2. Start:
You are new to
Charlotte’s Startup
community or starting a
business.
3. Start Up Help Resources- Business Link NC
Email - info@blnc.gov Phone - 919-807-4280
Website - Business Link NC
Facebook - BLNC
Business Link North Carolina
offers a central source for
consultations, information and
referrals… just the help you need
to tap into all the State has to
offer.
4. Start Up Help Resources- Charlotte Business
Resources
Phone - 704-378-1300 Facebook - Charlotte Chamber
Website - Charlotte Chamber Twitter - @CLTChamber
Charlotte Business Resources is a community-wide collaborative effort by a
network of organizations committed to working together to save you time
and money by providing relevant business resources & information.
5. Start Up Help Resources- SBTDC
Email - info@sbtdc.org Phone - 704-687-0440 Website - SBTDC LinkedIn - SBTDC
The Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC) has helped North
Carolina businesses grow and create new jobs since 1984. We provide
management counseling and educational services to small and mid-sized
businesses. Most of our services are free of charge, and all are confidential. By
providing entrepreneurs with the tools they need to build and grow successful
businesses, the SBTDC positively impacts NC’s economy. Located on UNC-
Charlotte’s campus.
6. Start Up Help Resources- SCORE
Phone - 704-344-6576 Website - SCORE
SCORE is a nonprofit association dedicated to educating entrepreneurs and
helping small businesses start, grow, and succeed nationwide. SCORE is a
resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and has
been mentoring small business owners for more than forty years.
7. Start Up Help Resources- ThriveNC
Phone - 704-547-5750 Website - ThriveNC Twitter - @Thrive_NC
ThriveNC.com is published by the
North Carolina Department of
Commerce, the state’s lead
economic development agency.
The department, headed by
Secretary of Commerce Sharon
Allred Decker, has a mission to
improve the economic well-being
and quality of life for all North
Carolinians.
8. Start Up Help Resources- Charlotte Venture
Launch
Name - Devin Collins Email - devin.collins@uncc.edu
Phone - 704-250-5753 Website - Charlotte Venture Launch
The Charlotte Venture Launch guides founders through the customer discovery
process modeled on proven best practices such as the National Science
Foundation’s I-Corps. CVL is a multi-week, high intensity, focused effort for
innovators and investors to determine if an idea is worth pursuing. With the help
of Ventureprise, create your own compelling business model, vet out opportunity
assessments and find the best and ready customers.
9. Coworking- C3 Labs
Email - info@c3-lab.com
Website - C3 Labs
Twitter - @C3lab_charlotte
Facebook - C3 Labs
C3Lab is Charlotte’s new creative
hub located in the SouthEnd
District for designers,
entrepreneurs, freelancers, artists
and other creative types.
Combining the best features of a
home office, coffee shop, business
space, community center, &
studio shop. This vibrant, dynamic
space encourages connection and
communication to spark creative
thoughts and ideas.
10. Coworking- Industry Coworking
Name - Tyler Ford Email - info@lightbulbcreative.com
Phone - 704-692-1193 Website - Industry Coworking
Twitter - @IndustryCoworking Facebook - Industry Coworking
Industry is a shared office
environment designed for creatives,
technology professionals, freelancers,
small businesses and other
independent workers. Our space
offers both private offices as well as
flexible workspaces for people to get
out of their home office or the coffee
shop, and plug into a dynamic
community of people.
11. Coworking- Ventureprise
Name - Devin Collins Email - contact@ventureprise.org
Website - Ventureprise Twitter - @Ventureprise1 Phone - 704-687-0900
Ventureprise is a broad-based hands-on strategic effort to help
startups and early stage companies row.
12. Growth Help Resources- The Charlotte
Entrepreneurial Alliance
Email - droselli@packardplace.us
The Charlotte Entrepreneurial
Alliance is a collection of
entrepreneurs, investors, advocates,
city leaders and community leaders
who pursue the growth of high-
growth entrepreneurship in the
Charlotte region.
13. Growth Help Resources- Big Council
Name - Terry Cox Website - Big Council
Email - terry@bigcouncil.com Twitter - @bigcouncil
Phone - 704-927-8064
Business Innovation Growth Council
(Big Council) is a non-profit member
based organization to support high
growth, fast growth entrepreneurial
companies by providing best practices
for fast growth, peer to peer learning,
and connectivity and resources for
successful growth.
14. Growth Help Resources- Entrepreneur
Organization
Twitter - EO Charlotte Facebook - EO Charlotte
The Charlotte chapter of Entrepreneurs’ Organization, EO Charlotte, and part
of an amazing EO community of more than 8,000 entrepreneurs worldwide,
operating 121 chapters in more than 40 countries around the globe all of
whom run companies that exceed $1 Million in revenue. Entrepreneurs’
Organization members come from all walks of life, and member companies
span a huge range of businesses.
15. Growth Help Resources- Blackstone EN
Name- Sheryl Waddell Email - sheryl.waddell@blackstoneen.org
Phone - 610-573-3211 Website - Blackstone EN
Twitter - @BlackstoneNC
Blackstone Entrepreneurs Network help identify marketable
innovations out of area universities and regional startups with the
greatest potential to become high-growth companies
16. Growth Help Resources- Queen City Forward
Name - Charles Thomas Email - ctthomas@queencityforward.org
Phone - 704-975-5384 Website - Queen City Forward
Twitter - @QCForward Facebook - Queen City Forward
The mission is to unleash the potential of high-growth, high impact
social entrepreneurs in Charlotte to create sustained economic and
social impact that spurs economic development, improves the lives of
citizens, and drives a new model of sustainable growth.
17. Growth Help Resources- HQ Charlotte at
Packard Place
Email- info@hq.community
Website - hq.community
Twitter - @HQ_Community
Facebook - HQ Community
HQ Charlotte at Packard Place is
the hub for entrepreneurship
and innovation in Charlotte and
state-wide across the Carolinas’.
Our mission is to foster inclusive
communities of entrepreneurs
who create lasting economic and
social impact.
19. Accelerators and Incubators- CLT Joules
Name - Bob Irving Email - info@cltjoules.com
Website - CLT Joules Twitter - @CLTJoules
CLT Joules is an initiative to promote
energy innovation and startups among
the entrepreneurial community in
Charlotte. With the establishment of CLT
Joules as Charlotte’s first business
community for energy, early stage
energy companies have a community
where they can learn, accelerate growth,
and connect to the big players in the
energy ecosystem of Charlotte.
20. Accelerators and Incubators- The City Startup
Labs
Contact - Henry Rock Email - henry.rock@citystartuplabs.com
Phone - 704-807-3000 Facebook - City Startup Labs
Website - City Startup Labs Twitter - @CityStartupLabs
The City Startup Labs ~ Entrepreneurs Academy conducts a 15-week
boot camp where young adult African American men learn how to
research, plan, launch and operate their own ventures.
21. Accelerators and Incubators- QC FinTech
Website - QC FinTech
Twitter - @PackardPlaceCLT
Facebook - Packard Place
3 month boot-camp style program
focused on identifying and
accelerating growth of early-stage
companies focused on driving
disruptive and innovative emerging
technologies. The program is designed
to bring together building blocks
needed to foster and accelerate
growth including mentorship, access
to capital, and guidance on industry
trends and innovation needs of leading
companies.
22. Accelerators and Incubators- Impact3
Name - Tori Karlek, Community Manger Email - tkarlek@queencityforward.org
Phone - 704-975-5384 Website - Impact3
Twitter - @QCForward Facebook - Queen City Forward
Impact3 is a social innovation accelerator dedicated to launching and
scaling high-impact, high-growth startups that have a social mission as
part of their core value.
23. Accelerators and Incubators- Impact U
Name - Tori Karlek, Community Manger Email - tkarlek@queencityforward.org
Phone - 704-975-5384 Website - Impact3
Twitter - @QCForward Facebook - Queen City Forward
ImpactU is an accelerator program for aspiring college-age
entrepreneurs seeking to launch or scale an innovative startup.
24. Education Resources- CPCC SBC
Phone - 704-330-6736 Website - CPPC SBC
Twitter - @CPCC Facebook - CPCC-SBC
The Small Business Center at CPCC supports those seeking to launch or
grow a business by providing free and affordable tuition-based
training, no cost counseling and an open-access business resource
library.
25. Education Resources- Davidson College IE
Website - Davidson College IE Twitter - @DavidsonEntre
Facebook - Davidson College
A campus-wide collaborative
project, the Entrepreneurship
Initiative is designed to inspire,
connect, and support an engaged
community of entrepreneurs.
26. Education Resources- Johnson C Smith U.
Email - abrown3@jcsu.edu Phone - 704-378-1000 Facebook - JCSU
Website - Johnson C Smith University Twitter - @JCSUniveristy
We are a private liberal arts
university with proud HBCU
traditions and a future aimed at
diversity. We enroll approximately
1,600 highly talented and
motivated students from various
backgrounds. Our faculty and staff
members are equally as unique
coming from all over the world
27. Education Resources- Queens University
Phone - 704-337-2200 Website - Queens University
Twitter - @Quens Univ Facebook - Queens University
What began as a small college for
women in 1857 has evolved into a
co-ed, comprehensive, master’s-
level university with a commitment
to liberal arts and professional
studies. Today, Queens University of
Charlotte serves approximately
2,7000 undergraduate and graduate
students through its six accredited
schools.
28. Education Resources- UNC - Charlotte
Email - marketing@uncc.edu Phone - 704-687-8622
Website - UNC-Charlotte Twitter- @UNCCharlotte
Facebook - UNC Charlotte
UNC Charlotte is Charlotte’s urban
research university. UNCC is
among the fastest growing
universities in the UNC System.
29. Technology Organizations- CRTEC
Email - membership@crtec.us Website - CRTEC
Facebook- CRTEC Twitter - @CRTECUS
Charlotte Regional Technology
Executives Council (CRTEC) is an
organization dedicated to the
continuous education for its members
and the economic development of
technology companies in the Charlotte
region. The council resources are
primarily volunteers comprised of
executive level technology leaders in
this region. CRTEC is recognized as a
501(c)(6) non-profit organization.
30. Technology Organizations- NCTA
Website - NCTA Twitter - @NCTA Facebook - NCTA
North Carolina Technology
Association (NCTA) is the statewide
membership association for the tech
sector. Because technology is
integral to any enterprise regardless
of size or function, NCTA
membership is open to all
companies, organizations and
institutions. NCTA serves
organizations and their people
through events, advocacy, virtual
networks and resources.
31. Major Tech + Community Events- The Iron Yard
Email - charlotte@ironyard.com Website- The Iron Yard
Address: 222 S. Church St., Charlotte, NC 28202 Phone - 828-705-1005
The Iron yard exists to create real, lasting
change for people, companies and
communities through technology
education. Our resources provide a
solution at the juncture of supply,
demand, business and a broken education
system. We are committed to training the
highest-quality technology professionals
in the world, both in skill and in character.
32. Technology Organizations- Tech Talent
South
Website - Tech Talent South
Facebook - Tech Talent South
Twitter - @TechTalentSouth
Tech Talent South is a national
organization with many sites in
Georgia and North Carolina that
delivers web development
programming to participants.
34. Investment Sources- Bull City Venture Partners
Name - Jason Caplan Email - jason@bcvp.com
Website - BCVP Twitter - @BCVP
Bull City Venture Partners is a venture capital firm investing $250k to
$2 million in Software and Internet Companies. Our focus is on the very
best entrepreneurs.
35. Investment Sources- Charlotte Angel Fund
Name - Greg Brown - Cardinal Finance Email - gbrown@cardinalfinance.net
Phone - 980-307-0754 Website - Charlotte Angel Fund
Charlotte Angel Fund is a member-driven angel investment fund
designed to make investments in early stage high growth companies.
Emphasis will be placed upon North Carolina companies, particularly
based in the Charlotte area.
36. Investment Sources- Idea Fund Partners
Email - info@ideafundpartners.com Phone - 919-808-4000
Website - Idea Fund Partners Twitter - @IdeaFund
Facebook - Idea Fund Partners
IDEA Fund Partners is one of the most active seed and early stage venture
investors in NC and throughout the Southeast. We typically provide the first
institutional money for the companies in which we invest. We like to make
small initial investments and set aside plenty of follow-on capital for future
rounds.
37. Investment Sources- Innovation Fund NC
Name - Tony Mifsud Email - tony@ifundnc.org
Phone - 828-327-7000 Website - Innovation Fund NC
A statewide initiative, Innovation Fund North Carolina, is directed by
Catawba Valley Community College engaging in a deliberate network of
higher education institutions, private and public incubators and
accelerators, private investors, and private and public economic
development organizations.
38. Investment Sources- NC IDEA
Email - grants@ncidea.org Phone - 919-941-5600
Website - NC IDEA
NC IDEA is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization created to serve as a
catalyst for young, high-growth, technology companies in North
Carolina. We help these innovative compaies mainly by providing
early financing in the form of grants.
39. Business Competitions- Charlotte Venture
Challenge
Name - Devin Collins Email - devin.collins@uncc.edu Facebook - Charlotte Venture Challenge
Phone - 704-250-5753 Twitter - @CLTVC Website - Charlotte Venture Challenge
The Charlotte Venture Challenge is a start-up competition for early-stage high
growth companies. The competition has a history of producing and showcasing
some of the Southeast’s most successful early-stage companies. In 2012, 117 start-
up companies entered the competition for the change to win over $113,000 in
prize money.
40. Business Competitions- Seed 20
Name - Susan Daniel Phone - 704-442-7060 Website - Seed20
Twitter - @SEED20CLT Facebook - Seed20
In an effort to support social
entrepreneurs tackling some of the
area’s toughest problems and to
contribute to the innovative, vibrant
culture in the Charlotte region,
Social Venture Partners has
developed the annual SEED 20
program. We discover, spotlight, and
support the Charlotte’s region’s
inspiring change-makers
42. Online News Resources- Charlotte Business
Journal
Website - Charlotte Business Journal Twitter - @CBJBankNews
Facebook - Charlotte Business Journal
The Charlotte Business Journal is
the region’s leading source of
business news and information.
43. Online News Resources- The Charlotte Observer
Website - The Charlotte Observer Twitter - @theObserver
Facebook - The Charlotte Observer
CharlotteObserver.com originally launched as Charlotte.com in 1996,
and today is the Carolinas’ most visited news and information website.
We are the online version of The Charlotte Observer, sharing content
with McClatchy affiliates and our interactive partner WCNC.com.
44. Online News Resources- Charlotte Agenda
Name - Ted Williams Email - ted@charlotteagenda.com
Twitter @CharlotteAgenda
Charlotte Agenda exists to make
Charlotte the smartest, most
human city in the world. We
publish 5-10 stories a day on a
website and send a handcrafted
newsletter each morning at
6:30am. We also do original
reporting straight to Instagram,
Twitter, Facebook, and Snapchat.
45. Major Tech + Community Events- Pitch Breakfast
Contact - Jim Van Fleet Email - jim@startcharlotte.com
Website - Start Charlotte Twitter - @PitchBreakfast
Your best opportunities can come
when you least expect it. Will you
be ready? THE Pitch Practice
event for startups and
entrepreneurs.
46. Major Tech + Community Events- Charlotte
Startup Weekend
Email - charlotte@startupweekend.org Website - Charlotte Startup Weekend
Twitter - @StartupWkndCLT Facebook - Charlotte Startup Weekend
Startup Weekend is a global grassroots movement of active and empowered
entrepreneurs who are learning the basics of founding startups and launching
successful ventures. It is the largest community of passionate entrepreneurs with
over 400 past events in 100 countries around the world in 2011.
47. Major Tech + Community Events- Blend
Conference
Name - Bermon Painter Email - Hello@blendconf.com
Website - Blend Conference Twitter- @BlendConf
Facebook - Blend Conference
A generalist conference featuring
50 diverse speakers sharing ideas
and conversations about user
experience, design, and web
development.
48. Major Tech + Community Events- Ignite Charlotte
Email - info@ignitecharlotte.org Phone - 980-202-3310
Website - Ignite Charlotte Twitter - @IgniteCharlotte
Facebook - Ignite Charlotte
“Enlighten us, but make it quick”
is the mantra and key to Ignite
talks. This truly fun, exciting and
unique presentation format brings
together community members
involved in technology, arts,
communications, education, non-
profit, the government sector,
and more.
49. Major Tech + Community Events- Startup Grind
Name - Jeff Brokaw Website - Startup Grind
A global startup community designed to educate, inspire, and
connect entrepreneurs.
50. Major Tech + Community Events- TEDxCharlotte
Email - info@tedxcharlotte.com Website - TEDxCharlotte
Twitter - @TEDxCharlotte Facebook - TEDxCharlotte
TEDx is a program of local, self-
organized events that bring people
together to share a TED-like
experience. Our event is called
TEDxCharlotte, where
x=independently organized TED
event. At our TEDxCharlotte event,
TEDTalks video and live speakers will
combine to spark deep discussion
and connection in a small group.
51. Development Providers- Binary Ventures
Contact - Contact Website - Binary Ventures Facebook - Binary Ventures
Binary Ventures’ broad range of
services--together with our strong
emphasis on creativity,
technological innovation and
sound business consultation--
helps our clients navigate a
daunting digital marketplace and
ultimately reach their dream
destination.
52. Development Providers- Edison Nation
Contact - questions@edisonnation.com Website - Edison Nation
Facebook - Edison Nation Twitter - Edison Nation
Our targeted approach to product development and licensing sets us
apart from everybody else. Our dedicated teams use proven strategies
to commercialize your product idea whether it’s the next big consumer
trend, the season’s top “As Seen on TV” hit or a groundbreaking
medical device.
53. Development Providers- RevTech Labs
Website - RevTech Labs Facebook - Packard Place
Twitter - @PackardPlaceCLT
The three-month program focuses on early-stage mobile, software and
web companies. RevTech Labs provides free work space, mentorship
and programming all geared toward revolutionary technology startups.
