Innovate Charlotte

Join NC SBTDC for their Launch Catalyst event tomorrow morning. Our own Director Juan Garzón will speak during the NC Startup Resource Rally. We look forward to seeing you there!

If you are applying for an NC IDEA grant this fall cycle, you should check out our Intro to Customer Discovery workshop tomorrow night. The workshop will dig into the core principles of #customerdiscovery: how to identify, engage, and learn from potential customers to validate your business idea and strengthen your case for funding. Join Laura Smailes as she shares key insights and best practices that will help with your grant application. As a reminder, the fall grant cycle ends next week. This means your application to the $10K #MICRO or $50K #SEED grants are due Monday, August 25th by 5:00 PM. Don't miss this opportunity to get nondilutive funding for your NC-based startup! Learn more at https://lnkd.in/evyFdgw7. https://lnkd.in/eTwC6kxN Charlotte Inno, LaunchCLT, The Boost Pad, NXT | CLT, gWen, Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at UNC Charlotte, Charlotte Economic Development, Charlotte Fund, RevTech Labs Foundation, EO Charlotte, EO Accelerator - Charlotte, Charlotte Angel Fund

Our partners at NC SBTDC are hiring a Business Launch Specialist to serve Charlotte and the surrounding 8-county region, and this role is all about turning ideas into real businesses. As part of a statewide team supporting early-stage entrepreneurs, this role will: ✅ Provide 1:1 business counseling to pre-venture founders ✅ Facilitate 4 cohort-based training programs per year ✅ Independently manage a client portfolio and drive at least 58 business starts annually ✅ Build deep partnerships across the entrepreneurial ecosystem ✅ Develop creative marketing plans to recruit new founders If you’re passionate about supporting new businesses, thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment, and love seeing ideas come to life, this might be your next big opportunity. 🌐 Learn more + apply: https://bit.ly/4m32NGp #CLTstartups #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusinessSupport #Hiring #EcosystemBuilders #StartupCharlotte #InnovateCharlotte

Come out for the gALPHA Charlotte Showcase on Monday, August 19 at 5:45 PM at CO-LAB to meet over 20 of the city’s newest early-stage founders, and get a front-row seat to what’s being built right here in Charlotte. Expect quick pitches, casual convos, and a room full of builders, backers, and believers in Charlotte’s startup future.

🚨 NC IDEA Grant Applications Are Now OPEN 🚨 If you’re an early-stage founder in North Carolina with big goals for your startup, now’s the time to apply. The Fall 2025 Grant Cycle is officially underway, and NC IDEA is offering two game-changing opportunities: 💡 NC IDEA MICRO – $10K project-based grants to help young companies validate assumptions and build a business model. 🚀 NC IDEA SEED – $50K grants for early-stage startups ready to scale with strategic funding. 🔗 You can only apply to one - MICRO or SEED - not both. 🗓️ Application Deadline: August 25 at 5:00 PM EST 👉 Learn more and apply: https://lnkd.in/e-Xrv-qd #CLTstartups #NCIDEA #MICROgrant #SEEDgrant #StartupFunding #Entrepreneurs #InnovateCharlotte #CharlotteTech

Calling all Charlotte-area startup founders: Innovate Charlotte and StealthX have launched the latest Product Jam applications and the deadline to apply is September 1 at 5pm EST! This is your chance to participate in a full-day, collaborative in-person workshop designed to help you and your team get unstuck, pressure test your product roadmap, and unlock smart, strategic next steps. Whether you're refining your MVP, preparing to scale, or looking for clarity on what comes next Product Jam is designed to meet you where you are and move you forward. Apply today: https://bit.ly/4lTyIt0 #CharlotteStartups #FounderLife #ProductStrategy #InnovateCharlotte #ProductJam #CLTTech #StartupEcosystem #DoGreater

GrepBeat’s Startups To Watch list is back, and applications are closing soon. If you’re building something bold, tech-driven, and under the radar, this is your moment to shine. ✅ Requirements: – Tech or tech-enabled startup – Headquartered in North Carolina – Generating less than $3M in revenue – Not a past winner 🚫 No agencies, consultancies, life sciences, biotech, or medical device companies This is a great chance to gain visibility, connect with GrepBeat’s engaged startup community, and be recognized as one of NC’s most promising early-stage companies. 🗓 Deadline to apply is July 31. Apply now: https://bit.ly/4nWyCC3 #StartupsToWatch #GrepBeat #NCStartups #TriangleTech #CharlotteTech #InnovateNC #TechFounders #StartupEcosystem

Big congratulations to Charlotte-based Franzy on raising $2.2M in seed funding to reshape the future of franchising! Led by local founder Alex Smereczniak 🦁, Franzy is building one of the first dedicated online marketplaces for buying and selling franchise businesses — a bold play in what Alex calls the "bet on yourself economy." With backing from York IE, Front Porch Venture Partners, Overline, Avalanche VC, and Daren Cotter Investments, Franzy is scaling fast! We’re proud to see another Charlotte founder leading the way in reimagining legacy industries, and we’ll be cheering Franzy on as they aim for $1M in revenue and gear up for Series A. Let’s go! 💥 #CharlotteStartups #FounderSpotlight #Franchising #SeedRound #Entrepreneurship #InnovateCLT

Intuit's IDEAS accelerator is now accepting applications, and Charlotte is one of just nine cities nationwide selected for this powerful opportunity. This FREE program offers: ✅ Access to Intuit’s AI-powered platform (including Mailchimp, QuickBooks, TurboTax & Credit Karma) ✅ Business + executive coaching ✅ A non-dilutive cash grant to grow your business Whether you're looking to streamline your finances, uplevel your marketing, or sharpen your leadership, IDEAS was built to help you thrive. 📅 Applications close July 21, so don’t wait. Apply now → https://bit.ly/4nWF9wK #CLTstartups #CharlotteBusiness #SmallBusinessSupport #IntuitIDEAS #StartupAccelerator #InnovateCLT

🍂 Innovate Charlotte’s Fall Conference Roadmap 🍂 Calling all founders, investors, and ecosystem builders—our region’s innovation pulse is stronger than ever! Don’t miss these high-impact gatherings this season: Sept 4–5 – ConvergeSouth Conference (Winston‑Salem): A two‑day showcase of startup expos, investor keynotes, and thought‑leader breakouts bit.ly/4ePHqFL Sept 11 – 3686 (Nashville): Tennessee’s premier entrepreneur conference—now in its 12th year—offers AI‑powered matchmaking, investor panels, and founder showcases. bit.ly/40lg6cy Sept 18 – North Carolina Biotechnology Center (NCBiotech) Life Sciences Summit (Charlotte): Part of Life Sciences Week, this Summit drives innovation in economic and workforce development. bit.ly/4lYEXvb Sept 18 – GrepBeat Startups to Watch (Durham): A live reveal of early‑stage startups poised to make waves in the Triangle tech scene. bit.ly/3IM7cPe Oct 15–16 – Venture Atlanta Conference (Atlanta): The Southeast’s top VC conference, uniting 1,600+ attendees, 450+ investors, and a showcase for curated startup pitches. bit.ly/3yuW30N Nov 17 – NC IDEA Ecosystem Summit (Durham): NC’s only statewide summit for ecosystem builders to collaborate on inclusive entrepreneurship. bit.ly/4kKS8yB Nov 20–21 – Venture135 (Charlotte): Fintech + insurtech venture conference spotlighting Series A/B startups, especially from under‑represented founders. bit.ly/4ltGxVT Which of these will you be at? Let’s connect, collaborate, and grow together this fall! 🚀 #InnovateCharlotte #StartupEcosystem #FallConferencetour #CharlotteStartups #SEinnovation