[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.18.1″ background_enable_color=”off” use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_direction=”140deg” background_color_gradient_stops=”#041e42 39%|rgba(4,30,66,0.7) 98%” background_color_gradient_overlays_image=”on” background_image=”https:\/\/launchclt.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Untitled-design-79.jpg” background_position=”top_center” background_vertical_offset=”36%” height=”562px” height_tablet=”562px” height_phone=”400px” height_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”28vh||28vh||true|false” custom_padding_tablet=”28vh||28vh||true|false” custom_padding_phone=”14vh||14vh||true|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” width=”90%” max_width=”100%” custom_padding=”0px||0px||true|” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.18.1″ _module_preset=”default” background_layout=”dark” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.18.1″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#E8EAED” link_text_color=”#0077C8″ header_2_text_align=”center” max_width=”681px” module_alignment=”left” global_colors_info=”{}” link_text_color__hover_enabled=”on|desktop” link_text_color__hover=”#425563″ theme_builder_area=”post_content”]When like-minded people come together, great ideas are born.[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#E8EAED” custom_padding=”55px||55px||true|” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.18.1″ _module_preset=”default” width=”92.5%” max_width=”100%” module_alignment=”right” custom_padding=”0px||0px||true|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”|2%|||false|false” custom_css_main_element=”margin: auto;” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.2″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Montserrat|700||on|||||” text_text_color=”#41A0D8″ text_font_size=”15px” text_letter_spacing=”3px” header_font=”Inter|900|||||||” header_text_color=”#000000″ header_font_size=”92px” header_line_height=”1.1em” max_width=”600px” module_alignment=”left” custom_margin=”0px||5px||false|false” custom_padding=”||0px|5px|false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
OUR STORY<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.18.1″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”||35px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n
Like many great ideas, this one was born when a group of like-minded people sat around a table drinking some of our favorite local craft beer. We wondered why there wasn\u2019t a way to easily connect local founders with mentors and resources that could help them. As we got curious, there was collaboration. There was laughter. There was problem solving. And LaunchLKN (the OG) was born.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.18.1″ _module_preset=”default” background_image=”https:\/\/launchclt.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Untitled-design-67.jpg” border_radii=”off|20px|||20px” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_divider show_divider=”off” _builder_version=”4.18.1″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”40%||40%||true|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px||0px||true|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.18.1″ _module_preset=”default” width=”85%” width_tablet=”85%” width_phone=”95%” width_last_edited=”on|phone” max_width=”1225px” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][dipi_timeline timeline_line_color=”#FFFFFF” timeline_active_line_color=”#041E42″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][dipi_timeline_item admin_label=”2017″ title=”2017″ timeline_icon_color=”#FFFFFF” ribbon_circle_color=”#041E42″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n
We started as LaunchLKN with one main goal: get talented entrepreneurs, mentors, educators, and community leaders from the Lake Norman area in one place and see what happens. We believed there was an eager community looking for opportunities to share knowledge and advance entrepreneurial success in our own backyard. We held six events (beer included!) \u2026 and we listened. Our hypothesis proved true and our people were now helping us define how we should grow.<\/p>\n
[\/dipi_timeline_item][dipi_timeline_item admin_label=”2018″ title=”2018″ timeline_icon_color=”#FFFFFF” ribbon_circle_color=”#041E42″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]We continued our networking events and added an educational event series we named Infinite Possibilities. We explored all kinds of emerging tech topics \u2014 think blockchain, smart cities, cybersecurity, AR\/VR \u2014 and pulled in local entrepreneurs, academics, and experts to help us learn more. This series continues today, and we\u2019ve uncovered so many innovative people doing mind-blowing work in our community. In 2018, we also launched our partnership with the Jay Hurt Hub for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Davidson College.[\/dipi_timeline_item][dipi_timeline_item admin_label=”2019″ title=”2019″ timeline_icon_color=”#FFFFFF” ribbon_circle_color=”#041E42″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]Our events continued, our community grew. We had a home at the Hurt Hub and our collaboration deepened. We could regularly engage with area entrepreneurs working under one roof. We designed and launched what has become our anchor program \u2014 the mentor program \u2014 a core initiative of ours since the early days.[\/dipi_timeline_item][dipi_timeline_item admin_label=”2020″ title=”2020″ timeline_icon_color=”#FFFFFF” ribbon_circle_color=”#041E42″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]Quite a year for all of us, wouldn\u2019t you say? We missed seeing our community in person. Virtual environments didn\u2019t lend themselves to the random idea exchange or collaboration. But we (collectively) survived. And, the one thing that does happen during any big global shift \u2014 new challenges need to be solved. And who better to solve them than entrepreneurs![\/dipi_timeline_item][dipi_timeline_item admin_label=”2021″ title=”2021″ timeline_icon_color=”#FFFFFF” ribbon_circle_color=”#041E42″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]New founders continued to apply for mentorship and our reach expanded beyond Lake Norman due to virtual engagements. As people reevaluated why and how they wanted to work, many decided to take the leap into entrepreneurship. We added First Turn Innovations as a partner and launched the FTI Fund dedicated to investing in FTI inventors. Our mentor group also continued to grow, word spreading that there was an opportunity to share expertise and learn about the creative ideas coming from our market.[\/dipi_timeline_item][dipi_timeline_item admin_label=”2022″ title=”2022″ timeline_icon_color=”#FFFFFF” ribbon_circle_color=”#041E42″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]The first thing we teach entrepreneurs is to embrace change. Nothing will ever stay the same and you\u2019ll pivot many times along the way. We took our own advice, embracing the opportunity to integrate our mentor program with the former Innovate Charlotte Venture Mentoring Service to create a main go-to mentoring source for the greater Charlotte community. We also began raising the Charlotte Fund, a venture capital fund that will invest in the Charlotte region. We made the big decision to evolve from LaunchLKN to LaunchCLT to highlight our expanded reach. We\u2019ve learned. We\u2019ve grown. We\u2019ve changed. But \u2026 we still like craft beer![\/dipi_timeline_item][\/dipi_timeline][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#E8EAED” custom_padding=”50px||50px||true|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.18.1″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#041E42″ width=”85%” width_tablet=”85%” width_phone=”95%” width_last_edited=”on|phone” max_width=”1215px” custom_padding=”50px||50px||true|false” custom_padding_tablet=”50px||50px||true|false” custom_padding_phone=”50px|20px|50px|20px|true|true” border_radii=”on|20px|20px|20px|20px” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.18.1″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#E8EAED” header_2_text_align=”center” header_2_text_color=”#FFFFFF” header_3_text_color=”#FFFFFF” text_orientation=”center” max_width=”670px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”||17px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s talk about how we can collaborate.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9saW5rX3VybF9wYWdlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsicG9zdF9pZCI6IjUwMDIxIn19@” button_text=”Contact Us” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _dynamic_attributes=”button_url” _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
How did we launch?When like-minded people come together, great ideas are born.OUR STORYCreating Connection Like many great ideas, this one was born when a group of like-minded people sat around […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/launchclt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/49975"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/launchclt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/launchclt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/launchclt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/launchclt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=49975"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/launchclt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/49975\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":51299,"href":"https:\/\/launchclt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/49975\/revisions\/51299"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/launchclt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=49975"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}