One working view of our programming, from monthly community events and a two-cohort CTF Venture Launch to peer forums and high-value partner events, all built to move founders forward.
A single working view of CTF programming, founder development, governance, and the ecosystem opportunities worth your time.
Monthly community events, two annual CTF Venture Launch cohorts, regional outreach, peer programming, and high-value partner events.
York, Lancaster, and Chester counties, with select partner events in Charlotte, Greenville, Greer, and Columbia.
A blend of confirmed dates, working targets, published partner events, and items still awaiting venue, facilitator, or funding confirmation.
Beyond the format categories, these are the actual programs founders can plug into as they grow.
Free, public founder gatherings in Fort Mill with a guest speaker, community time, and program announcements. The easy front door.
Two ten-session cohorts a year for eight to ten founders, moving you from idea to MVP in person at Winthrop, powered by the SCRA Startup Foundation Series.
An invitation-only peer group for qualified founders: confidential conversations, real accountability, relationship depth, and an annual retreat.
A one-day, hands-on working session with Juan Garzon and Innovate Charlotte, built to move your company forward fast.
A proposed 24-hour build connecting students, technical talent, and founders across the region.
Small founder coffees, office hours, and meetups in Indian Land, Rock Hill, and Fort Mill, so there is always a low-key way in.
Signature collaborations like the InnoVision joint event and awards and the ATVL venture forum, connecting founders to the wider ecosystem.
Every event on the calendar is one of these formats, so you always know what you are walking into.
Public founder gatherings, generally the fourth Wednesday in Fort Mill, combining community, speakers, and program announcements.
Two annual ten-session cohorts for eight to ten founders, delivered in person at Winthrop using the SCRA Startup Foundation Series.
Qualified, invitation-only peer meetings focused on founder issues, accountability, and relationship depth.
Small founder coffees, office hours, and recruiting meetings in Indian Land, Rock Hill, and Fort Mill.
Signature partner events, a one-day Founder Jam, cohort showcases, the holiday gathering, and the proposed Winthrop Hackathon.
Selected events CTF attends, promotes, or tracks because they complement the local founder pathway.
Board meetings and nonprofit formation that establish CTF, authorize activity, and assign responsibilities.
Your primary path
The CTF Venture Launch, regional outreach, and monthly CTF events.
CTF Founder Forums, ATVL, the CTF Founder Jam, and selected partner programs.
ATVL, Venture135, investor programming, mentor relationships, and ecosystem connections.
Winthrop Hackathon, Silicon Swamp, technical meetups, and CTF community events.
A sponsor, mentor, facilitator, speaker, board, advisor, or program-partner role.
A referral to SBDC consulting, the Gravity Center Foundation, or another regional resource.
Founders climb the stages, then circle back to lift the next ones. Everyone else joins the ecosystem through their own on-ramps.
Traditional, non-tech small business, referred to SBDC or the Gravity Center Foundation.
Beyond our own programming, these partners run events worth a founder's time. Here is how each fits the CTF path.
Best for ventures that know their customer, have a prototype or MVP, and are ready to scale. CTF supports the November 12 Greer forum and refers qualified founders.
A close partner. The next Juan-led item for CTF is the December Founder Jam. Innovate Charlotte also highlights Venture135 and Founder Friday.
A week of ecosystem events. The September 24 to 26 sessions are the ones CTF promotes after its September gathering.
Silicon Swamp and the Startup Sprint are the strongest fits for CTF technical founders and developers.
The October 14 Winthrop forum and November 5 awards are the principal fall touchpoints. CTF coordinates messaging and attendance.
Start where you are, it's free to begin. Come to an event, join the community, and find the founders building alongside you.
Built exclusively for technology founders