This Week in Startups (TWiST) is a show from the ThisWeekIn.com web tv network that is hosted by serial entrepreneur Jason Calacanis. In June 2010, TWiST decided to hold a global meetup for startups and used meetup to organize it. The idea was for entrepreneurs and startup companies to gather together in their city so they could support each other and call into TWiST during the show’s broadcast.
Les Porter, Vice President at Flying Bridge, is passionate about entrepreneurship and helping local startups so he decided to organize the TWiST meetup in Charlotte, NC. The first meeting was in June and it was hosted at Flying Bridge. We had a good turnout and it was clear from the feedback and participation from attendees this is something that Charlotte entrepreneurs are interested in.
Les then formalized and named the group CLT Launch. The group’s website is just a place holder at the moment so most of their communication and organization occurs at @CLTLaunch. If you are an entrepreneur, have a startup company or want to work at one then you have an open invitation to participate at future meetups and join the conversation on Twitter. The mission of CLT Launch is to help Charlotte startups succeed through a group effort.
The next meetup is July 20th at 1:40 pm. Three entrepreneurs are pitching their startup at CLT Launch. The group will select a winner who will go on to pitch Jason live on This Week in Startups via Skype. This will be a good opportunity for a Charlotte startup. If you have any questions about this meetup or future ones, you can contact Les Porter or CLT Launch on Twitter.