Memphis-based Epicenter'snationally recognized grant funding program has announced its five finalists, including two Tennessee-based companies.
Epicenter's ZeroTo510 Accelerator program announced Sept. 15 five medtech startups for its annual program. ZeroTo510 Accelerator was launched in 2010 and has helped more than 50 companies and raised more than $120 million.
“The medtech landscape is evolving faster than ever, and the companies that will define the next decade of healthcare are being built right now,” Zeroto510 Program Director Olaf Schulz said in a statement. “These founders are attacking healthcare's most pressing unmet needs, and we're proud to put the full weight of our programming, network, and resources behind them.”
Sow Project, Lifedoc Health partner to help young entrepreneurs
The 13-week business development program helps startups move to market, each of the four selected companies receives a $25,000 investment. The program will take the candidates through a series of workshops, including venture capital fundraising, product development, marketing, and understanding U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) regulatory standards.
The program concludes with Epicenter's Demo Day on Dec. 10. Demo Day will be held at the FedEx Event Center at Shelby Farms and will give selected startups a chance to showcase their products to potential investors.
2026 Zeroto510 startup candidates:
- Provision Surgical | Nashville, Tennessee
- OK2StandUP Inc. | Bedford, Pennsylvania
- ConvertaTek | Memphis, Tennessee
- Raven Medical Company | Houston, Texas
- Cuffway | Columbia, South Carolina
Provision Surgical has developed an artificial intelligence guide that transforms patients' medical scans into a live 3D model that surgeons and healthcare providers can interact with through smart glasses. Pennsylvania-based OK2StandUP is developing a data- and research-backed intervention program for hospital-acquired pressure injuries.
Memphis-based ConvertaTek is developing a modular shoulder implant system that helps surgeons with anatomic and reverse total shoulder arthroplasty configurations and helps relieve pain for younger patients. Houston-based Ravan Medical Company has designed a wearable chest drainage device that continuously monitors for pneumothorax. CuffWay has developed an adaptive cuff-pressure controller for endotracheal and tracheostomy tubes, helping reduce complications that impact 9 million intensive care unit patients annually.
Memphis area home sales dip in August
Residential home sales decreased a little over 6% last month, compared to August 2025, according to an August 2026 Memphis Area Association of Realtors report.
August 2026 saw 1,254 homes sold compared to 1,3,43 in August 2025. However, the average sales price did increase from $270,217 to $300,644. Year-to-date 2026 sales also remain 6.5% lower than 2025, with 9,562 units sold this year, according to the report.
Inventory decreased slightly to 5,056, but remains above 5,000. The region has seen inventory above 5,000 since June 2026, the highest level since 2024.
"Average sales price was up 11% from August of last year,” Memphis Area Association of Realtors President Tim O'Hare said in a statement. “But there is enough inventory for buyers to have leverage, too.”
The most active submarkets in August 2026 were Midtown, Cordova and East Memphis. The three submarkets combined for 32% of the homes sold last month. Year-to-date, all three are also among the most active housing submarkets in the area.
Year-to-date home sales by submarket
- East Memphis: 1,451 homes sold | Average sales price: $310,007
- Cordova: 990 homes sold | Average sales price: $302,753
- Midtown: 602 homes sold | Average sales price: $222,776
- Bartlett: 571 homes sold | Average sales price: $316,323
- Frayser: 556 homes sold | Average sales price: $107,925
Habitat for Humanity hosts executive leadership ahead of Build Day
About 75 CEOs and senior executives at companies such as Kroger, First Horizon and Nike gathered Aug. 31 in a reception room at Owen Brennan's in East Memphis to learn about how they could swing a hammer or wield a power tool to help make someone's housing dreams come true.
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis held an executive pep talk to highlight its program, which has a goal of drawing at least 115 executives to an Oct. 9 CEO Build Day to put the finishing touches on a Habitat home in North Memphis.
The effort is a way to show that Memphis leaders care about their community and are willing to shed their suits and join Habitat's version of Extreme Makeover Home Edition.
"Titles matter a little less when everyone has a hammer in their hand," said David Bradford, chairman of Habitat Memphis' board. He is a Turner Construction mechanical engineering construction manager and former Shelby County commissioner.
Bill Seely, president of Memphis-based Varsity Spirit, a global leader in cheerleading and dance team apparel products, is leading the CEO Build effort. At the gathering, he joked no executive should shy away from the program because they lack handyman skills.
"Look at me. I'm the head of a cheerleading company, and I don't know which tools go where in a tool belt, but I'll be there to cheer all of you on in this project," he said.
Dwayne Spencer, president and CEO of Habitat Memphis, thanked the senior executives for supporting CEO Build and he challenged them to join with Habitat to raise money for the "good of the world" and to build homes to "invest in our future."
— Mark Russell, The Commercial Appeal
Kruger Products announces $35M investment
Canada-based Kruger Products Inc. announced Sept. 1 a $35 million investment at its North Memphis facility. The investment will add a new bathroom tissue and paper towel converting line at the Memphis manufacturing plant, 400 Manhannah Ave.
The investment will increase the plant's annual capacity by 3 million cases and will create 20 new jobs, according to a news release. Since 2021, Kruger Products has invested over $60 million in the Memphis facility to help modernize the plant. The facility employs 425 employees.
“Kruger Products has been part of Memphis for nearly 30 years, and we’re proud that they continue to chooseMemphis as a place to invest and grow,” Memphis Mayor Paul Young said in a statement.
"This $35 million expansion means new jobs, more investment in our city, and another sign that Memphis is a place where manufacturers can build for the long term. We’re grateful to Kruger for continuing to bet on Memphis.”
Kruger Products is a leading North American manufacturer of tissue paper products and has over 3,000 employees. The company was founded in 1904 in Montreal, Quebec. The company began operations in Memphis in 2002.
Neil Strebig is a journalist with The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached at neil.strebig@commercialappeal.com, 901-426-0679
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Epicenter names grant finalists; CEOs build for Habitat for Humanity
