Global Entrepreneurship Week Charlotte 2026

Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW), November 16–22, 2026, is a global celebration of innovators, entrepreneurs and startups, designed to foster growth, connection and opportunity within local and international entrepreneurial ecosystems.

In Charlotte, GEW is led by the City of Charlotte and brings together a series of events that spotlight opportunities across the Queen City, providing valuable insights, networking and support for entrepreneurs, innovators and ecosystem leaders. In 2025, Charlotte ranked among the top 10 most active cities in the U.S. for GEW. This year, we’re looking to make an even bigger impact.

Through partner-led events, organizations across Charlotte can help make GEW 2026 our biggest yet, connecting more people, ideas and opportunities across the entrepreneurial community!

Stay tuned! The full GEW Charlotte schedule will be available soon.

Calendar of Events

Why attend
GEW Charlotte?

CONNECT

Build meaningful connections with founders, small business leaders and ecosystem changemakers who are building what’s next.

LEARN

Gain practical knowledge and insights through expert-led sessions, workshops and resources designed to support your business at every stage.

FIND INSPIRATION

Hear from entrepreneurs, innovators and business leaders who are turning ideas into opportunities and contributing to a thriving economy.

ENJOY

Take a break from the day-to-day with interactive workshops, engaging activities and plenty of opportunities to have some fun along the way.

GEW Charlotte Networking Celebration

Nov. 16 | 5:30-7:30 pm

The Market at 7th Street,
224 E 7th St, Charlotte, NC 28202

Don’t miss this opportunity to connect, celebrate and be inspired by Charlotte’s thriving entrepreneurial community. This free networking event brings together entrepreneurs, small business owners and community partners to honor the spirit of innovation driving our city forward.

Calendar of Events

Hobbies 2 Hustles

Nov. 16, 2026 | 4:30-6 pm

Hosted By: Charlotte Mecklenburg Library

Venue: Allegra Westbrooks Regional Libray, 2412 Beatties Ford Road, Charlotte, NC 28216

Unleash your creativity and explore the world of profitable hobbies with "Hobbies 2 Hustles." This program series is designed to guide teens and young adults in transforming their artistic interests into side income.
Limited spaces are available

GEW Charlotte Networking Celebration

Nov. 16, 2026 | 5:30-7:30 pm

Hosted By: Charlotte Economic Development

Venue: The Market at 7th Street, 224 E 7th St, Charlotte, NC 28202

Voice of Charlotte: The Innovation Exchange

Nov. 17, 2026 | 1-3 p.m.

Hosted By: EO Charlotte + CO_LAB

Venue: CO-LAB at UNC Charlotte Center City, 301 East 9th Street, Charlotte, NC 28202

Entrepreneurs and students come together to explore Charlotte’s challenges and opportunities through dialogue, collaboration and networking. The conversation will feature entrepreneurs at different stages of their journey, sharing real-world perspectives around Talent & Team Alignment and Protection & Governance, before shifting from panel to participant and inviting the audience into the conversation.

Sound Authority: Audio & Content Strategy for Small Businesses (In-person)

Nov. 17, 2026 | 3-5 p.m.

Hosted By: Central Piedmont Small Business Center

Venue: Small Business Center, 1125 Charlottetowne Ave, Suite 1140

Cut through the noise and position your business as the unshakeable authority in your market. In this interactive 2-hour workshop, veteran audio engineer Fela Davis reveals how to turn a single voice recording into a multi-platform marketing engine. Note: Please bring a smartphone or laptop with headphones.

Social Media, Influencer Culture, and the Demand for Authenticity

Nov. 17, 2026 | 6 p.m.

Hosted By: UNC Charlotte College of Humanities & Earth and Social Sciences

Venue: Independent Picture House, 4237 Raleigh St., Charlotte, NC 28213

In this public lecture, UNC Charlotte Assistant Professor Shanice Jones Cameron will trace shifts in how social media users relate to content creators and outline trends that show authenticity is no longer a stylistic choice and is evolving into a consumer demand.

5 Key Steps of Designing and Growing Your Business

Nov. 17 | 6-8 p.m.

Hosted By: First National Bank in partnership with Women's Business Center of Charlotte

Venue: Women's Business Center of Charlotte, 916 W. 5th Street, Charlotte, NC 28202

This workshop is designed to help entrepreneurs with start-ups and established businesses to examine the feasibility of their small business idea in the current market.

AI for Business Growth Workshop

Nov. 18, 2026 | 9 a.m.-noon

Hosted By: AI Business & Career Lab in partnership with Charlotte Economic Development

Venue: Prospera, 4938 Central Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205

Discover how artificial intelligence can help you start, grow, and strengthen your small business. This interactive workshop is designed for small business owners and aspiring business owners who want practical AI strategies they can implement immediately.

Small Business Lunch & Learn: Using Data to Find & Locate Customers

Nov. 18, 2026 | 12:15-1:15 p.m.

Hosted By: Charlotte Mecklenburg Library/UNC Charlotte Urban Institute

Venue: University City Regional Library 5528 Waters Edge Village Drive Charlotte, NC 28262

Learn how to use the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Quality of Life Explorer to turn local neighborhood data into practical business insight. In this hands-on session, you’ll explore information that can help you better understand customers, communities, and potential markets.

AI for Business Growth Workshop

Nov. 18, 2026 | 9 a.m.-noon

Hosted By: AI Business & Career Lab in partnership with Charlotte Economic Development

Venue: Prospera, 4938 Central Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205

Intro to Federal Contracting (In-Person)

Nov. 18, 2026 | 1-3 p.m.

Hosted By: Central Piedmont Small Business Center

Venue: Central Piedmont Small Business Center, 1125 Charlottetowne Ave, Suite 1140

Join Fran Perez Wilhite of the North Carolina Military Business Center for an informative session on federal contracting for small businesses. If you’re interested in selling your products or services to the federal government, it’s essential to understand the requirements and processes involved.

The Hurt Hub Innovation & Entrepreneurship Showcase

Nov. 18, 2026 | 6-9 p.m.

Hosted By: The Hurt Hub @ Davidson

Venue: The Hurt Hub at Davidson College, 210 Delburg Street Davidson, NC 28036

The third annual Hurt Hub Innovation & Entrepreneurship Showcase brings together student visionaries, emerging community ventures, and entrepreneurship advocates to highlight the work happening through the Hurt Hub at Davidson College.

Venture135

Nov. 19-20 | 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; 8:30 a.m.-12:40 p.m.

Hosted By: RevTech Labs

Venue: Foundation for the Carolinas

Venture135 is a premier venture capital conference focused on high-quality deal flow, networking, and innovation across the fintech & insurtech verticals. We are showcasing 40+ of the top Seed Stage, Series A, and Series B-ready companies from across the globe.

Easy Access to Capital: Loan and Credit Solutions for Small Businesses (In-person)

Nov. 19, 2026 | noon-3 p.m.

Hosted By: Central Piedmont Small Business Center

Venue: Central Piedmont Small Business Center 1125 Charlottetowne Ave, Suite 1140

Join us for lunch! Gain easy access to the capital you need to grow your business, with financing options designed specifically for local small businesses. Our personalized approach gives you the financial support to expand, purchase equipment, and cover operating expenses.

Built to Last: The Road to Resilience

Nov. 19 | 9-10 a.m.

Hosted By: Asfalis Advisors in partnership with the City of Charlotte

Venue: Do Greater Sparkhouse Uptown, 500 N Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28202

Growth. Disruption. Survival. Every Charlotte small business owner knows the ride. Join us for Built to Last — a candid conversation with local small business owners who've faced the hard moments and came out stronger. Moderated by Vanessa Mathews, founder of Asfalis Advisors and creator of Road to Resilience, you’ll hear real talk about what it takes to stay ready when everything changes. Come for the stories. Leave with a plan.

49er Foundry Business Shower

Nov. 19 | 6-7:30 p.m.

Venue: CO-LAB at UNC Charlotte Center City, 301 E 9th St, Charlotte, NC 28202

Celebrate the next generation of entrepreneurs at the 49er Foundry Business Shower during Global Entrepreneurship Week at CO-Lab! Student founders will share their Business Model Canvases with the public and be "showered" with constructive feedback, fresh perspectives, and encouragement.

The _preneur Conference 2026: SOAR

Nov. 21, 2026 | 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Hosted By: Do Greater Charlotte along with Other Nonprofit Partners

Venue: Johnson C. Smith University, Science Center, 100 Beatties Ford Rd, Charlotte, NC 28216

The _preneur Conference is a community event designed to educate and equip attendees with the knowledge, connections, and confidence to envision their future, build actionable plans, and take ownership of their success.

Connect With Us

Stay in the loop on news and events, upcoming workshops, contracting opportunities, and other tools and resources designed to support Charlotte’s small business community.

Economic Development