Innovation pays with a grant from the Charlotte Hornets

CHARLOTTE HORNETS

Charlotte Hornets President Fred Whitfield, Playtime Edventures founder Kevin Gatlin and Hornets Foundation executive director Betsy Mack Rinke. Gatlin earned $15, 000 from the Hornets as wnner of the third annual Innovation Summtt.

Kevin Gatlin earned a $15,000 investment from the Charlotte Hornets as winner of the third annual Hornets Innovation Summit.

Gatlin, owner of Charlotte-based Playtime Edventures, markets a line of functional bedsheets and slumber bags for children. was selected as the winner and a $15,000 investment from the Hornets. Playtime Edventures’ best-selling product, the playtime bedsheet, has more than 60 interactive games for children and comes in five languages, including Mandarin, Spanish, French and American Sign Language.

The product line – which includes reversible slumber bags, story-time pillowcases and disposable fitted-sheet play pads – was created for children in hospitals and shelters as an alternative to watching television and electronic devices.  

“The Hornets really put their foot forward into the community in regard to helping minorities,” Gatlin said in a video call with Hornets player Kelly Oubre Jr., who announced him as the winner. “This is a really great opportunity for us. It took a team to create Playtime Edventures and to get our products into the hands of kids who really need them. We’re really happy to now have the Hornets as part of our team.”  

Gatlin was one of four finalists. Five judges – Hornets Sports & Entertainment Executive Vice President Donna Julian, Bank of America Business Banking Market Manager Thomas Parks, The Lonely Entrepreneur Founder & CEO Michael Dermer, Latin American Chamber of Commerce of Charlotte CEO Gris Bailey and Weathered Souls Brewing Owner Marcus Baskerville – picked the winner.

More than 100 applicants participated in the summit by recording a one-minute video pitch and 14 advanced to the second round, in which their pitches were posted on the Hornets’ website and social media for fan voting.

A committee narrowed the contenders to four: Playtime Edventures, Deauxs Lifestyle, a curated self-care company, Durham-based book café Rofhiwa Books and mobile cabana and bar experience Sipsy Cabanas.

In addition to the finalists’ pitches, the summit included business tips by Hornets Sports & Entertainment Managing Partner Curtis Polk and Oubre, who launched a clothing brand, Dope$oul, in 2021.   

In his live pitch, Gatlin shared social media videos showcasing how his products help entertain, teach and uplift kids during extended and short-term hospital stays, as well as within their homes.

He also cited that as a “mission-based” company, a portion of the funding would be used to donate products to local hospitals and shelters.

Each applicant received one year of complimentary resources from The Lonely Entrepreneur, a national nonprofit that provides current and aspiring entrepreneurs with knowledge, tools and support to grow businesses.  

The summit was open to entrepreneurs and businesses located within 150 miles of Spectrum Center that are at least 51% controlled by people of color, which matches criteria used by the National Minority Supplier Development Council for the Minority Business Enterprise Certification.  

The previous two summit winners – Brandi Long’s product, the Jurse, and Elizabeth Escobar’s bilingual job platform, Hay Trabajo – have grown following their participation in the showcase.

In 2021, sales of Long’s product, which transitions from a jacket to a purse, increased by 88%. Last year, Hay Trabajo subscriptions rose 41% following Escobar’s win as well as formed partnerships with more than a dozen new businesses and nonprofits to identify and hire Spanish-speaking or bilingual talent.    

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