The city of Charlotte often is cited as a leading city for startup ventures, and UNC Charlotte is playing a key role in supporting innovation and entrepreneurship. This year’s Charlotte Venture Challenge and Innovation Virtual Summit, scheduled for Tuesday, April 20, is an opportunity to learn more about UNC Charlotte research startups and their founders, student business and social entrepreneurs and new technologies available for license.
The 2021 Charlotte Venture Challenge and Innovation Virtual Summit will consist of four panel discussions starting at 2 p.m. Register to attend. At 4 p.m., attendees will have an opportunity to participate in a question-and-answer session with panelists via virtual breakout rooms.
"The virtual summit is a comprehensive showcase of innovative ideas, research and technologies coming out of Ventureprise programs. We will highlight new student, faculty and community entrepreneurial ventures seeking resources to grow their companies. We will also introduce UNC Charlotte technologies that are available for license into a startup company. We are showcasing innovators and entrepreneurs to rally support for these ventures and connect with the entrepreneurial, corporate and investment community," said Devin Collins, director of Ventureprise.
The first panel, UNC Charlotte Student Entrepreneurs Showcase: Meet the Student Innovators, will feature the student winners of the 49er Impact Pitch Competition.
Brad Fach, assistant director of Office of Research Commercialization and Development, will lead the panel discussion Tech Transfer: UNC Charlotte Technologies Available for License and Commercialization.
The panel NSF I-Corps: Innovative Research-Based Technology Innovators will feature faculty members from the UNC Charlotte College of Arts + Architecture who have completed the National Science Foundation's National I-Corps program, a six-week course focused on providing University innovators with commercialization advice, training and funding to identify potential customers.
The fourth discussion, Ventureprise Launch Summer Accelerator Showcase Powered by NC IDEA: Meet the Startups, will feature Charlotte Venture Challenge alumni who will participate in a summer labs program focused on business model development, pilot testing and data collection.