Episode 30 - Sync.Space

Heath Guinn is an entrepreneur, community advocate and strategist based in Northeast Tennessee. Guinn has launched multiple successful companies and his most recent project is Sync.Space, an entrepreneur center with accelerator programs geared toward startups considering Northeast Tennessee as a place to grow or expand their business. The idea is to connect innovative companies with opportunities unique to the region. Early-stage companies in the program have access to funding for professional services, equipment, and other facilities to help complete a successful pilot with local partners. The first Accelerator Program began this spring. This interview was recorded in early February, right before the United States became engulfed with the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the current challenges, Guinn recently said Sync.Space started two accelerator programs which included attracting more than 25 companies over 4 states. The organization also launched a COVID-19 Innovation program called the "Restart Accelerator" where $50,000 is being put into a company or companies that have an idea that would help rural small businesses recover. That program website is RestartOurRegion.com. In this episode of the Rural Business Show, Heath Guinn talks about his experiences as an entrepreneur and about building businesses in his local community. He shares his motivation behind building a career in a rural setting. We then talk Sync.Space and why he is so passionate about this effort and why entrepreneurship is so key for the future of rural. Finally, Quinn provides advice to those looking to build businesses in a rural setting.