Walt Frye has been a friend of the startup community for the last several years. A little more than 18 months ago, Walt took on a new challenge as the Executive Director of a somewhat stagnant entity – the Charlotte Regional Fund for Entrepreneurship (CRFE).
As you heard last week, Innovate Charlotte has sprung out of CRFE and has a clear vision Walt helped to establish. Listen to Walt continue his thoughts on the Charlotte startup ecosystem – past, present and future – and his time as Executive Director of Innovate Charlotte.
In what I consider to be bad news for the Charlotte ecosystem, Walt has stepped down as the Executive Director – as the news was officially announced Thursday August 16. Few people have the unselfish motivation the ecosystem currently needs, Walt did. The opportunities are great within the ecosystem if it’s allowed to grow naturally (look no further than the recent successful exit of DealCloud). Politics and egos can ruin those opportunities and the young ecosystem if allowed.
Fortunately, Keith Luedeman has agreed to take the reins as the interim director. Keith is well-known in the startup ecosystem. His eagerness to immediately give back after selling GoodMortgage has been a huge benefit already to the Charlotte startup scene. Keith can lead this to the next stage if given the support and opportunity.
He has the credibility to put things in place to support current programs, improve existing infrastructure and create new opportunities. Hopefully everyone gives Keith the space to lead us there as it will mean great things for many aspects of Charlotte – the city and business community included.
Let’s support Keith and the next full-time Executive Director to give room for more DealClouds, Passports, Avid’s and more.
Walt will continue to do great things. Great people always do. I’m excited about what lies ahead for him!
William Bissett is an Investment Advisor Representative with Secrest Blakey & Associates, a Registered Investment Adviser. Opinions expressed on this program do not necessarily reflect those of Secrest Blakey & Associates. The topics discussed and opinions given are not intended to address the specific needs of any listener.
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