Joel Bennett

Curriculum Vitæ 

Course of my Life between 2013 - 2018

Website Design and Development

Some of my favorite things I have designed and built have been the websites that showcase the entrepreneurial startup programs and innovation consulting services I have developed.

JB2T Innovation Services
​New Ventures Accelerator
GSO IDEAS Unconference
Triad Growth Partners
Ignite NC
My Project Portfolio

Startup Acceleration Programs
​

New Ventures

New Ventures Challenge Challenge and Accelerator is an annual business idea competition that awards up to eight startup business teams the opportunity for an average investment of $50,000 each in seed funding and months of business development and acceleration. The first inception stage, investment backed startup accelerator in the Triad, I have been responsible for community engagement and communication, program development, website design, search engine marketing, and most importantly, mentoring and helping startups find early traction and growth opportunities. 

US Ignite Reverse Pitch

​​Industry leaders and municipalities from across the state challenged the most innovative, creative and brightest developers, designers, data scientists, coders and civic hackers to outline and to pitch their ideas for a chance to win one of two $19,000 cash prizes and $480,000 in IBM Bluemix/Watson AI credits. This event was produced with the support and partnership of US Ignite and the National Science Foundation.

Triad Startup Lab

I built the community program that helped incubate entrepreneurship in Greensboro as part of economic development with municipal funding. Triad Startup Lab had more than 60 client companies and have raised more than $1.5 million in additional funding since 2015. I am proud of ALL the entrepreneurs who discovered user-defined value, early adopter traction and focused strategy during Triad Startup Lab. Big thank you to the City of Greensboro for providing the $200K to make that happen. 

2016 - 2018
New Ventures Startup Accelerator - Director
New Ventures Club, Flywheel Foundation

Reverse Pitch - US Ignite - Director and Organizer
​North Carolina Next Generation Networks

​2016
Program Director Entrepreneur Connection 
Greensboro Partnership, Chamber of Commerce

• Triad Startup Lab > Winter
• Collab Monthly Idea SLAM (6)
• Capital Connects Investor Pitch Competition
• Startup UX Monthly Meetups

2015
Program Direct for Entrepreneur Connection
Greensboro Partnership, Chamber of Commerce

• Triad Startup Lab > Winter and Summer
• Collab Monthly Idea SLAM (12)
• Capital Connects Investor Pitch Competition
• SBA - InnovateHer Business Plan Competition
• Collab - Greensboro’s first downtown coworking space ​focused on serving entrepreneurs and startups

2014
Program Direct for Entrepreneur Connection 
Greensboro Partnership, Chamber of Commerce

• Triad Startup Lab > Summer
• Geeksboro Monthly Idea SLAM (12)
• Capital Connects Investor Pitch Competition

2013
Mentor to Triad Startup Lab > created Infographic
Organized first Idea Pitch Session SLAM at Geeksboro 
Triad Startup Weekend

Certifications

• GrowthWheel Business Advisor Certification - 2016
• Dale Carnegie High Impact Presentations - 2014

Recent Awards, Grants and Honors

2016
Funding Award Recipient, Outside Agency Funding Grant
City of Greensboro, NC
Organization: Triad Startup Lab $100,000

2016
Winner, Innovate NC Grant
Institute for Emerging Issues, NCSU
Organization: Greensboro Partnership Entrepreneur Connection
​
2015
National Finalist, Growth Accelerator Fund Competition
Small Business Administration (SBA)
Organization: Triad Startup Lab

2015
Second Place, Phase Two of Strong Cities, Strong Communities Competition
Economic Development Administration (EDA) - U.S. Department of Commerce
Organization: Gig-G, www.gig-g.com $180K

2015
Funding Award Recipient, Outside Agency Funding Grant
City of Greensboro, NC
Organization: Triad Startup Lab $100,000

2014
First Place Winner,
Phase One of Strong Cities, Strong Communities Competition
Economic Development Administration (EDA) U.S. Department of Commerce
Organization: Gig-G, www.gig-g.com  $75,000

2014
Funding Award Recipient, Outside Agency Funding Grant
City of Greensboro, NC
Organization: Triad Startup Lab  $100,000
​
2014
National Finalist, Growth Accelerator Fund Competition
Apr 2014  Small Business Administration (SBA)
Organization: Triad Startup Lab  

2013
First Place Winner
Triad Startup Weekend
Greensboro, NC

Local Media 

Smart Gigabit Communities pitch event seeks to boost to NC innovation economy
Rick Smith  www.wraltechwire.com June 15,  2017

New Ventures Challenge & Accelerator, Winston-Salem Investors Hope to Fund 30 Startups in Five Years
Laura Baverman  www.exitevent.com  March 29, 2017

Gigabit 'Reverse Pitch' kickoff event draws statewide audience
​Rick Smith  www.wraltechwire.com March 1,  2017

Contest Calls on Tech Savvy Triad Residents to Create Smarter Cities
Mia Osborne  www.greensboro101.com March 15, 2017

The Accelerated Economy: Private Investment and Public Money Fuels a Start-up Surge in the Triad
Jordan Green  www.triad-city-beat.com. Oct 19, 2016

​Coworking Spaces Have Room to Grow in the Triad
Jeffrey Sykes  www.yesweekly.com. July 29, 2015

Triad startups set to pitch to investors in Greensboro
​Rick Smith  www.wraltechwire.com Nov 16,  2015

Gig-G Takes First Spot in Greensboro Smart Cities Challenge
Jeffrey Sykes​  www.yesweekly.com. December, 2014

US Utility Patents

​2009
Universal hinged treads for folding attic stairs
2008
Continuous threshold assembly with modular interlocking substrate
​2004
Threshold assembly with unitary molded substrate and jamb 
Threshold assembly with pre-fitted draining jamb boots and pre-fitted mull boot
​2003
Entryway system with leak managing corner pads
Leak resistant entryway assembly with anti-wicking weather 
Threshold assembly with flexible watertight foam cap seal
​2002
Threshold assembly with pre-fitted draining jamb boots and …
Threshold assembly with flexible watertight foam cap seal
Continuous threshold assembly with modular interlocking 
Entryway system with truss reinforced mullions
Threshold assembly with unitary molded substrate and jamb 
Threshold assembly with pre-fitted draining jamb boots and ...
​1998
Portable case for trade show materials
1995
Vacuum cleaner accessory caddy