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 chance to win over $113,000 in prize money.
The competition supplies resources, recognition and connections to competitors as they advance through 4 rounds of competition. The competition includes a series of five workshops to prepare teams for the various rounds of competition. Over the course of three months, participants will learn about opportunity assessments, receive mentoring and connect with other entrepreneurs. During the final two rounds of competition the finalists present to Angel Investor and Venture Capitalists.
2012 Highlights
The 2012 Charlotte Venture Challenge is the premiere start-up competition in the Southeast. The competition accelerates the commercialization of technologies coming out of UNC Charlotte and number of other Southeastern Universities as well as other promising early-stage innovative companies. The competition took place between January 2012 and April 2012. The competition produced the following highlights:
- 117 Applications from the Carolinas, Virginia and Tennessee
- 4 Rounds of Competition and Diligence
- 5 Entrepreneur Education Workshops
- 40 Semi-finalists
- 18 Finalists
- 62 Mentors Assigned to Finalists
- 15-20hrs of Time Volunteered Per Mentor (2012 Survey)
- 120+ Volunteer Judges (Mentors, Angel Investors, Competition Alumni)
- 13 Venture Capital and Angel Groups Involved
- 300+ Attendees at the Nascar Hall of Fame Grand Finale
- $113,500 in Cash Prizes including $50k Grand Prize
- CVC Successes
For more information, contact Devin Collins, Assistant Director Business and Entrepreneurial Development at Charlotte Research Institute
Email: Devin.Collins@uncc.edu | Phone: (704) 250-5753
