Local organizations are calling on Charlotte-area founders and leaders of high-growth ventures to participate in the first step of a study to look closer at the state of the region's startup scene.
Innovate Charlotte, the city of Charlotte's Economic Development Department and UNC Charlotte have partnered to conduct the Startup Funding and Outlook Survey, which launches today. Participants' responses will help the region "better understand the funding landscape and economic impact of the entrepreneurial ecosystem," Innovate Charlotte said.
Juan Garzón, managing director of Innovate Charlotte and head of innovation and entrepreneurship efforts for the city, emphasized that individual data from the survey will be kept confidential, with collected information published only as an aggregate summary.
Survey findings, such as an assessment of economic metrics comparing Charlotte and peer regions, will be included in the Charlotte Startup Ecosystem Report anticipated to publish in early 2024.
"My hope is that the report will help inform local economic development initiatives and identify areas of need or opportunity to grow the Charlotte region as a hub for innovation," Garzón told CBJ.
That report is funded by the city of Charlotte and Innovate Charlotte, a nonprofit organization working to boost entrepreneurial success locally. The study will look at shifts since the similar 2016 Charlotte Entrepreneurial Growth Report, which was a first of its kind on the local entrepreneurial community. That report at the time revealed there was still much work to be done to create a startup community that resembles Atlanta’s or the Research Triangle’s ecosystem.
"Much has changed since the 2016 study of the entrepreneurial ecosystem," Garzón said. "A global pandemic, changes in the economy, the growth of AI — all these and more have resulted in dramatic shifts of entrepreneurial innovation, both in Charlotte and across the globe. An update to that data is essential to better inform efforts to grow and improve it."
Greg Brown, administrator for the Charlotte Angel Fund, said it is vital that founders participate in the survey as it is the "required starting point for effective efforts to advance" the local entrepreneurial ecosystem.
"That assessment needs to include perspective from all the constituent groups," he said. "It is imperative that founders participate in this process, for their own benefit and that of the founders who will follow them."
Keith Luedeman, founder of Goodmortgage.com and Innovate Charlotte board chair, also encourages local entrepreneurial leaders to take part in the survey to bolster the region's startup initiatives.
"Charlotte has a large and thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem that is beginning to get the recognition it deserves," he said. "Your responses and the subsequent final report will offer unique insights into the challenges and opportunities our community has in starting, growing and attracting innovation-driven businesses. By helping us recognize what you need, you will allow us to focus city and state resources to smooth the path for your success."
