This year was a big one for so many startups across the Charlotte region. Through major capital raises, acquisitions, national television appearances and product launches, the Queen City’s entrepreneurial ecosystem has stayed busy.
Charlotte Inno has taken a look back at which companies we believe are poised to have a breakout year in 2022. Some may be more established and in a position for that big moment, while others may be fresh and new with upward momentum.
We considered a variety of factors while compiling the list — how quickly a startup has scaled, representation or success in local and national pitch competitions and accelerator programs, a significant funding round or grant, or a solution for an important problem.
Let’s meet Charlotte Inno’s Startups to Watch in 2022.
HA!
Originally founded as Macro Snacks, healthy alternative snack food startup HA! has spent 2021 evolving. Justin Wiesehan launched the company in 2017 but rebranded this year after deciding, through participating in the SKU Accelerator program, that he wanted to appeal to a larger audience. The new name, website and packaging launched in May and began selling on Amazon.com soon after. The protein-rich crisps come in seven flavors and are gluten free.
Just Her Rideshare
Just Her Rideshare, founded in 2019 by Kimberly Evans, is a Charlotte-based ride-share platform for women, by women. The platform is currently acquiring drivers and is scheduled to launch this month. It is designed to give women peace of mind that other, similar services might not. Most recently, the startup won a $5,000 microgrant through Innovate Charlotte’s Ignite Pitch Competition.
UnbelievaBuns
Founded in 2019 by Jerrod Adkins, UnbelievaBuns is a low-carb, high-protein sandwich bun that is similar in taste and texture to a wheat bun. The startup gained momentum this year after inking a deal with national food-service distribution company Sysco, which is helping with scale and moving product into restaurants across the country. In September, the company also launched retail-ready packaging. UnbelievaBuns is available locally at health-food shops, bars and restaurants throughout the city, including Legion Brewing SouthPark, Rhino Market, Fahrenheit, Hickory Tavern and Berrybrook Farms.
Jayla’s Heirlooms
Founded by Nicole Hawthorne and her 5-year-old daughter, Jayla, in 2020, Jayla’s Heirlooms sells handcrafted linen dolls that reflect the natural beauty Hawthorne wants her own daughter to see in herself. Earlier this year, Hawthorne won a $10,000 NC IDEA micro grant for the startup and was accepted into the Amazon Black Business Accelerator program. Jayla’s Heirlooms recently launched the Keyona Heirloom Doll on Amazon.com as a part of the partnership.
Anduin
Anduin was founded in late 2020 by Pat Morrell, Justin Adams, Tanner Fritz, Ellen Choi and Chris Furlong. It is an artificial-intelligence platform that automates and improves accounts receivable for accounting and consulting firms. Since its launch, the startup has been heads down, serving its customers and bringing the platform to market. The venture raised a $14 million seed round over the summer to give it the runway it needs to work toward a long-term expansion project.
Unbanked
Local fintech startup Unbanked, co-founded by Ian Kane and Daniel Goulding, launched this year and quickly gained traction among users. The platform gives users the ability to democratize cryptocurrency through Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.-backed bank accounts and debit cards. Most recently, Unbanked announced it would be issuing 10,000 unique digital collectibles on the Ethereum blockchain, which will be made available to the public through an auction later this month. The NFT artwork was created artist Antoine Mingo.
Boomerang Water
Boomerang Water, founded in 2020 by Jason Dibble, is a Davidson-based bottling and delivery service. It sanitizes, fills and caps sustainable and reusable glass and aluminum bottles with ultra-pure water. The startup offers on-site bottling for commercial businesses like hotels, universities, office buildings, hospitals and mining camps as well as subscription delivery options for small businesses, families and individuals. The company is currently working on fundraising and expansion plans that will bring its manufacturing in house and extend its service reach.
TheMagic5
Charlotte-based TheMagic5 is a 2021 “Shark Tank” alum that stepped on stage with a pitch and left with an investment. Mark Cuban and Robert Herjavec agreed to each invest $500,000 for a 3.25% stake in the company. The startup, founded in 2017 by Rasmus Barfred, Bo Haaber and Niklas Hedegaard, uses specialized software that scans an individual’s face. Based on the scan, swim goggles are created to perfectly fit the curvature line of the customer’s eyes. The national spotlight helped boost sales, which the co-founders expect will propel the company into next year and beyond.
Sheets Laundry Club
Sheets Laundry Club is a local startup that struck a deal on ABC’s “Shark Tank.” The Mooresville-based startup, founded in 2019 by Chris Videau and Chris Campbell, provides eco-friendly, plastic-free laundry products. It appeared on the show in late November and walked away with a investment of $500,000 for 8% equity and 2% board advisory shares from KIND founder Daniel Lubetzky. Sheets Laundry Club plans to use those funds to expand the team and work on new product innovation for 2022.
ETHIX360
ETHIX360, founded in 2017 by J Rollins and Bob Latchford, is headed into 2022 with serious momentum. The startup provides comprehensive solutions for employee ethics communication, case management, compliance training and policy management. It raised a $3 million Series A funding round in April and launched a cloud-based policy management platform in September.
