Earlier this summer, Inno chose 50 startups, tech firms and organizations throughout the Charlotte region for its annual Fire Awards list. On Wednesday, we celebrated those honorees for the ways in which they've shaped the innovation ecosystem over the last 12 months.
The virtual event kicked off with a panel discussion with four of this year's honorees:
- Kevin Conway, co-Founder of Phoozy
- Betsy Mack, senior director of social responsibility and executive director for the Charlotte Hornets Foundation
- Kendrick Carroll, president and CEO of BSI Solutions
- Juan Garzon, executive director of PitchBreakfast
We talked about the future of innovation in Charlotte and how each have navigated challenges and found success. We heard about their plans for 2022, as well as their visions for the city's startup economy moving forward. Scroll to the bottom of this post to watch the full discussion.
Following the panel was a founder showcase where honorees — Abby's Better founder Abby Kircher, RealResponse founder David Chadwick and Grocery Shopii founder Katie Hotze — had the opportunity to pitch their startups to the audience.
We also revealed the "Blazer" in each award category. They were voted on by a group of judges made up by our editorial staff, past Fire honorees and local ecosystem leaders. None of the judges appeared on this year's list.
Here are the "Blazers" for 2021:
Catalyst
Charlotte Hornets Foundation: In early 2021, the Charlotte Hornets Foundation launched its Innovation Summit initiative aimed at giving minority entrepreneurs opportunity and access to social and financial capital. The summit was part of a larger social justice initiative the foundation launched late last year.
Community Builder
City Startup Labs: Henry Rock, founder and executive director of City Startup Labs, created the organization in 2014 to share valuable education tools and resources with Black millennial founders. Earlier this year, it acquired local tech organization BLKTECHCLT and helped launch the Inclusive Innovation Leadership Academy in partnership with UNCC Ventureprise.
Education
Smart Girls HQ: The startup was founded in 2018 by Abi Olukeye to help bridge the gender and resource gap for young girls in science, tech, engineering and math fields. Smart Girls won a $10,000 NC IDEA Micro Grant in 2020 and a $50,000 NC IDEA Seed Grant in May. In March, Smart Girls received a $256,000 grant through the National Science Foundation's Small Business Innovation Research program to help build and launch a STEM-focused digital platform.
Fintech
Amicus.io: Founded in 2017 by Cor Hoekstra and Walt Ruloff, Amicus.io's platform merges technology with charitable giving. In November, shortly after launching its platform, the fintech startup announced an $8.7 million capital raise. Amicus.io has raised a total of $17.5 million.
Health Tech/MedTech
Carewell: Co-founded in 2015 by Jonathan Magolnick and Bianca Padilla, Carewell is an e-commerce platform designed to improve the lives of family caregivers. The startup raised a $5 million seed round in September and closed a $25 million capital funding in May.
Software & Innovation (up to five years old)
Phoozy: Co-founded in 2017 by Kevin Conway and Josh Inglis, Phoozy manufactures thermal capsules that prevent handheld electronics from overheating in the sun and prolong battery life in extreme cold. In April, the founders appeared on "Shark Tank," where they accepted a joint investment offer of $500,000 for an 8% stake in the company from Lori Greiner and Robert Herjavec.
Software & Innovation (more than five years old)
Ekos: Co-founded in 2014 by Josh McKinney and Greg Forehand, Ekos provides business management software to breweries, wineries, cideries and other independent makers. In March, the company launched a new platform called Craftlab after customers began reaching out for advice and guidance on navigating business during the pandemic. Ekos represents more than 1,500 breweries across the U.S. and about 50% of all breweries in North Carolina.
Missed our live discussion and Blazer reveal? Don’t worry; We've got you.
