Five Tech Startups Complete Charlotte’s First gBETA Accelerator

Published on July 16, 2025

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (July 16, 2025) – Five Charlotte-based tech startups have completed the inaugural gBETA Charlotte program, which leverages AI and data analytics to drive innovation.

The startups—representing key sectors, including workforce development, hospitality and events, payroll automation, risk and compliance, and school choice—were selected from nearly 50 applicants across the Charlotte region. 

gBETA, supported through the City of Charlotte’s Economic Development Department and powered by gener8tor, is a free, seven-week accelerator program that provides startup founders with intensive concierge coaching and access to its national network of mentors, customers, corporate partners and investors. The program is designed to set a path for startups to participate in equity-based accelerator programs and pursue investment opportunities. 

The program began in mid-March and concluded with participants pitching their companies to investors, community partners and the public at the gBETA Charlotte Showcase event, held on the first day of the Seed the South Capital Summit in May. 

The summit drew more than 400 attendees from across the Southeast, including potential seed and venture capitalists,

“Presenting at the summit was a dream come true,” said Ashwin Nayak, co-founder of Auditrol, a fintech startup. “Just last year, attending this event, we dreamed of being on stage, and this year that dream became reality. The Seed the South Capital Summit marks our third major invitation-only pitch event this year. We're thrilled to receive recognition for our unique approach of solving complex problems for the financial services industry.” 

Auditrol is a platform that helps businesses better manage their data. It uses AI to help companies stay up to date on government regulations, helping to reduce operational costs and fines, improve efficiency and reduce risks. Since its launch, Auditrol has engaged with more than 35 C-level executives at banks and credit unions and is conducting two pilots.

In addition to Auditrol, founders from these Charlotte-based companies also completed the inaugural cohort: 

• Ryse is an AI-powered tool that provides information to help families navigate K-12 school selection. Founded by Savannah Keith Gress, Ryse offers video-based insights, data-driven search tools and personalized support that allows families to make confident, well-informed decisions. 
• Graphio.ai helps sales and marketing teams identify problems that can slow down their work or cause them to lose customers. It shows where teams are not working well together or where decisions are getting stuck. The company, co-founded by Dmitry Norenko, is already working with 27 customers. 
• Msg2ai, under Rethink Labs, uses AI to help hotels and event spaces answer questions and help guests through text messages. The company was founded by Bart Cant and has already tested its system in more than 12 locations, including Seabrook Island, Lesvos, Charlotte and Brussels.
• Tada AI uses AI to help analyze customer sentiment to improve customer retention metrics for payroll service providers. Founded by Cameron Dixon, Tada AI currently ingests thousands of emails weekly for its three pilot customers, ranging from 50 to 500-employee companies. 

“It was exciting to see how this inaugural gBETA program came together,” said Mike Barugel, program manager for gBETA Charlotte. “Partnering with these five outstanding Charlotte-based companies has been a rewarding way to help grow our local startup community. By supporting early-stage companies, we’re not only creating jobs but also helping shape the future of Charlotte’s tech industry.”

In 2024, the City of Charlotte began a partnership with gener8tor to launch gBETA and gALPHA Charlotte accelerators. Both programs, which focus on early-stage tech-enabled startups, are the first of their kind in Charlotte and support startups based in or interested in relocating to the region. gALPHA Charlotte will launch its next cohort on July 16.

Startup companies and founders interested in learning more about gBETA’s programming and resources or in applying to a future program should visit gener8tor’s gBETA website.