The Company Lab recently announced their next 48Hour Launch and the next twist. This spring’s 48Hour Launch is asking for entrepreneurs to bring their ideas for web or mobile applications that will enhance a visitor’s experience while in Chattanooga. The apps could be meeting-and event-planning tools, sports event real-time scoring, augmented reality, or ideas for mobile app improvement such as an enhanced digital visitors guide.
“Hospitality was the fastest growing industry in the Chattanooga Metro Area in 2011,” said Dave Santucci, vice presiden of marketing at the Chattanooga Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We want to take the entrepreneurial energy and technological innovation going on in Chattanooga right now and leverage that to grow tourism even more in 2012 and beyond.”
Prior to 48Hour Launch, The Company Lab will host a “Pitch Night” at 6 p.m. on Monday, March 19, where entrepreneurs can gather, present their ideas and begin assembling teams. In an effort to increase collaboration between academic and business communities, a full UTC graphic design class has decided to participate in the event as a course project.
The weekend-long event will begin on Friday, March 30, when teams will collaborate around the clock to create working models of their websites, applications, and products, fueled by local coffee, food and beer vendors. At 6 p.m. on Sunday, April 1, the teams will gather to publicly present demos of their prototypes to the public in order to determine the winning projects.
Sheldon Grizzle, founder of CO.LAB, believes opportunities exist for mobile and web entrepreneurs to quickly have their products and services adopted by Chattanooga businesses.
“There are a lot of organizations in Chattanooga that are looking for ways to leverage mobile technology to improve visitors’ experiences while staying here,” Grizzle said. “This is a great opportunity for people who create mobile and web applications to pair up with the people who are looking for them.”
The Company Lab exists to help increase the viability of start-ups in Chattanooga by connecting them with the resources they need. Learn more about The Company Lab and 48Hour Launch at colab.is.