Beyond the Award: How Connect Labs’ Craig Scharton Evaluates True B2B Innovation in Health Tech

Building an innovation hub isn't just about putting up a modern building with wet labs and high-speed internet. It’s about creating an active ecosystem where early-stage founders, established enterprises, university researchers, and health system executives bump into each other in the hallway and start building together.

That’s exactly what Craig Scharton, Director of Connect Labs Charlotte (a Wexford Science & Technology initiative), spends his days doing. On the latest episode of the TAG'D: Beyond the Award podcast, host Justin Starbird reconnected with Craig to talk economic development, health tech efficiency, and what went down behind the scenes of the inaugural TAG Awards for B2B Innovation.

Building an Ecosystem from the Ground Up

Connect Labs Charlotte opened its doors in early 2026, offering wet labs, dry labs, and office space paired closely with regional heavyweights like the Wake Forest School of Medicine Charlotte chapter and Atrium Health/Advocate Health. For Craig, the goal is clear: lower the friction for companies entering or expanding in the Southeast market. Whether a startup needs an IP attorney, a pitch meeting with an investor, or feedback from clinical staff, the Connect Labs network is designed to accelerate those connections.

"My favorite part is supporting our members," Craig shares. "Whether someone is launching into the US market or starting up locally, our job is to foster those connections quickly and easily."

The Unsung Power of Healthcare Efficiency

When people think of medical breakthroughs, they usually imagine high-profile drug trials or flashy gadgets. But during the evaluation of the TAG B2B Innovation Award nominees, both Justin and Craig noticed a powerful trend: a surge of B2B solutions focused on backend operational efficiency.

From streamlining operating room logistics and automated hiring to supply chain management, these B2B technologies solve the quiet, high-cost headaches that keep health systems stuck. While it might not make for a televised telethon, improving efficiency directly lowers costs and frees up bandwidth for better patient care.

Holding Innovation to a Higher Standard

As a former entrepreneurship professor and economic development veteran, Craig didn't hand out easy participation trophies when evaluating award submissions. Channeling a rigorous collegiate zoology professor from his past, he held nominees to tough criteria:

• True Uniqueness: Are you actually the only one solving this problem, or are you part of a crowded pack?
• Market Fit & Scalability: Does the business model hold up under real financial pressure?
• Execution: Can the team deliver on the promise?

Craig noted that while every founder feels unique, third-party validation—like winning or being nominated for a TAG Award—gives growth companies the signal boost they need to stand out to investors, prospective hires, and future clients.

Listen to the Full Episode

Catch the complete interview with Craig Scharton on all major podcast platforms or watch the video episode on YouTube to hear more about the intersection of B2B innovation, economic growth, and health tech.