Innovate Charlotte will once again host its days-long event spotlighting entrepreneurial organizations and resources across the Queen City.
Charlotte Innovation Week is scheduled for May 15-19 at various locations, such as Tabbris, RevTech Labs, The Hurt Hub@Davidson and Heist Brewery. Similar to last year, it will feature an innovation summit and talent-focused pitching segment. CIW is organized by Innovate Charlotte in collaboration with the city.
Additional hosts of CIW include RevTech Labs, Charlotte Angel Fund, LaunchCLT, VentureSouth Charlotte, and the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at UNC Charlotte. More participants are expected to join.
CIW aims to bring together founders and investors to support and promote innovation across various industries. Since its launch in 2020, the event has evolved to serve the integral needs of the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Juan Garzón, managing director at Innovate Charlotte, said CIW will "create the collisions" the local startup ecosystem needs to thrive.
"As the Charlotte entrepreneurial community grows and evolves, new organizations and initiatives come onto the scene that could have an impact on entrepreneurs that take advantage of them,” he said.
The idea for CIW started as combining a group of events — PitchBreakfast, the Inno on Fire Awards and local entrepreneur Sam Smith's Seed the South program, CBJ previously reported. Garzón said then he was looking for a way to highlight the corporate side of innovation.
CIW currently features 10 events with more to be added to the calendar. Segments of the agenda include an intro to the Charlotte startup community, a RevTech Labs alumni showcase, an ecosystem summit and a Talent Jam pitch event that will offer employment connections. There will also be a cohort-based program, which equips aspiring entrepreneurs with resources, insights and valuable connections.
Attendees will have the opportunity to discover more about Charlotte's entrepreneurial ecosystem, such as tapping into the local health-tech community or learning more about angel investing.
Last year's CIW featured the innovation summit, which attracted more than 200 attendees from the entrepreneurial, corporate innovation and civic leadership communities, Innovate Charlotte said.
Garzón expects this year's CIW to draw 250 attendees. It will include more smaller events rather than a strong focus on the summit.
Garzón previously told CBJ he aims to keep the event going annually, as it connects the community with young tech professionals and shows them the opportunities that are available.
"Whether you are just getting started in entrepreneurship or are looking for a specific resource, there’s something for everyone at this year’s Charlotte Innovation Week,” Garzón said.
Those interested in CIW should reach out to Innovate Charlotte for registration.
