As North Carolina’s urban research university, UNC Charlotte connects students, faculty, staff, alumni and community partners to the people, tools and opportunities that power innovation in the Charlotte region.
The Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation is one part of that larger ecosystem. These resources can help you find the right next step — whether you need startup and small business support, business counseling, campus innovation spaces, career connections or classroom-based entrepreneurship support.
The Difference is Charlotte: Access to a growing city, a connected university and an entrepreneurial community ready to help ideas move forward.
Business + Startup Support
Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC)
For startup and small business support, including business counseling and practical guidance, the Small Business and Technology Development Center is a strong place to start. The SBTDC helps entrepreneurs and small to mid-size businesses make better business decisions, build and grow successful businesses and connect with specialized assistance.
Offered by the UNC Charlotte Alumni Association, this online directory showcases businesses owned by alumni, offering students opportunities to network, collaborate or support fellow Niner entrepreneurs. This is a powerful platform to share your business with the UNC Charlotte community.
Explore Atkins Library’s Area 49 innovation and creation spaces for making, media production, gaming, visualization, prototyping and hands-on experimentation. Open to current UNC Charlotte students, faculty and staff, Area 49 helps campus users engage with ideas through technology, creativity and making.
Connect with UNC Charlotte’s Career Center for career coaching, internship and job-search support, networking opportunities, interview preparation and career resources. Services are available to current students, with additional resources available to alumni.
Entrepreneurial Thinking Classroom Integration Program
CEI partners with faculty and staff to bring entrepreneurial thinking into courses, programs and campus experiences. Whether you want a one-time guest speaker, a short workshop or a multi-class project, CEI can help students practice creative problem-solving, opportunity recognition, teamwork and pitching in ways that connect to your course goals.
Use the options below to find the right fit for your class or program.
OPTION
BEST FOR
FORMAT
Guest Speaker Series
Bringing entrepreneurial stories, industry perspective or community expertise into an existing class session.
30–60 minutes, in-class session
Entrepreneurial Mindset Lesson
Introducing students to the core elements of entrepreneurial thinking, including opportunity recognition, creativity, problem-solving and value creation.
1–2 class sessions
Impact Project
Giving students a hands-on experience where they work in teams, generate ideas, develop solutions and deliver pitches.
3 class sessions
Engaging with the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
Connecting students with CO-LAB, campus Makerspaces or other innovation spaces through an off-campus learning experience or guided workshop.