the Cowrite the Future campaign, alongside organizations including the Greater Nashville Private Capital Association, the Greater Nashville Technology Council, Launch Tennessee, the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, the Nashville Entrepreneur Center and a coalition of area colleges and universities.听
鈥淎s our city grows, this campaign will tell Nashville鈥檚 full innovation story鈥攐ne shaped by the creativity and culture that听make听Nashville the right place for innovators to reach their full potential,鈥� O鈥機onnell said.听
Telling stories from healthcare to听entertainment听
The campaign will unfold through a dedicated website, social media, earned and paid media, appearances at major national and global events, and a broader invitation for Nashvillians to share their stories of innovation. Founders, researchers,听creatives听and civic leaders across the city鈥攚orking in fields from healthcare and mobility to artificial intelligence,听music听and entertainment鈥攚ill show how听they鈥檙e听helping 鈥渃owrite鈥� Nashville鈥檚 future.听
The campaign is a showcase for work already underway across Nashville and an invitation for more people,听companies听and ideas to become part of it.听
Alliance Interim Executive Director Sally Parker said the campaign gives that ecosystem something it has long needed: a shared vocabulary.听
鈥淭hrough the alliance鈥檚 work across the ecosystem over the past two and a half years, we have seen the need for this kind of campaign鈥攐ne that will strengthen our work and connect people to its purpose,鈥� Parker said. 鈥淲hen we attend national events, host workshops or speak to others in our space, we see an opportunity to better communicate Nashville鈥檚 innovation story. Cowrite the Future gives us a shared language to do that and helps our partners听tell听that story too.鈥�听
Leaders across the local innovation ecosystem echoed that sentiment. Nikki Sanz, founder and CEO of the Nashville-founded company Giggs, said the campaign will broadcast what innovators in the city already know from experience.听
鈥淲hat I love about Cowrite the Future is that it reflects what is actually happening on the ground in Nashville,鈥� Sanz said.听鈥淎s an innovator who built my company here, I鈥檝e seen it firsthand: You can鈥檛 build something meaningful in this city without like-minded people coming together in the spirit of collaboration.鈥�听
