Area Businesses Set Up for Success
By Rachel Studebaker
From tech talent to food products and more, entrepreneurs are choosing Chattanooga to establish and expand their visions. Here, we highlight local companies whose innovative ideas and accumulating accomplishments poise them for continued success in their sectors.
Photos by Nina Brock Photography
“Connecting people is in my DNA. So, when I discovered I could actually get paid for building teams, I couldn’t not do it,” says Hudson Brock, founder of AlloHire.
Having taken the leap to leave his corporate recruiting career in Los Angeles and pursue entrepreneurship, Brock and his family moved back to Chattanooga in 2020. Here, Brock soon realized that there wasn’t a recruiting agency leading talent acquisition on a local level and decided to fill this gap, launching AlloHire, a boutique recruiting agency committed to Chattanooga. Its name was inspired by “the premise that allocentrism – being others-centered – wasn’t just my personal calling. It was a catalyst for community and a competitive advantage in talent acquisition,” according to Brock.
As a fifth-generation Chattanoogan, Brock is passionate about creating connections in his hometown, saying, “This city is full of incredible people, companies, and opportunities. We want to be the team that brings them together.”
AlloHire’s people-first recruiting framework drives its purpose and sets it apart, opting for intentional connections over mass outreach.
“The core belief is that hiring is about people, not transactions,” Brock explains. “Most recruiting agencies optimize for speed and volume. We optimize for relationships, alignment, and long-term success for both the company and the candidate. Companies don’t just need employees. They need people who elevate culture and solve real problems. And candidates don’t just need jobs. They need roles that integrate their lives. We champion both sides with equal commitment.”
Brock describes 2025 as a year of “momentum” for AlloHire, which achieved 145+ hires across the Southeast, including key leadership roles locally, and was a finalist for ChaTech’s CXO Leader of the Year in the 2025 TechX Awards. The company continued to drive connections, including partnering with 10+ local companies; hosting Chattabooleans, Chattanooga’s recruiter meetup; and launching The Arena (2.0), a co-working space.
Hudson Brock
AlloHire aims to become Chattanooga’s go-to recruiting agency and strengthen the city’s talent ecosystem by supporting local companies’ ability to recruit, hire, and retain employees. Brock also hopes to expand its recruiting capacity to reach high-growth companies across the country. No matter how large it grows, Brock says AlloHire stays committed to “championing Chattanooga as it becomes the most connected city, one partnership at a time.”
Photos by Daisy Moffatt Photography
WYRE Technology, an IT-service company, was established in 2021 by Tyler York, Mike Wade, Dave Baughn, and Lee Behar – a group with a shared desire to take on challenges and build a successful business from scratch. Now, five years later, WYRE Technology has grown to a team of 18 and is making a name for itself in Chattanooga and beyond by providing a tailored suite of security, monitoring, and management services to ensure companies’ data is organized and protected.
Dave Baughn, Tyler York, Mike Wade, and Beau Moffatt
“WYRE was built differently from day one,” says Tyler York, who serves as CEO. Rather than shy away from harder technical work and big projects, WYRE Technology welcomes the challenge. Its team is equipped with experience in a wide variety of industries and dedicated to high-touch customer service that sets it apart in the industry.
“Core IT services have become close to a commodity, but excellent service never will be,” explains York. “People care about responsiveness, how well they’re helped, meaningful relationships with the team supporting them, and having a partner who truly understands their business. That’s where we’ve chosen to compete, and it’s why our clients stay.”
WYRE Technology partners with organizations of every size and sector to manage day-to-day operations; strengthen cybersecurity; provide IT support; and guide long-term strategy. In addition to Chattanooga, its service area has grown to include Knoxville, Nashville, and Memphis as well as Huntsville, Alabama.
In 2025, WYRE Technology garnered national recognition for its growth and excellence in the industry, earning the 745th spot on the 2025 Inc. 5000 list and 53rd on the MSP 501 list. Additionally, York says the company invested in internal improvements to strengthen its processes and preserve the quality of customer service that’s driven its growth while continuing to scale at a sustainable pace. “Growth matters, but building the capacity to grow well matters even more,” he notes.
This year, York says WYRE Technology plans to continue optimizing its operations while strengthening connections through team building and community engagement in the place it’s proud to call home.
“The city has a strong culture of encouraging individuals and organizations to grow. I would encourage anyone thinking about launching a business to seriously consider Chattanooga,” finishes York.
Photos Courtesy of Flappy-Nappies
A mom of three, Chelsea McAmis is well-acquainted with the ins and outs of raising a baby, including potty training. After beginning elimination communication (EC) training – a practice that involves identifying a baby’s natural cues to teach them to use the toilet from an early age – with her first child, McAmis quickly realized that traditional diapers prevented quick access when it was time to go. Unable to find a product that could, McAmis decided to take matters into her own hands and create easy-to-use cloth diapers designed for EC training.
Chelsea McAmis
While she initially began making diapers for her own use, McAmis soon opened an Etsy shop at the encouragement of her husband. “From there, my focus shifted from a diaper that I could easily use to a diaper that anyone could easily use! I’ve been working with families ever since to improve the diapers to what they are today,” she shares.
What began with one diaper has evolved into a successful business selling three styles in a range of sizes to fit babies from newborn to toddler. McAmis’ patent-pending drop-flap diaper design attaches to a waist belt and snaps open and closed from both the back and front, providing easy access during potty training as well as quick diaper changes.
“Our diapers are as easy as possible to use – and also as easy as possible to stop using. Most parents who use Flappy-Nappies are done with diapers by 18 months, as compared to a national average of 3 years old!” says McAmis.
Reflecting McAmis’ dedication to sustainability and ethical manufacturing, the reusable diapers prevent single-use waste and are all manufactured in the U.S. or by a World Fair Trade Organization Guaranteed Company.
In 2025, Flappy-Nappies introduced an improved version of its wool cloth diapers, as well as additional colors and sizes. McAmis also grew her business’ sales and social media presence, including reaching more than 22.5k followers on Instagram and 30k on Facebook.
McAmis is anticipating a year of continued growth, with plans to increase Flappy-Nappies’ brand presence, sales, and product offerings, as well as educational materials on cloth diapering and EC training to support fellow parents.
Photo Courtesy of Alter Eco Farm
Driven by a desire to better the world, Krisi Olivero and her husband Nick began brainstorming ideas for a business endeavor in 2019. After participating in Dr. Elaine Ingham’s – a world-renowned soil scientist – Soil Food Web School, Olivero had found the answer. Armed with a long-held love for biology and a microscope, Olivero launched Alter Eco Farms, a biology-focused soil lab and small-scale living compost facility.
Krisi Olivero
Krisi and Nick relocated from Denver, Colorado, to Chattanooga in 2023, where they continued to build their business. “We have never felt so at home as we do here. This is where our roots belong, and we are so happy to be growing here,” says Olivero.
Alter Eco Farms regenerates soil by creating all-natural, living soil amendments, full of native microorganisms that help plants grow. They work with farmers, landscapers, home gardeners, and community organizations and teach classes about simple ways to be part of the “soilution.”
By applying native microorganisms to soil, Alter Eco Farms customers can see increased water retention, reduced pests and diseases, reduced weeds, improvements in compaction problems, additional carbon sequestered, and increased harvest yields.
Beneficial bacteria-feeding nematode viewed from a microscope at 400x
“Our goal is to stop working with you. We want to teach you, empower you, help you grow, and get out of the way to watch you shine. If we do soil regeneration right, you’ll only need our support for a small amount of time, and then you’ll flourish all on your own,” Olivero explains.
In 2025, Alter Eco Farms expanded its reach in the community. For Olivero, this included attending 11 markets; hosting 12 workshops; welcoming more than 500 guests to the farm; collaborating with community groups; and speaking at TedxChattanooga. The farm also introduced and produced over 1,000 gallons of living compost extract, regenerating acres of local soil.
Looking forward, Alter Eco Farms aims to increase its impact, with Olivero sharing, “Our absolute dream is to get to work on soil that affects the greater community. We hope to start scaling to work with city parks, natural spaces, and local farms that put food on the plates in our community.”
Photos Courtesy of Goliath Data
An interest in real estate led Austin Beveridge and Max Yuan to discover a common problem in the industry – and provide the solution. After speaking with investors and realtors, the duo noticed the need for a service that consistently identifies people who want to sell their properties. In response, Beveridge and Yuan created Goliath Data in 2023.
Austin Beveridge and Max Yuan
Their research revealed that most people sell their property when a major life change occurs – such as upsizing after having a child or downsizing after adult children move out – and they got to work accessing that real-time data. “We started aggregating the data and got our first customer, and our next customer, and snowballed from there,” recalls Beveridge.
By detecting life changes in real time, Goliath Data connects real estate agents with homeowners looking to sell and turns connections into closings. Realtors and investors can access live homeowner and property data nationwide, while owners can list their properties and get connected to buyers.
Originally based out of San Francisco, California, Goliath Data relocated to Chattanooga in 2024 to join local venture capital firm, Brickyard. “Chattanooga finally feels like a place where we feel at home, and that’s meant a lot to us as well as the team we’ve brought in from around the U.S.,” Beveridge adds.
WHY IT’S A COMPANY TO WATCH
Goliath Data’s ability to deliver real-time data has been groundbreaking. Beveridge estimates that 60% of their leads transact within six months – a rate exponentially higher than traditional sources. What started with a small team and a couple customers has quickly turned into a large enterprise of realtors with data pulled from 150 municipalities across the U.S., serving customers from small businesses to one of the top brokerages in the world.
In 2025, Goliath Data’s referrals represented more than
$1 billion in total home value. The company grew its network to include more than 11,000 real estate agents and investors across the country and onboarded new employees to support this growing customer base.
As Goliath Data grows, Beveridge says he and his team are excited for what’s to come and simply want to continue providing the best possible experience for home buyers and sellers during what he notes can be one of the largest financial decisions of their lives.
Photos Courtesy of Chattanooga Culture
Inspired by his passion for healthy living and the legacy of his late father, a long-time entrepreneur, Matt Cone launched Chattanooga Culture, a kombucha and fermented goods business, in 2022.
Matt Cone
“Chattanooga Culture was founded to foster a culture of holistic wellness within our community, driven by the benefits of healthy fermented foods and beverages,” says Cone.
Chattanooga Culture provides kombucha that is free of artificial flavoring, concentrates, and excess sugar, meeting a demand for holistic and alcohol-free beverage options. All products are bottled in recyclable glass to promote sustainability and preserve a fresh flavor.
“Every bottle reflects our passion for craft fermentation, holistic wellness, and sustainable living. We are small-batch by choice, hands-on by nature, and driven by the desire to bring something truly meaningful to our customers,” describes Cone.
Cone pours back into the community by sourcing ingredients from local growers and partnering with other businesses to create custom flavors. “This not only supports our community but ensures every batch captures the real, vibrant flavors of our region. We let the natural fermentation process and whole, real ingredients do the talking,” he says.
For Chattanooga Culture, 2025 was a record-breaking year with multiple all-time revenue months. Cone expanded the Chatta-nooga Culture product line to include hot sauce and apple cider vinegar and began selling at the Chattanooga Market with significant success. One of the company’s biggest milestones in 2025 was upgrading to a 2,400-square-foot brewery, elevating its production capabilities.
“Overall, 2025 has been our strongest, most profitable, and most enjoyable year yet – and it’s only strengthened our passion for what we’re building,” he says.
Having secured an additional 2,100-square-foot space, Cone is excited for the grand opening of Chattanooga Culture’s kombucha and wellness lounge on February 28, 2026, which he says will be “designed to bring community, connection, and wellness together under one roof.” Cone also plans to add new products to Chattanooga Culture’s offerings, including kimchi, sauerkraut, and kefir, while scaling wholesale partnerships and deepening his presence at local markets.
“All of this growth will also mean growing our team. Bringing on new people will allow us to expand intentionally while staying true to our values of sustainability, craft, and community. Overall, 2026 is shaping up to be a year of major expansion and exciting possibilities for Chattanooga Culture,” finishes Cone.
Photos Courtesy of LogistiX
Working for years in supply chain roles gave Carlos Garcia a front-row view of how fulfillment and warehouse services needed to adapt – as well as a vision for a company that could deliver turnkey, practical solutions. The result was LogistiX, a service-driven logistics company born from the desire to solve real operational challenges for growing e-commerce and retail customers.
Carlos Garcia and Ed Esposito
In its early stages, LogistiX focused on building client relationships one project at a time, with a commitment to earning trust, refining processes, and delivering reliable results. That foundation made it possible to scale safely as demand grew, while maintaining a reputation for accountability and dependable execution.
This same focus guides LogistiX today as it designs flexible fulfillment, warehousing, and project solutions for customers across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and beyond. At its helm, Garcia combines his strategic growth background with Chief Operating Officer Ed Esposito’s deep operational expertise to drive the company’s success. Esposito leads day-to-day execution, safety, and process discipline, helping ensure complex logistics projects are delivered consistently and on time.
Garcia credits two things for setting the company apart: “First, our focus on people, both our team and our customers. Second, we combine hands-on operational expertise with a willingness to innovate, so we can craft tailored solutions rather than forcing clients into one-size-fits-all offerings.”
2025 was a landmark year for LogistiX. The company expanded its footprint, strengthened internal operations under Esposito’s leadership, and was recognized on the Inc. 5000 list for the third year in a row – a testament to its sustained growth. LogistiX also deepened its community partnerships in the Chattanooga region. “These milestones reflect strong operational performance and growing local and regional impact,” notes Esposito.
Looking ahead, priorities include scaling responsibly while maintaining service excellence. That means expanding capacity in key markets, investing in technology and people, improving efficiency and sustainability, and deepening partnerships with local organizations to ensure growth continues to benefit the Chattanooga community.
“We’re proud of the team that has built LogistiX into what it is today,” Garcia says. “As we look ahead, our focus remains the same: help customers succeed, invest in our people, and use our growth as a platform for positive local impact.”
Talisman didn’t start in accounting, originally built as an internal tool to track expenses. But when accountants started adopting it on their own, co-founder Chiko Chingaya took a closer look and uncovered a much deeper need. Across the industry, firms were buried in manual work, juggling fragmented systems, and struggling to scale with the talent they had.
Chiko Chingaya
That insight shaped what Talisman is today: a purpose-built platform that automates core accounting workflows while keeping professionals in control. Talisman now powers automation across document collection, transaction cleanup, capacity planning, and more to support a faster, more accurate close process.
“We’re rebuilding the accounting experience around the work firms already do, and letting automation handle the heavy lifting in the background,” Chingaya adds.
Originally founded in Dallas, Texas, the company relocated to Chattanooga with support from local investors like Brickyard and Capacity Capital. “The support here has been incredible,” says Chingaya. “It’s allowed us to build deliberately, listen closely, and grow in a way that’s both fast and sustainable.”
Talisman is pioneering automation in an industry long assumed to be too nuanced to automate. Instead of offering a single solution, it provides a connected toolset that mirrors how accounting works. This includes linking transactions to documents, planning team capacity, and keeping books audit-ready. Led by an award-winning team, including a former Director of AI and Emerging Tech at PwC, Talisman is proving that reliable automation is possible, even in complex workflows.
“Our goal isn’t to replace accountants,” Chingaya explains. “It’s to give them leverage so they can move faster, do more, and focus on the work that actually grows their business.”
2025 was a breakout year for Talisman. “We grew faster than expected,” says Chingaya. “And we saw the platform support firms managing hundreds of clients.” The team refined performance, speed, and usability across the product, added key hires in engineering and operations, and deepened ties with Chattanooga-based firms.
Talisman’s 2026 roadmap is focused on scale as it continues to expand its customer base, launch deeper automation across close and compliance workflows, and grow its team.
“Everything we’re doing is about becoming the trusted operating system for modern accounting firms,” says Chingaya. “Firms are facing more complexity than ever. We want to be the partner that helps them navigate it.”
