Five Startup Founders Accelerate Clean Transportation Solutions in Chattanooga

CHATTANOOGA, TENN.(WDEF) As systems around the globe stretch thin and urban centers search for smarter, cleaner ways to move people and goods, a powerful shift is quietly taking place in Chattanooga, Tennessee. A group of bold founders is emerging with a shared mission: to reshape the future of urban mobility—and they’re doing it with speed, purpose, and the support of one game-changing accelerator.

These mobility-focused startups are part of CO.LAB’s accelerator program, a launchpad designed to supercharge innovation in sustainable transportation. The mission is clear: help entrepreneurs build cleaner, more efficient, and tech-driven transportation solutions right here in Chattanooga.

“Chattanooga is on its way to becoming one of the top three cities in the country for mobility innovation,” says Tasia Malakasis, CEO of The Company Lab (CO.LAB). “Our whole mission at CO.LAB is to support entrepreneurs and to support the communities they’re building solutions for.”

A Hub for the New Mobility Economy

With Chattanooga’s strong foundation as a logistics hub—where freight, rail, and trucking industries already thrive—startups are uniquely positioned to test and scale cutting-edge technologies in real-world environments.

“It really does deliver the best fit for any fleet use case,” said a founder in the cohort. “That’s our focus here in Tennessee: to continue expanding our capabilities and connecting deeper into the Tennessee Valley.”

From electrified fleets to AI-driven logistics platforms, the founders in CO.LAB’s accelerator aren’t just thinking about the future—they’re building it. And Chattanooga is giving them a front-row seat to one of the biggest shifts in transportation history.

Meet the Founders Driving the Change

Each founder brings a unique perspective and solution to the mobility landscape:

• Tenvos AI (Sacramento, CA) – Detects alcohol, cannabis intoxication, and sleep deprivation from 6 seconds of speech to prevent occupational accidents that cost 3.9% of global GDP.
• Ex9 (Evry, France) ****EX9 is transforming logistics by automating 24/7 trailer movements with autonomous yard tractors powered by our unique hyper-precise « safety-by-design » autopilot intelligence, cutting costs (-30%), and CO2 (-94% in France), boosting efficiency, safety, and resilience.
• LogShare (Sao Paulo, Brazil)  ****SaaS logistics platform that optimizes backhaul cargo loads between shippers, reducing costs and emissions by up to 30%. F
• Accelevate (Henderson, NV) – Connected Software Platform that delivers performance analytics to optimize fleet composition and maximize utilization. ACCELEVATE is a leader in profiling energy, cost, and operational metrics cross-fuel type to maximize fleet performance.
• EV Bots (Pennsylvania) – Revolutionizing electric fleet management with autonomous technologies. EV Bots provides automated solutions that reduce downtime, simplify fleet operations, and support the growing adoption of electric vehicles. Beachhead market is delivery vans, light and medium-duty trucks, and cars.

“It’s a beautiful opportunity for me,” said Jim Maury. “Chattanooga is a logistics hub, and that makes it the perfect angle for us—our customer base is mostly freight, and being here helps us get closer to them.”

“It’s a great place to be,” echoed Virind Gujral. “There are a lot of logistics players here, and CO.LAB gives us the tools to connect and scale. We’re not just building a company—we’re helping build the future of transportation.”

More Than an Incubator: A Launchpad

CO.LAB is more than just an incubator. It’s a launchpad for the next generation of changemakers. With mentorship, funding, and a deep connection to the regional economy, founders are transforming ideas into real-world impact.

“We’re not just building startups,” said Malakasis. “We’re building Chattanooga into the nation’s leading hub for sustainable transportation. And this is just the beginning.”

As the world shifts, collapses, and reshapes itself, one thing is clear: Chattanooga’s mobility founders aren’t waiting for the future to arrive. They’re already driving it.