RevTech Labs Accelerates Seven Charlotte Startups in Packard Place

Program Includes Space, Mentoring, Connections

BY JOE PROCOPIO • @jproco • 6.25.12
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Filed Under: NEWS: Startups

There are a lot of banks in Charlotte.

Come on, tell me this isn't the first thing you think when you think about the Queen City. Having lived there for a year (a long time ago), I concur, but then if you didn't look you wouldn't notice the spark of startups springing up from the ashes of the banking crisis.

That spark goes a little bit more flame today, with the announcement of RevTech Labs and their selection of seven early-stage startups for three months of cash-free acceleration.

Viddlz, who makes it simple and economical for quality food providers to start or grow a great food business.

Dataset/IO, who provides data solutions for the Capital Markets.

Spatiality, who uses a technique known as faceted search and displays search results in a highly interactive 2D interface.

DogDashGame, a Charlotte Startup Weekend Winner, who is introducing a 3D-audio only concept to mobile gaming.

The Torch, an online and mobile application that makes it easy to organize an emergency medical plan.

Flavma Inc., who is working with Independent Pharmacies to improve their processes and quality of patient care using modern technology.

Autopilot, who allows you to book a vetted, professional driver on demand when you can't, shouldn't, or simply don't want to drive your own vehicle.

RevTech will be housed in Packard Place, a Charlotte hub for entrepreneurs which came to be when advertising agency RedF moved into Packard Place and had a lot of space left over. It's run by Adam Hill, who I've gotten to know through Startup America, and he came to town so we grabbed a cup of coffee.

Packard Place also houses The Garage, which works with not-for-profit startups.

I don't envy Adam his role. Charlotte is most typically know for banking and button down corporate enterprise (every weekday I spent in Charlotte, I spent in a suit and tie). Further, Charlotte hasn't quite overcome the fear of failure, according to Adam, a hurdle that Raleigh and Durham have only just begun to turn around.

Beyond CLTJoules (awesome name), an energy incubator, and Queen City Forward, the Charlotte version of the social entrepreneurship advocacy group, there really hasn't been much entrepreneurial community to speak of.

But there are a lot of meetups.

This sounds like potential, if not necessarily opportunity, to create the foundation of a startup community in a city known around the world for its banks. This is what Adam is wrangling, and it's all community-based. He's a pioneer so to speak, and there are signs its working.

Beyond these initial seven companies moving into RevTech, there are 20 more companies moving into Packard Place this week. And with the addition of a minor league stadium literally across the street (American Tobacco Campus anyone?), there is definitely the potential to create new energy around the Charlotte startup scene.

Companies We Mentioned In This Post

Packard Place







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