Join us for PitchBreakfast, the premier monthly event for startup founders to refine their pitches and connect with the entrepreneurial community. Our mission is to empower founders with actionable feedback from experienced investors and create opportunities for learning and networking.

Three startup founders will deliver a 6-minute pitch to our panel of seasoned investors. The panel will then ask clarifying questions and provide constructive feedback to support the founder and educate the community. Then the event opens for networking with the founders, investors, and the greater startup community.

Don't miss this change to grow your startup and make meaningful connections!

Gain an understanding of art as collateral, as an investment, and as a commodity; or consider an evolving career within the art industry. Join Jonathan Justice, Adjunct Instructor (Central Piedmont) and Chief Strategy Officer for Atelier 4, for an enlightening discussion around the intersection of aesthetics and commerce, answering the questions:
• How Do We Define Art?
• Is Art An Asset?
• How Do We Value Art?
• How Does Art Trade?

Before You Leap: Lessons Learned & Connections Made
Starting a business is exciting — but it comes with its share of surprises. Join us for an engaging workshop where a seasoned entrepreneur shares the lessons she wishes she’d known before launching her venture. Gain practical strategies to avoid common pitfalls, make smarter decisions, and build a foundation for lasting success.

You’ll also enjoy interactive networking designed to connect you with fellow entrepreneurs and business professionals — expanding your circle and sparking meaningful collaborations.

This event will be all about helping entrepreneurs Protect & Prosper. This will include a presentation on Intellectual Property by CLIMB and an Access to Capital presentation by Truist.

Artificial intelligence is transforming how we live and work — but innovation must come with accountability. Join industry leaders, researchers, and innovators for an inspiring event exploring what it means to build and deploy AI responsibly.

Most entrepreneurs know Process is important-but few know where to start or how to make it stick. In this hands-on workshop, you'll learn a simple, practical approach to building Processes that actually get used. Together we'll cut through the overwhelm, show you how to capture what matters most, and give you tools to align your team so accountability doesn't rest solely on your shoulders. You'll walk away with clarity, momentum, and a proven framework to finally get Process off the self and into action.

Presented by: EO Charlotte
Speakers: Elizabeth Yarbrough, Untangled and Roy Pelkey, EOS Worldwide

Join Fran Perez-Wilhite, with the North Carolina Military Business Center to learn more about federal contracting for small businesses.

To sell your products or services to the federal government, your small business must meet specific requirements. Although the contracting process can seem complicated and overwhelming at first, the government provides information and tips to help you learn to compete as a federal contractor in North Carolina.

Speaker(s): Fran Perez-Wilhite, MBA is Program Manager for Veteran-Owned Business Development with the NC Military Business Center in Charlotte, where she has served since 2006. A former U.S. Army Lieutenant, she sits on the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Advisory Committee on Veterans Business Affairs (#ACVBA) and Interagency Task Force. Fran is a Wake Forest MBA graduate and Norwich University alumna with over 25 years of leadership on local, state, and national boards.

Join the City of Charlotte’s Economic Development Department for an evening of connection and celebration during Charlotte Global Entrepreneurship Week 2025. This networking event brings together entrepreneurs, small business owners, and community partners to honor the spirit of innovation driving our city forward.

What to Expect:
🍴 Great Food: Complimentary hors d'oeuvres will be served
🍸 Cash Bar: Toast to the city’s entrepreneurs and innovators.
💬 Networking: Meet fellow founders, small business leaders, and ecosystem champions.
🌍 Global Connection: Celebrate alongside millions participating in GEW events worldwide.

Don’t miss this opportunity to connect, celebrate, and be inspired by Charlotte’s thriving entrepreneurial community.

Every scaling journey requires resources. This session will show you how to monitor and interpret the financial health of your business, while exploring funding options to support expansion. Whether you’re considering loans, investors, or alternative financing, you will gain clarity on how to fund your growth wisely.

This session is part of the What's Next series (five virtual and one in-person session) designed to help business owners reach the next stage of business growth. If you have customers, revenue, and a desire to grow — this is What’s Next!

Hosted by the Business Diversity and Inclusion division of Mecklenburg County’s Office of Economic Development.

This course will help you master Instagram marketing strategy, which will help you grow your business at a rapid pace and gain thousands of the right kind of followers. You will learn how to:

• Convert Instagram followers into paying customers
• Generate sales with Instagram Shopping & Instagram Checkout
• Secrets of hash tagging revealed
• Instagram Reels & Go Live on Instagram!!!!

Speaker(s): Nick Hawks, founder of 1-2 Teach You and winner of the eBay Education Specialist in Excellence Award, is a Top Rated Plus eBay Power Seller with over 25 years of online selling experience. He teaches how to sell successfully on eBay, Amazon, Facebook, and Etsy, build websites with Shopify or Wix, and find the perfect product to complete your sales funnel.

Your professional story is your brand — if you don’t tell it intentionally, others will tell it for you.

In this interactive 60-minute workshop, participants will learn how to design and communicate their professional brand with authenticity, strategy, and confidence.

They’ll discover how to:
✨ Present their story in a memorable way
🤝 Build a strong digital presence that opens doors
🗣️ Answer “Tell me about yourself” with impact

Gain easy access to the capital you need to grow your business, with financing options designed specifically for local small businesses. Our personalized approach gives you the financial support to expand, purchase equipment, and cover operating expenses.

With the Meck Lending program, we’re with you every step of the way—offering competitive rates, flexible terms, and personalized guidance. We want to see you succeed!
• As part of our commitment to empowering small businesses, we also offer opportunities to hear directly from fellow Meck Lending participants to share their personal stories.
• Hear firsthand how local entrepreneurs navigated the lending process, overcame challenges, and used financing to fuel their growth.

Descubra cómo aprovechar la inteligencia artificial para automatizar procesos, reducir costos y tomar decisiones más efectivas. Aprenda a integrar esta tecnología en sus operaciones diarias para llevar su negocio al siguiente nivel.

Temas a tratar:
✅ Automatización de tareas y procesos
✅ Reducción de costos operativos
✅ Toma de decisiones basada en datos
✅ Aplicaciones prácticas para pequeños negocios

The showcase aims to celebrate Global Entrepreneurship Week and the amazing work of entrepreneurs within the Davidson College student body, the surrounding community, and beyond.

What to Expect:
➕ Listen to and vote on the Davidson Entrepreneurship Club's Idea Sprint competition, where student entrepreneurs will present their innovative business concepts
➕ Learn about recent student and community ventures supported through the Hurt Hub’s programming and funding competitions
➕ Enjoy networking opportunities and refreshments throughout the event

Join us for an inspiring evening as high school innovators take the stage to pitch their bold business ideas! The JA Be Entrepreneurial Pitch Competition showcases the creativity, problem-solving, and entrepreneurial spirit of the next generation.

Students will present their ventures before a panel of judges made up of local business leaders, investors, and entrepreneurs—competing for recognition and prizes that could help turn their ideas into reality.

This event is a collaboration between Junior Achievement of Central Carolinas and UNC Charlotte’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, hosted at CO-LAB at UNC Charlotte Center City—a hub for innovation and community collaboration in the heart of Charlotte.

Catch the next generation of startups as they battle it out for prizes and resources.
• Witness captivating pitches from the Boost Pad cohort
• Network with fellow entrepreneurs and industry professionals
• Enjoy delicious food and refreshments throughout the event

The cohort will be competing for $5000 in startup currency resources as well as $500 for the best pitch DECK that didn't make it to the live event.

Únase a nosotros para un taller diseñado para ayudar a las pequeñas y medianas empresas en el área de Charlotte, NC, a fortalecer sus estrategias digitales. En esta sesión, aprenderá a:
• Desarrolla una sólida estrategia de marketing digital adaptada a tu negocio
• Analice a sus competidores y defina su ventaja competitiva única Identifique y optimice sus canales de venta para obtener el máximo impacto

Este taller práctico se llevará a cabo en español y es ideal para dueños de negocios, emprendedores y cualquier persona interesada en hacer crecer su pequeña empresa a través de un marketing efectivo

Join us in celebration of Global Entrepreneurship Week, where we will focus on how to use AI to your benefit in your small business. Learn to embrace AI rather than feel intimidated by it. We will discuss how it all starts with the right mindset. This event is free and open to all.

Special Presenters
• Kenneth Smith, AI Presenter and educator, Grace Mar Services
• DeMario McIlwain, leader in AI education and 4-time author on AI Accessibility

Join Mecklenburg Commissioner At Large Yvette Townsend-Ingram presented by RHC Workforce Solutions, Global Impact Industries & Canaan Selah X Group for a Powerful Economic Development Discussion

Be part of this transformative Global Entrepreneurship Week event bringing together influential leaders, business owners, and community stakeholders for an inspiring afternoon of dialogue, innovation, and collaboration.

Event Highlights:
• Keynote Speakers & Expert Panel Discussions
• Government & Institutional Partnerships
• Mecklenburg & NC Economic Development: Emerging Markets
• Workforce Development, Apprenticeships & Small Business Grants

💡 Event Goals
• Equip small businesses with actionable tools to grow locally and compete globally.
• Explore how innovation, financial readiness, and workforce development fuel lasting success.
• Connect entrepreneurs with experts, investors, and essential business resources.
• Celebrate the creativity, resilience, and leadership of North Carolina’s small business community.

This workshop will help business owners better understand their sales and use tax obligations including covering sales and use tax basics, registering for an account, and learning about the most common types of sales and use taxes collected. In addition, participants will receive hands-on help preparing sales and use tax returns.  Sales and use tax law changes regarding capital improvements and repair, maintenance, and installation services will not be addressed in any depth during this workshop.

Thrive Thursday is a gathering of West Side Entrepreneurs and anyone else who wants to participate for the purpose of networking, learning, and encouraging the entrepreneurial spirit. Join us at this free meet-up where entrepreneurs & small business owners connect, learn, and access resources to fuel their success! Food Catered by Local Vendors!! 

Celebrate innovation and community collaboration with awards honoring the entrepreneurial mind and creativity. This event is accessible to all, promoting inclusivity and diverse participation across North Carolina. This is a free event.

Special presentation: Fireside chat with Thom Ruhe, CEO and President of NC IDEA, featuring NC IDEA updates.

Partners & Sponsors: 
• University CIty Library
• The Boost Pad
• University City Partners
• Camino Church
• Nehemiah e-community

What does it really take to shift from working in your business to working on your business? In this in-person networking event, you will hear directly from entrepreneurs who have been there, as they share their stories, challenges and lessons learned on the path to scaling. Connect, learn and be inspired.

Panelists: James Smith, Dr. LaShana Wiggs, Felicia Cordray, Kenny Hill (more TBD)

This session is part of the What's Next series (five virtual and one in-person session) designed to help business owners reach the next stage of business growth. If you have customers, revenue, and a desire to grow — this is What’s Next!

Hosted by the Business Diversity and Inclusion division of Mecklenburg County’s Office of Economic Development.

Big goals feel overwhelming? Learn how small actions can ignite real progress at this FREE Global Entrepreneurship Week workshop.

Productivity isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing what moves you forward.
Big goals often stall because they feel too complex or too big to start. That’s where bite-sized actions come in — small, focused steps that reduce stress, build momentum, and lead to real progress.

Experts call them “micro tasks.” We call them breakthrough moves.
Whether you're a solopreneur juggling multiple roles or a business owner leading a growing team, this energizing workshop will help you shift from stuck to started using a simple framework designed to help you take the next best step.

✅ You will learn how to:
• break down complex goals into manageable, actionable steps.
• track progress using visible milestones that build momentum.
• use AI to reframe chaotic ideas into clear and focused plans.
• stay focused and productive without burning out.

This IN PERSON session is ideal for:
• Entrepreneurs and Business Owners
• Non-Profit Leaders and Managers
• Anyone ready to move forward with clarity and confidence

This workshop is hosted by GrowMetix, The Boost Pad, and the NC IDEA Foundation

Presented by the West & Wilkerson Merchant Association

Join us during Global Entrepreneurship Week for an exciting drop-in networking experience! Whether you’re a local business owner, aspiring entrepreneur, or community supporter, this is your chance to connect, collaborate, and celebrate the spirit of entrepreneurship.

Come meet fellow merchants and neighbors, learn more about the West & Wilkerson Merchant Association’s mission to uplift and grow our business community, and enjoy a relaxed atmosphere filled with great conversation, light refreshments, and fun.

Drop in, link up, and leave inspired. Let’s build connections that strengthen our streets and fuel big ideas!

Venture135 is back and is more exclusive than ever. This year's conference is primarily invitation only, with a very limited number of tickets open for purchase. Only accepting a limited number of guests, the best venture capitalists, angel investors, and Corporate Innovation Teams will be in attendance.

We are showcasing the top Series A and Series B companies from across the globe with a highlight on Seed Stage ready startups with Founders from traditionally underrepresented demographics (TURF). If you are looking to get noticed by Founders, this is the perfect opportunity to showcase your brand.

Our all-new Founder Friday ticket is open to Founders of all industries looking to connect 1:1 with investors and learn from our hands-on entrepreneurial workshops and investor "Ask Me Anything" panels. Join us for a brand new day of deal flow with our special-priced Founder ticket.

Get hands-on with style and durability! 🛠️ Join us for our Weekend Warrior Workshop: Tile & Grout 101 and learn how to measure, cut, lay, and seal tile like a pro. Participants will gain practical skills in measuring, cutting, setting, and sealing tile, leaving with the confidence to tackle their own home projects. Whether it’s a kitchen backsplash or a bathroom upgrade, this class will give you the skills to transform your space with confidence.