NEXT Awards 2026
Applications closed · Focus: sponsorships · Event: October 19 · Schermerhorn Symphony Center
Raised to date
$199,000
of $505,000 sponsorship goal · $306,000 to go
Total revenue target: $560,000 ($505K sponsorships + $55K ticket sales)
Tools for sponsor outreach. The deck and sizzle reel are the two things you'll share most — copy the link to paste straight into an email or text.
Two starter emails. Edit the [NAME], [COMPANY], and sponsorship level fields before sending. Use Email #1 if you have a sense of the level you're requesting. Use Email #2 if you're keeping the door open.
Email #1 — Targeted ask (specific level)
Subject: NEXT Awards 2026 — Mentors Sponsorship for [COMPANY] Hi [NAME]! I hope you are doing great. I'm serving on the NEXT Awards and Entrepreneurs' Hall of Fame committee for the Nashville Entrepreneur Center's largest fundraising event of the year. The NEXT Awards will celebrate Nashville's exceptional entrepreneurs and legends on October 19 at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center. More than 600 entrepreneurs and business leaders will attend that evening. I would like to ask if you will consider allowing [COMPANY] to support the EC's mission by becoming a $5,000 Mentors Sponsor for the evening? I've attached the NEXT Awards Sponsorship Opportunities for you to see the benefits of that level. Funding from the event supports the EC's work to increase the likelihood of success for entrepreneurs — over 14,000 entrepreneurs have received education, mentoring, and resources since the EC was founded in 2010. Your gift is tax deductible. I have included a very short NEXT Awards Highlights video. May I count on your sponsorship support for the NEXT Awards? I will be glad to walk through the opportunities. Thanks for your consideration! I look forward to hearing from you. [Sender name]
Email #2 — General ask (any level)
Subject: NEXT Awards 2026 — Sponsorship opportunity for [COMPANY] Hi [NAME]! I hope you are doing great. I'm serving on the NEXT Awards and Entrepreneurs' Hall of Fame committee for the Entrepreneur Center's largest event of the year. The NEXT Awards will celebrate Nashville's exceptional entrepreneurs and legends on October 19 at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center. More than 600 entrepreneurs and business leaders will attend this fundraising event. I would like to ask if you will consider allowing [COMPANY] to support the EC's mission by becoming a sponsor for the evening? There are many levels of sponsorship benefits offered. I've attached the NEXT Awards Sponsorship Opportunities for your review. Funding from the event supports the EC's work to increase the likelihood of success for entrepreneurs — over 14,000 entrepreneurs have received education and resources since the EC was founded in 2010. Your gift is tax deductible. I have included a very short NEXT Awards Highlights video. May I count on support for the NEXT Awards at any of the sponsorship levels? I will be glad to walk through the opportunities with you. Thanks in advance for your consideration and letting me know your thoughts! [Sender name]
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Open Janvier's Walkthrough →Reference only. Read what's useful to you — not required.
163 total applicants across all categories. Eight of nine categories are competitive (5+ applicants).
| Category | Apps |
|---|---|
| Entrepreneur of 2026 | 63 |
| Business & Professional Services | 37 |
| Healthcare & Life Sciences | 16 |
| Technology & AI | 13 |
| Consumer Goods | 10 |
| Music, Sports, Gaming & Entertainment | 8 |
| Real Estate & Construction | 8 |
| Retail & Restaurants | 6 |
| Social Enterprise | 2 |
Private — for NEXT Awards 2026 Committee use only.