Sheldon Grizzle, founder of Co.Lab, talks to a crowd at SXSW Interactive in March about Chattanooga’s entrepreneurship community.SHELDON GRIZZLE• Company: Co.LabTitle: Founder and air traffic controller• Age: 30• Education: Psychology degree from Covenant College• First job: From age 10 till he left for college, Grizzle helped out in his father’s south Florida book store• Family: Grizzle and his wife Kelly have been married since 2003. They have two kids, Naomi, 3, and Micah, 8 months.• Personal: Grizzle has always enjoyed soccer and helped start the Chattanooga Football Club.
Sheldon Grizzle started learning how to run a business before he reached fifth grade.
The future founder of startup accelerator Co.Lab stocked shelves at his father’s book store from age 10 until he left his Florida home for Covenant College.
“My dad’s one of the most entrepreneurial guys I know,” he said. “It’s really had a big impact on my life.”
Today, Grizzle calls himself Co.Lab’s air traffic controller, constantly directing successful Chattanooga investors and business people to the fledgling entrepreneurs who go to the Co.Lab for help.