Charlotte Venture Challenge narrows field to 30 finalists

March 24, 2015
Categories: General News Tags: Academic Affairs

On Tuesday, March 31, the Charlotte Venture Challenge (CVC) will showcase 30 finalists selected from more than 110 startups to vie for cash awards and the opportunity to be introduced to investors, corporate executives and the business community.

This year’s CVC is being held in partnership with the Southeast Venture Conference (SVC), which is expected to draw 600-plus investors and Fortune 500 innovation executives. Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple, and Scott Kupor, managing partner of Andreessen Horowitz, are scheduled to speak at the SVC.

“The Charlotte Venture Challenge continues to attract innovative early-stage companies,” said Devin Collins, assistant director, Charlotte Research Institute. “We are excited to connect these companies with the investors at the Southeast Venture Conference.”

The Charlotte Venture Challenge Finals will be held at Le Meridien. It is open to the public; registration is required. The 30 finalists will pitch and take questions from judging panels made up of investors and potential early corporate customers for a chance to win cash prizes.

Competition categories for the 2015 Charlotte Venture Challenge are general, health IT and biotechnology, IT and informatics, new energy and high technology and student ventures.

Finalists are:

  • General – SnapYeti (Raleigh), GuideOn (Whispering Pines), GivStream (Simpsonville, S.C.), Halo Smart Labs (Charlotte, Tiger Eye Sensor (Clayton), FotoSwipe (Raleigh)
  • Health IT and Biotechnology – dReiniger (Chapel Hill), StethoBarrier (Carrboro), Surgilum (Wilmington), Magna Solutions (Boone), Tarian Orthotics, (Mount Pleasant, S.C.)
  • IT and Informatics – Akili Software (Raleigh), BountyMiner (Chapel Hill), Quorum (Washington, D.C.), ShomoLive (Charlotte,, KWIPPED (Wilmington), DYME (Charlotte)
  • New Energy and High Technology – Verdante Bioenergy Services (Lenoir) General Graphene (Oak Ridge, Tenn.), EcoH20 Innovations (Charlotte), Bluecell Energy, (Research Triangle Park)
  • Student Ventures – SmartBrush (UNC Charlotte), The Citizen (Lenoir-Rhyne University), MYO’bility (Appalachian State University) TeacherLoop (NC State), RightOn (Pfeiffer University), Waterless Buddy’s, LLC (UNC Chapel Hill), CommuniGift (UNC Chapel Hill), SquaddD (Elon University), LoboStim (NC State)

Information on attending the Southeast Venture Conference is on the Web.