Thu Dec 11 2025

Launching a new company is among life’s greatest challenges. It demands resilience, decisiveness, adaptability, vision and resourcefulness. The founders who succeed know they cannot do it alone. This is where a strong startup ecosystem can make all the difference. Here to unpack those forces and share a ground-level view of Charlotte’s entrepreneurial landscape is Juan Garzón. He is the Managing Director of Innovate Charlotte, Head of Innovation-Led Entrepreneurship for the City of Charlotte and Executive Director of PitchBreakfast, the Queen City’s premier startup pitching event. Join the conversation for a fascinating inside look at everything from ecosystem building and raising capital and to the art of the pitch and the mindset that separates founders who survive from those who thrive. TOPIC TIME CODES 00:00 – Intro 00:55 – Charlotte’s entrepreneurial ecosystem maturity and resource gaps 01:37 – Innovate Charlotte’s role and Global Entrepreneurship Week overview 06:07 – Pi...