Pinnacle Partners with The Torch Collective for Events, Education and Counsel

Pinnacle Financial Partners has entered into a sponsorship agreement with The Torch Collective, a Nashville-based community created to bring together founders, funders and connectors across the startup ecosystem. The partnership reflects Pinnacle’s commitment to the startup and private capital communities, serving both the entrepreneurs building companies and the investors backing their growth.

Cofounded by Joe Maxwell, The Torch Collective is a member-driven community designed to foster organic, high-value connections and meaningful conversations among the visionaries who build, back and advise companies. The organization is not an incubator or an investment fund. Instead, it provides a shared space and curated experiences that encourage collaboration, mentorship and relationship-building across industries.

“Communities like The Torch Collective are becoming increasingly important as Nashville attracts more founders and funders,” said Bryan Bean, head of banking for Tennessee and Kentucky at Pinnacle. “They're meeting a need we see every day by creating a place where entrepreneurs and investors can connect naturally. Supporting entrepreneurial, growth-minded businesses is in Pinnacle’s DNA. We were a startup business 25 years ago, so we are proud to play a role in fostering Nashville’s next success stories. We’re grateful for the opportunity to be part of such a thoughtful and creative organization.”

Pinnacle’s sponsorship represents a significant partnership that includes membership, events and ongoing opportunities to engage with Torch members. Through the agreement, Pinnacle team members will provide programming opportunities for members, lend their advisory expertise and join the work of bringing together founders and funders together.

“Pinnacle understands what it takes to build from those early, scrappy days to scaling with confidence,” said Ryan Caradonna, The Torch cofounder. “Their team brings founder-first banking expertise, real connections across the Southeast and a willingness to show up consistently for our members. We’re excited to partner with Pinnacle to create more meaningful programming, deeper relationships and a stronger future for Nashville’s startup and private capital community.”

Pinnacle has a strong track record of working alongside founders as they start and scale their businesses, as well as advising private capital firms who invest across the Southeast. In 2025, the firm launched the Pinnacle Atlanta Innovation Center in partnership with gener8tor and Tarkenton. Pinnacle is also a Visionary Sponsor of LaunchTN, the public private partnership that supports entrepreneurship and economic development across the state.  

 

About Pinnacle
Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc. (“Pinnacle”) is a $119.1 billion asset regional bank which provides a full range of banking, investment, trust, mortgage and insurance products and services for commercial and consumer clients who want a comprehensive relationship with their financial institution. The firm joined forces with Synovus Financial Corp. in 2026, bringing together more than 160 years of combined banking service. Pinnacle is the largest bank headquartered in Tennessee and the largest bank holding company headquartered in Georgia. The firm is No. 1 in deposit market share* in the Nashville MSA and No. 4 in the Atlanta MSA with offices in Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Kentucky, Virginia and Maryland.

Pinnacle is an employer of choice for financial services professionals. The firm is No. 9 in FORTUNE magazine’s 2025 list of 100 Best Companies to Work For® in the U.S., its ninth consecutive appearance. Pinnacle was also recognized by American Banker as No. 4 among America’s Best Banks to Work For in 2025, its 13th consecutive year on the list, and No. 1 among banks with more than $10 billion in assets. Learn more about Pinnacle at PNFP.com.

*As of June 30, 2025, according to FDIC data.

About Torch Collective
Torch is a highly vetted membership community for innovators headquartered in Nashville, TN. Our mission is to make authentic, high-value connection easy, engaging and routine for founders, investors, dealmakers and strategists.

Membership is limited to high-caliber individuals who build, fund, and grow businesses. These are operators, strategists, and visionaries who take initiative, solve real problems, and bring valuable experience to the table. They share insights, resources, and lessons learned to accelerate progress.

Through programming, education and community-led events, Torch supports the growth of Nashville’s innovation economy by helping members connect with the right people at the right time. Learn more at torchcollective.com

 

Media Contact: Torch Collective | hello@torchcollective.com