KNOXVILLE, Tenn., March 7, 2023 — The Knoxville Chamber is pleased to announce Greater Sum Ventures (GSV) as the recipient of the Pinnacle Business Award in the Mid-Sized Business Excellence category. GSV is an entrepreneurial family office and private equity firm that invests its own capital in middle market software and tech-enabled service companies. The Mid-Sized Business Excellence Award, sponsored by LBMC, is given to an East Tennessee company that has scaled their business, shown consistency, and is recognized in their respective business sector.
“Many firms similar to GSV are headquartered in larger metro areas, but we’ve found that our East Tennessee home base is a great foundation for success, with its amazing quality of life and business-friendly environment,” said Ross Croley, CEO and founder of GSV. “We’re honored to be recognized by Knoxville’s vibrant business community.”
GSV provides access to capital to midmarket tech firms all over the world, with a growing presence in 15 countries. With nearly 250 investments, GSV is a unique, rapidly expanding growth equity firm run by experienced entrepreneurs. Some equity firms acquire or invest in companies and then only see them at quarterly board meetings, with few touch points in between. At GSV, the operations team works closely with acquired companies day-to-day, helping them to identify opportunities and overcome challenges.
“GSV has not only made their home in Knoxville, but they are also bringing high-quality talent to the area with every acquisition. The contributions they are making to talent attraction for our area are invaluable,” said Mike Odom, Knoxville Chamber president and CEO. “I am confident that the success of Greater Sum Ventures will continue to drive regional economic prosperity.”
The annual Pinnacle Business Awards, presented by Pinnacle Financial Partners, celebrate regional business excellence, honoring outstanding professionals in nine categories for their contributions to the greater Knoxville economy. Winners are selected by the Knoxville Chamber Board of Directors. Over 80 companies were nominated for 2023 recognition.
“Congratulations to all Pinnacle Business Award winners. When local businesses thrive, so do the communities they serve. That’s why Pinnacle Financial Partners set out to be a small business and commercial bank from the very beginning,” said Mike DiStefano, Pinnacle’s Knoxville president. “We know how hard it is to run a company, much less make it successful, and we’ll do everything we can to help build that success. It’s an honor to be part of this program and help recognize the home-grown players in Knoxville’s economy.”
For in-depth video interviews and more information on the 2023 Pinnacle Business Award recipients, visit www.knoxvillechamber.com/pinnacle.