For small business owners in Middle Tennessee who are serious about growth.
The Free Small Business Community Middle Tennessee Has Been Waiting For.
Most business owners are figuring it out alone — in real time, at full cost.
Ignite Tennessee Small Business Academy was built to change that.
What Ignite Academy Is About
Learn
Real-world business education from entrepreneurs who've actually built something. No theory. No fluff. Lessons learned the hard way are shared so you don't have to.
Grow
Marketing, sales, operations, leadership, the complete toolkit for building a business that lasts. Taught by people who are still in the trenches.
Connect
Middle Tennessee's most driven small business owners in one room. Monthly live events, CEO interviews, and a community that pushes you forward.
Built on faith,
earned by experience.
The community and resources I wish I had when I was starting out.
From Steve
My name is Steve Cory. Over the last 30+ years, I've built and sold multiple companies, survived bankruptcy, made every expensive mistake in the book, and come out the other side with a whole lot of hard-won clarity.
What I didn't have along the way was a room full of people who got it — fellow entrepreneurs who could speak honestly about the struggle, share what was working, and do it all with the right values at the center.
That's exactly what Ignite is. I built it to be the free academy and community I wish had existed when I was starting, a place where Middle Tennessee business owners can grow together, sharpen each other, and honor God with the businesses we've been entrusted to build.
"Honor God with our businesses. Connect with fellow entrepreneurs. Leave better than we arrived."
In business, the most valuable currency isn't money.
In investing, there's a concept called OPM — Other People's Money.
In business, there's something even more valuable: OPM — Other People's Mistakes.
Learning from someone who's already made the mistake can save you years of frustration and thousands of dollars. That's the spirit Ignite was built on.
Ignite In Action
See the energy, collaboration, and inspiration that happens when entrepreneurs come together.
A Community of Entrepreneurs Learning Together
This is where ideas start turning into real opportunities. At Ignite events, entrepreneurs gather to learn practical strategies, gain insights from experienced leaders, and explore new possibilities for their businesses.
The room is filled with people who are done figuring it out alone.
Real Conversations. Real Connections.
Ignite is more than just presentations—it's about meaningful conversations and building relationships with people who understand the entrepreneurial journey.
Founders, operators, and business owners connect, share what's working, and hold each other accountable to building something bigger.
The next event is coming. Seats are limited. It's free.
Monthly live events held right here in Middle Tennessee.
Free to join. Built to last.
© 2026 Cory Enterprises LLC. Privacy Policy Terms of Use
Ignite Tennessee Small Business Academy — Founded by Steve Cory, Shelbyville, TN A Cory Enterprises LLC platform
© 2026 Cory Enterprises LLC. Privacy Policy Terms of Use
Ignite Tennessee Small Business Academy — Founded by Steve Cory, Shelbyville, TN A Cory Enterprises LLC platform