2018 Charlotte Venture Challenge

Charlotte Venture Challenge: Where Innovation Wins

The 2018 Charlotte Venture Challenge will focus on Ventureprise Launch participants and showcase these innovation-based ventures from the Charlotte community and University of North Carolina Charlotte researchers and students. The event will feature a keynote by NC IDEA Foundation President Thom Ruhe, followed by a panel of local startups that have received foundation funding. A reception will follow where participating ventures will showcase their innovations.

Register by Friday, April 27th.

Ventureprise, organizer of Charlotte Venture Challenge, is UNC Charlotte’s innovation and entrepreneurship center serving the campus and Charlotte region as a center of excellence for evidence-based entrepreneurship. Ventureprise works to provide the resources and expertise for university and community based startups as they commercialize their innovations and scale their ventures.

Agenda

4-4:15pm Welcome

4:15-5:15pm Panels and Presentations

UNC Charlotte Student Pitch Competition

  • 3 student finalists from 49er iChallenge will pitch their innovation

Ventureprise Launch NSF I-Corps Panel: University Research and Innovation

  • 65 teams (40 faculty and 93 students) have participated in the Ventureprise Launch NSF I-Corps program since 2015. Program participants have raised $1.8M in additional funding. This panel will highlight university research and innovation.

Ventureprise Launch NC IDEA Panel: Community Entrepreneurship

  • Since inception in 2017, the Ventureprise Launch NC IDEA program has served 31 local companies. Over 25 of these companies are active, collectively raising $3.2M.

Category winners announced

5:15-5:45pm Thom Ruhe, Keynote Speaker

Thom is President & CEO of NC IDEA FOUNDATION. Thom Ruhe is an entrepreneur, investor, mentor and works with entrepreneurs, governments, universities and NGOs around the world to embrace the entrepreneurial mindset needed to grow vibrant economies. Prior to joining NC IDEA in 2016, he spent seven years directing the Kauffman Foundation’s programs addressing entrepreneurial education, mentoring, access to capital and fostering entrepreneurial ecosystems. Thom also led Kauffman Labs for Enterprise Creation, a school dedicated to advancing community deployed experiential-based entrepreneurial education.

5:45-6:15pm Panel: Charlotte Entrepreneurial Scene; Funding, Resources and Lessons Learned

Lisa Ganderson, The Wed Clique, 2017 NC IDEA Seed Grant Winner

Rob Cummings, DealCloud, Inc 2012 NC IDEA Seed Grant Winner, 2012 CVC Winner

Ivan Howitt, InfoSense, Inc, 2011 NC IDEA Seed Grant Winner, 2012 CVC Winner

6:15-6:30pm Prizes Awarded

Closing Remarks: Robert Wilhelm, Vice Chancellor, Research and Economic Development

6:30-8:00pm Company Showcase and Reception

Hors d'oeuvres and drinks will be provided at reception.

17 community and university companies will be showcasing their innovation and business.

Directions/Parking

Visit the UNC Charlotte Center City website for maps, directions, and parking information.  Event organizers will provide a parking pass in advance; please be sure to print this pass before arrival at the event.

More Information

Visit the 2018 Charlotte Venture Challenge event page 

Date
-
Address

UNC Charlotte Center City Campus
320 East 9th Street
Charlotte, NC 28202

Cost
Free
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