2020 was the inaugural year of Charlotte Innovation Week - a week of celebrating Charlotte's state of innovation. This week serves as a time to be introspective and forward-thinking. Startups, innovators, non-profits, corporate innovation alike take part in this week to show what the Queen City has to offer. We believe that bridging the innovation gap helps cross that river of uncertainty for startups and progress. There's a reason why we're stronger together – creating communities keeps us accountable, and builds better businesses.
Charlotte Innovation Week featured 15 different events, went from 4 days to a full 5, and with attendees staying the full week in Charlotte from the Triangle, Atlanta, Nashville, New York, Silicon Valley, and more.
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Role - Director
Timeline - October 1, 2019 - January 30, 2020
Launch - January 20-24, 2020
Location - Charlotte, NC
When you see this , you can see inside this event.
INAUGURAL CELEBRATION OF OUR STATE OF INNOVATION
CHARLOTTE INNOVATION WEEK
JANUARY 20-24, 2020
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THE CHALLENGE
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Before moving to Charlotte, I spent 5 days visiting to get a feel of the city and what it has to offer. I found that each time I reached out to different players in the startup world, each person referred me to the same 5 people. Charlotte's entrepreneurial community is scattered. Charlotte Innovation Week was created to combine the innovation efforts in a creative, all-hands-on-deck kind of way. Seed the South and Charlotte Inno's Inno on Fire were already happening the same week, so it was natural to call upon other organizations to participate.
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As the Director of Seed the South, I fell into the catch-all role of Director of Charlotte Innovation Week, supported by Sam Smith, Juan Garzón, and the entire city.
MISSION​
To progress the state of innovation within Charlotte, we're bringing all of Charlotte's innovators together – investors, entrepreneurs, and those who support them – to close the gap between our efforts and move forward collaboratively.
PROGRAMMING
THIS IS CHARLOTTE'S INAUGURAL YEAR. #CLTINNOVATIONWEEK
WORK​
EVENT COORDINATION &
CONFERENCE PLANNING
SPONSORSHIP
PARTNERSHIPS (HOTEL, VENUE, ETC.)
VENDORS
CONFERENCE BOOKLET
ON-SITE SUPPORT
WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT
CONTENT CREATION
SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGEMENT
MARKETING (SOUTHEAST + MAJOR CITIES)
PRESS
FROM OUR ATTENDEES
Scott Pope – CEO, ROAMD & Chief Growth Officer, In Scope Ventures
Angela Yochem – EVP, Chief Digital & Technology Officer, Novant Health
HIGHLIGHTS​
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Diversity and inclusion was at the forefront of every conversation.
Each event (and every Seed The South panel) went without a hitch!
The first CIW was a complete success, if I do say so myself. And I do.
TAKEAWAYS​
Charlotte is one of the kindest, most supportive cities out there for founders.
The hustle of the Northeast, the hospitality of the South.
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Imposter syndrome is real, and it's not.