Knoxville's Champagne Fund launches to draw more women into venture capital
What's the deal? The Champagne Fund, a women-focused venture investment and networking initiative, officially launched October 29 at Knoxville's 121 Tech HubDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → in partnership with Market Square Ventures (MSV)Dealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →. The fund aims to educate women about venture capital, build a network across the region's startup ecosystem, and back promising Tennessee startups.
Who's behind it? Savannah Mosier, a Knoxville commercial broker, is the instigator; MSV provides the infrastructure and manages the investment vehicle. Mosier said the idea took shape this spring after she watched women entrepreneurs pitch during a women's capital series.
Why now? Mosier said similar initiatives already operate in Nashville and Chattanooga, but no comparable route existed for women in Knoxville. The fund draws inspiration from Chattanooga's JumpFund.
What's in a name? The fund is named after Barbe-Nicole Clicquot, widowed at 27, who took over her late husband's champagne business and built the house behind the Veuve Clicquot label. "It was a woman who made the brand what it is today," Mosier said.
What's the endgame? Mosier's stated goal is to lower the barrier to entry for the "everyday woman." "I want to create a table for women to feel comfortable to ask the hard questions, to learn about venture capital, to get their foot in the door," she said.
What could go wrong? The fund's size and terms have not been disclosed, and its related investment vehicles are still in development. For now, its impact lies more in broadening participation than in deploying a major new pool of capital.
The signal: The launch lands as Knoxville's early-stage financing network grows more active — MSV said it had backed 21 teams by the start of 2026. The Champagne Fund adds a women-focused on-ramp into that ecosystem, widening who gets to participate in local startup investing.
Read more: teknovation.biz
Image credit: US Mission Geneva
