The Energy Production and Infrastructure Center (EPIC) at UNC Charlotte was formed in response to the need from industry to supply highly trained engineers qualified to meet the demands of the energy industry – through traditional and continuing education, and provide sustainable support the Carolina energy industry by increasing capacity and support for applied research. EPIC is a highly collaborative industry/education partnership that produces a technical workforce, advancements in technology for the global energy industry while supporting the Carolinas’ multi-state economic and energy security.
http://epic.uncc.edu/

IDEA Fund Partners is one of the most active seed and early stage venture investors in NC and throughout the Southeast. They typically provide the first institutional money for the companies in which they invest. They like to make small initial investments and set aside plenty of follow-on capital for future rounds. They have invested as little as $100,000 and as much as $750,000 in a round, and can invest up to $1.5M over the life of a company. They typically get involved early on and help entrepreneurs build strong sustainable companies. They are not afraid of investing in pre-revenue companies. They have offices in Durham, NC, and Orlando, FL. and invest in companies in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the US.
http://ideafundpartners.com/

Binary Ventures is a proud member of Business, Growth & Innovation (BIG) and is a business accelerator of GUST, an online Angel Investment marketplace. Binary brings a variety of disciplines together from business consulting, user-centered design and application development. Binary Ventures transforms ideas into reality, helping companies construct custom-built mobile and web-based software. Binary Ventures combine imagination and innovation to transform those ideas into functional and beautiful applications. Binary uses a unique blend of seasoned onshore, nearshore and offshore software practitioners with development offices in Asia, Eastern Europe and South America.
http://ie.binaryventures.com/

Big Think teaches entrepreneurs and executives how to build world-class organizations. We have a proven, sustainable system of management, a toolkit with simple, easy-to-use tools that will align the organization around a central purpose and direction, get the right people doing the work they were designed to do, and create a culture of accountability and performance that will radically increase engagement and results. In addition to optimizing leadership and management, Big Think also finds and filters new opportunities for profitable business growth.
http://www.bigthinkresults.com/

it's bspoke is a boutique consultancy specializing in high-growth software companies and Ruby on Rails projects. Jim Van Fleet can bring uncommon technical experience, unparalleled technical leadership, and unprecedented business insight to your tech startup.
http://itsbspoke.com

Uber is a free mobile app that let's you request a private driver with a tap of a button, and get picked up in a classy black town car that will deliver you to your destination in a safe and convenient manner. The entire process is completely cashless, so at the end of the ride you simply step out of the car and go about your day. It's a thoroughly enjoyable, relaxing transportation experience that is available in over 40 cities across 4 continents. Additionally, Uber recently raised $258M from Google Ventures and TPG Capital (August 2013).
https://www.uber.com/

Detailed Block is a local news website focused on covering Charlotte's high-growth entrepreneurial and technology community. The site was founded in January 2013 by local Charlotte residents and entrepreneurs James Stewart Jr. and Steve Kwon, who desire to change how local media is viewed and consumed. They believe quality journalism can help build, change and revitalize communities.
http://detailedblock.com/