Sam Davidson is the CEO of Nashville Entrepreneur Center (The EC), and a speaker, author, and entrepreneur who believes that the height of one’s success is directly related to the depth of their community.
In 2006, he founded Cool People Care, a media and merchandise company that leveraged new technology to connect thousands of individuals to causes and nonprofits in local communities around the US. Cool People Care’s line of eco-friendly and cause-related merchandise raised over $125,000 for causes ranging from disaster relief to hunger awareness.
He then went on to co-found three additional companies, including Batch, a national gift and retail business that connects entrepreneurs with new customers. Batch sources its line of gifts from small businesses around the United States to provide customers the ability to give a sense of place in order to connect, stand out, and create meaningful interactions. In 2022, Davidson led the company through an acquisition by a private equity group.
Davidson has twice been named a “Most Admired CEO” by the Nashville Business Journal. Both Davidson and his companies have appeared in numerous media outlets, including The New York Times, Southern Living, The Boston Globe, NPR, and USA Today. In 2020, Davidson founded SmallBusinessPledge.org to raise awareness about the positive impact small businesses have on communities all across America, especially as so many closed permanently due to COVID-19.
The EC is a 501(c)3 organization that is working to make Nashville the best place to start and grow a business by increasing the likelihood of success for entrepreneurs.
A sought-after speaker, he frequently speaks on topics such as leadership, entrepreneurship, and community service to audiences at colleges and conferences around the United States. He is the author of three books: New Day Revolution, 50 Things Your Life Doesn’t Need, and Simplify Your Life. He graduated from Samford University and lives in Nashville with his family.