The Hurt Hub@Davidson

What The Hurt Hub@Davidson does

The Hurt Hub@Davidson is a 23,000 square foot LEED Gold-certified innovation and entrepreneurship center operated by Davidson College in downtown Davidson, North Carolina. Established in 2014 through philanthropic commitments from Jay Hurt '88 ($5 million) and Ed Van Deman '69 ($1 million), the Hub serves as a physical convener for Davidson College students, alumni, faculty, staff, and the broader Lake Norman regional community. The facility houses 16 private office suites, 36 open desks, 6 private phone rooms, the Van Deman Innovation Lab, and meeting and event space with capacity for more than 200 members.

The Hub operates a portfolio of integrated programs spanning workspace, education, capital, and consulting. Revenue-generating offerings include tiered coworking memberships ($99–$799/month), meeting and event space rentals ($20–$135/hour), and student consulting through the Davidson College Consulting Group (DCCG) at $750–$1,000 per engagement. Educational programming includes CAT CLAWS workshops, Data CATS tutoring, Building a Lean Startup, and the Applied Entrepreneurship Badge. Capital deployment vehicles for student ventures include the Nisbet Venture Fund (up to $32,500), Avinger Impact Fund (up to $8,000), and Try It Fund (up to $1,000). The Hub also operates a Mentor Network, the Davidson Entrepreneurs Network, NEXT Level paid consulting program, Gig-Hub short-term project platform, and free legal and CPA office hours through partnerships with Kornblatt Law and Schwinn CPA PLLC.

The business model is hybrid: recurring subscription revenue from coworking and event space supplements philanthropic contributions and corporate sponsorships (including EY, Truist Charitable Fund, and Quoin). Externally, the Hub extended its reach through a 2023 partnership with Universidad Galileo and edX to launch the 'AI for Marketing' course featuring an AI instructor named Vanessa. As a department of Davidson College rather than an independent legal entity, the Hub does not separately disclose revenue and operates under the college's institutional governance. The organization employs approximately 31 staff, led by Executive Director Liz Brigham.

Name

The Hurt Hub@Davidson

Legal name

The Hurt Hub@Davidson

Website

https://hurthub.davidson.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Hurt Hub@Davidson is a 23,000 sq ft LEED Gold-certified innovation and entrepreneurship center operated by Davidson College, offering coworking memberships, event space, student consulting, founder funding, and mentorship to students, alumni, and the Lake Norman community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161), Other Management Consulting Services (541618), Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (54)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531)

akta.pro primary industry

Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Venture Creation Centers (EDAHAHAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Marketing, Branding & Sales Skills (EDAMAHAG), Small Business & Entrepreneurship Community Education (EDAAAFAK)

Keywords

• Innovation coworking space
• Entrepreneurship education programs
• Student consulting services
• Startup funding programs
• Mentorship and networking

Headquarters

HQ city

Davidson

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Coworking Memberships: Monthly membership fees for dedicated desks, private offices, flex space, and hub club memberships ranging from $99 to $799 per month, providing access to workspace, meeting rooms, and community
2. Meeting and Event Space Rental: Hourly and daily rental of meeting rooms and event spaces to members and non-members, with tiered pricing based on membership status
3. Sponsorships and Philanthropy: Corporate sponsorships, donations, and grants from supporters including individuals and organizations to fund experiential learning, student consulting, and general operations

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The Hurt Hub@Davidson operates a 23,000 square foot LEED Gold-certified innovation and entrepreneurship center that provides flexible coworking memberships (dedicated desks, offices, flex space, day passes), meeting and event space rentals, student-led consulting services through DCCG, educational workshops, mentor networking, and multiple venture funding programs. It serves Davidson College students, alumni, faculty, local entrepreneurs, and small businesses primarily in the Lake Norman region of North Carolina.

Product overview

The Hurt Hub@Davidson is a 23,000 square foot LEED Gold-certified innovation and entrepreneurship center at Davidson College offering a comprehensive ecosystem of programs and services. The core offering includes flexible coworking membership plans (ranging from $99/month Hub Club to $799/month Dedicated Office), meeting and event space rentals, and student consulting services through the Davidson College Consulting Group (DCCG). Educational programs encompass classes and workshops (CAT CLAWS, Data CATS, Building a Lean Startup), mentor networking, and the Applied Entrepreneurship Badge. Funding programs include the Nisbet Venture Fund (up to $32,500), Avinger Impact Fund (up to $8,000), and Try It Fund (up to $1,000). The Hub also provides student engagement programs like Gig-Hub, NEXT Level, and the Davidson Entrepreneurs Network (DEN), along with professional services including legal office hours, CPA consultations, and the Knowledge Hub speaker network. The organization does not operate as a software product company but rather as a physical innovation hub and coworking space.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Van Deman Innovation Lab: A space for Davidson College's innovation, entrepreneurship and emerging technology programs, including open collaboration space, student project rooms, and Data CATS Lab.
• Davidson College Student Consulting (DCCG)

Products and services

• Co-Working Membership Plans Flexible coworking membership options including Dedicated Desk ($399/month), The Hive Workstation ($499/month), Flex Space ($249/month), The Hub Club ($99/month), Dedicated Office ($799/month), Mailbox Only ($20/month), and Day Pass ($20/day) for entrepreneurs, professionals, and remote workers in the Lake Norman community.
• Davidson College Consulting Group (DCCG) Student Consulting Project-based student consulting service connecting startups and small businesses with Davidson College students for business research, marketing strategy, digital development, and data analysis. Most engagements priced at $750–$1,000 with discounted and pro bono options available.
• Meeting and Event Space Rental Rental of conference rooms (Rooms 203, 208, 302, etc.) and event spaces (Event Room 303, Social Commons, Outdoor Patio) with seating capacities ranging from 6 to 80+ and tiered member vs. non-member hourly pricing.
• Classes and Workshops Educational programming including CAT CLAWS (tech skills workshops), Data CATS (data analytics tutoring), Building a Lean Startup course, and various entrepreneurship workshops for students and community members.
• Nisbet Venture Fund Annual pitch competition offering up to $32,500 in investment for Davidson students and recent alumni with innovative for-profit ventures.
• Avinger Impact Fund Funding program providing up to $8,000 to help innovators accelerate their business ideas.
• Try It Fund Grant program offering up to $1,000 for first-time builders, entrepreneurs, and students to pursue creative or innovative ideas.
• Gig-Hub Consulting Platform Platform connecting clients with Davidson students for short-term project engagements, allowing students to expand skillsets while completing client projects.
• NEXT Level Program Paid consulting program pairing first-generation sophomore students with local client partners for eight-week collaborative projects with skill-development workshops.
• Mentor Network Mentorship program pairing students with industry experts, seasoned entrepreneurs, and investors for free guidance and coaching.
• Small Business Legal Office Hours Free 30-minute legal consultations offered in partnership with Kornblatt Law covering entity formation, contracts, business disputes, and general business law.
• CPA Office Hours Free 30-minute CPA consultations offered in partnership with Schwinn CPA PLLC for small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 36 student consultants from 20 majors and 14 countries representing 6 student entrepreneurs
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Universidad GalileocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023International collaboration to develop 'AI for Marketing' program on edX, with AI instructor Vanessa. Combined academic rigor with practical applications for global audience.
• EYcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor connecting with small student teams to help solve problems and pursue research across disciplines.
• QuoincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with student teams on data visualization projects interpreting patterns and trends for field workers and NGO users in international conflict zones.
• Rocus NetworksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuilt economic model analyzing optimal investment levels in information security for company use with clients.
• SensorRxminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnalyzed clinical study data on weather impacts on migraines to support product development.
• Summit Coffee Co.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal business partner engaged with student consulting projects.
• edXcoreTechnology or IntegrationOnline learning platform partner hosting the AI for Marketing program developed by Davidson and Universidad Galileo.
• LaunchCLTminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMentorship program developing entrepreneurs through guidance and shared insights.
• 1 Million Cups Lake NormanminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEntrepreneur support platform providing inclusive space for entrepreneurs to gather, connect, and work through challenges.
• Kornblatt LawminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAttorney Jason Kornblatt provides free 30-minute consultations for small businesses and entrepreneurs on entity formation, M&A, contracts, and business law.
• SCHWINN CPA PLLCminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBob Schwinn provides free 30-minute CPA consultations for small businesses and entrepreneurs.
• Davidson CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent institution that owns and operates The Hurt Hub, providing institutional support, students, faculty, and facilities.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• RevUnit Ventures: Bentonville, AR-based venture studio and coworking operator targeting founders in growing metros. Comparable as a coworking-plus-venture model serving regional SMBs and early-stage founders outside major tech hubs.
• UNC Charlotte 49er Foundry: UNC Charlotte's entrepreneurship hub serving Charlotte-region students and founders with programming and venture support. Comparable as a regional university-affiliated innovation center targeting the same Lake Norman/Charlotte founder pool.

Direct peers

• 1 Million Cups: National Kauffman Foundation program hosting monthly entrepreneur meetups. Hurt Hub hosts the Lake Norman chapter, and the platform provides directly comparable community-led founder programming.
• MIT Martin Trust Center: MIT's entrepreneurship center supporting student founders through mentoring, funding competitions, and experiential programs. Comparable in role and programming mix at a major research university.
• Princeton Keller Center: Princeton's entrepreneurship and innovation hub offering funding, mentoring, courses, and maker space to students and alumni. Comparable as a top-tier liberal arts/ivy ecosystem combining capital vehicles, education, and community programming.
• LaunchCLT: Charlotte-region entrepreneurship support organization explicitly listed as a Hurt Hub partner. Provides mentorship and community programming to founders in the same geographic market.
• Stanford StartX: University-affiliated entrepreneurship accelerator and hub providing funding, mentorship, and workspace to student and alumni founders. Directly comparable as a higher-education-hosted innovation center offering stacked programming, capital, and community.

Broad incumbents

• Industrious: Premium coworking and flexible office operator with national footprint including Charlotte. Comparable as a higher-end coworking provider but lacks the university and venture-funding integration.
• WeWork: Largest global coworking operator with significant Charlotte-metro presence. Competes for the same SMB coworking tenants but does not bundle education, mentorship, or venture funding the way Hurt Hub does.

Emerging players

• Galvanize: Coworking and technical education provider historically focused on data science and software training. Comparable as a coworking-plus-education hybrid, though operating at larger geographic scale and as a for-profit.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/HurtHubDavidson
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC9qOPrG53UdzKAFCIrkVk3w
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheHurtHubatDavidson
• Instagraminstagram.com/thehurthubdavidson
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-hurt-hub-davidson

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Hurt Hub@Davidson