2024 Dealmakers of the Year Honorees

Andrew Ashur             
Founder & CEO          
Lucid Bots     

An AI robotics company that is committed to extending human reach by building the world's most productive robots that perform dangerous and demanding tasks.

• Raised $9.1 million of Series A venture funding in a deal led by Cubit Capital In May, 2024. Danu Venture Group, Trinity West Ventures, IDEA Fund Partners, Gratus Capital, and Y Combinator also participated in the round.
• The funds will be used to advance the company's portfolio of autonomous robotics, scale operations, and leverage its AI-driven software and sensor platform to expand into new markets
• Acquired an AI robotics software company, Avianna, a few months later.
  
  

 

Alex Smereczniak    
Co-Founder/Board Member

Daniel D'Aquisto       
Co-Founder & Chief Growth Officer
2ULaundry 

Provider of on-demand laundry and dry-cleaning services intended to offer subscription-based cleaning services. The company's services include free and convenient pickup and delivery of the clothes, enabling customers to track updates throughout the process hassle-free.     

• Raised $20 million of venture funding through a combination of debt and equity in January, 2023, putting the company's pre-money valuation at $60 million.
• $15 million of Series B venture funding was led by Level 5 Capital Partners with participation from other undisclosed investors.
• $5 million of the debt was provided by undisclosed lenders.
• The funds will be used to continue scaling physical locations and making the company's services accessible to families across the US.

 

  

Tripp Davis        
Partner/Managing Director       
7 Mile Advisors/Houlihan Lokey

Leroy Davis      
Partner/Managing Director
7 Mile Advisors/Houlihan Lokey

Andy Johnston                
Partner/Managing Director       
7 Mile Advisors/Houlihan Lokey

 7 Mile Advisors, is a Charlotte, NC-based boutique investment banking firm. Houlihan Lokey, Inc., is a Los Angeles, CA-based investment banking firm. 

• Houlihan Lokey acquired 7 Mile Advisors.
• The transaction, signed July 7, 2023, further enhances Houlihan Lokey’s deep industry expertise in IT services and expands the firm’s geographic footprint.

 

                                               

SOCIAL IMPACT

Juan Garzón  
Managing Director, Innovate Charlotte             
Head of Innovation-led Entrepreneurship, City of Charlotte    

• Dedicated to creating opportunities and driving positive changes, such as spearheading the gALPHA and gBETA accelerators in partnership with gener8tor, embodying the spirit of what it means to have a social impact. 
• Resurrected the Seed The South Capital Summit in May of this year with more than 350 entrepreneurs, investors, and community leaders from around the region.
• Leading PitchBreakfast for over a decade and almost 500 startups have participated in that time.