The 2015 Charlotte Venture Challenge is here! The competition attracts start-ups from throughout the southeast to compete for the attention of investors and large corporate customers. The goal of the competition is to accelerate the growth of new technologies by exposing the innovators to corporate venture and innovation executives, early-stage equity investors and entrepreneur mentors. We also provide cash prizes!

Investors vs. Corporate Innovation Executive Finals Showdown March 31 2015 – The competition finals will pit investors (Angel and Venture Capital) versus Corporate (Technology Scouts, Innovation Execs, and Corporate Venturing Executives) to choose the winners of the competition.

Past Corporate participants include corporate tech scouts, innovation executives, and venture development executives at Lowes Inc., Electrolux Inc., Wells Fargo Inc., Belk Inc., Duke Energy Inc., MasterCard Inc., Husqvarna Inc., Ingersoll Rand Inc., SPX Inc., Bank of America Inc., Microsoft Inc., Flextronics Inc., Midrex Inc., Areva Inc., Carolina Healthcare Systems, and many others.

Past investor groups include Grotech Ventures, Idea Fund Partners, Bull City Venture Partners, Noro-Moseley Partners, Sunbridge Partners, T2VC, Hatteras Venture Partners, 8 Rivers Capital, Upstate Angels, IMAF West, Blue Ridge Angel Network, NJ Angels, 460 Angels, Wilmington Angel Network, IMAF Charlotte, IMAF Cape Fear, Virginia Angel Network, Angel Capital Group, Piedmont Angel Network,  and many others.

Schedule of Events: 

• February 3 at Ventureprise (Portal Building) from 5:30pm to 8pm  – Workshop to inform, educate and connect entrepreneurs. The workshops are not mandatory to enter the competition but are an excellent resource  for competitors to develop their application and prepare for the finals.
• February 10 at Ventureprise (Portal Building) from 5:30pm to 8pm  – Workshop to inform, educate and connect entrepreneurs. The workshops are not mandatory to enter the competition but are an excellent resource  for competitors to develop their application and prepare for the finals.
• March 3 Applications Due by Noon – Please visit the Apply Page for more information.  The initial applications are reviewed and scored by industry experts and past CVC Alumni winners to determine the finalists to present on March 31, 2015.
• March 24 at Ventureprise (Portal Building) from 5:30pm to 8pm – Finalist workshop and info session.
• March 31 – April 1st – Charlotte Venture Challenge Finals and Southeast Venture Conference

More information and application available here.