The Nashville Entrepreneur Center's 2025 NEXT Awards will take place on Oct. 20. Ahead of the event, the Nashville Post will be featuring the finalists of each category in an ongoing series. The Post is a media sponsor for the NEXT Awards.

Hospitality & Retail - Startup Finalists

Happenstance Distilling Co.

Founder: Paige Parker

Paige Parker

Company highlights:

• Launched four new markets (Texas, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida) (we are up 112 percent in a down whiskey market)

• Headline tour sponsor for Ella Langley's The Still Hungover Tour and featured in the music video for her hit song You Look Like You Love Me, with the video receiving 47 million-plus views

• Happenstance's newest Single Barrel 9 YO release won Double Gold in the industry renowned San Francisco

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