Empowering bold ideas, courageous individuals, and our community through innovation and entrepreneurship.
What you'll read:
1. Launch Your Idea: Idea Test Lab powered by Wells Fargo
2. Innovation+sustainability immersion experience: EcoInnovate Weekend
3. Funding Available: NC IDEA and NC Biotech Challenge
4. Intentional: Plan for a Remarkable 2024
5. Spotlight: Forte Institute
6. Upcoming Events - Register Today!
7. Elevate Your Visual Storytelling
8. CIE in the News
9. Parting Thought
Reading Time: 4.5 Min
1. Launch Your Idea in 2024:
Idea Test Lab powered by Wells Fargo
Do you have a (tech) idea and want to move it forward? Sign up now for Idea Test Lab powered by Wells Fargo to learn how!
Idea Test Lab empowers early-stage founders to determine the true business potential of their ideas. Don't miss out on our upcoming cohorts in early 2024, including a Women in Tech cohort and a specialized Bluetech/Climate-tech focused cohort. Discover more and complete your application by clicking the button below!
2. Innovation+sustainability immersion experience:
EcoInnovate Weekend
Introducing the exciting EcoInnovate Weekend! Immerse yourself in a vibrant ecosystem with ideas, collaboration, and mentorship, as you embark on a journey to create game-changing ventures in the realm of sustainability and climatetech.
This weekend serves as the perfect launchpad for impactful sustainability-focused ideas and startups. Additionally, seize the opportunity to connect with visionaries, researchers, and the thriving Wilmington startup community.
Mark your calendars for March 15-17, 2024.
- No experience in startups or sustainability expertise is required.
- UNCW students, faculty, and staff and community are welcome!
3. Funding Available: NC IDEA and NC Biotech Venture Challenge
NC IDEA - On January 22, NC IDEA held an information session about their Spring 2024 grant cycle at CIE. They gave a general overview of MICRO ($10K) and SEED ($50K) grants. If you were unable to attend, here is a link to a webinar recording: NC IDEA Spring 2024 Grants Info Session Webinar Recording on Vimeo. Applications are due on February 26 at 5PM. Additional info: Spring 2024 Grant Cycle – NC IDEA.
NC Biotech Venture Challenge - The North Carolina Biotechnology Center Southeastern Office has launched this life-sciences-based, innovation-focused venture challenge for Southeastern North Carolina to raise the profile, increase the volume, and enhance the success of regional life science innovation, commercialization, entrepreneurs, and companies. Information, guidelines, and application info are here. Applications are due on February 29 at 5PM.
4. Intentional: Plan for a Remarkable 2024
In a packed room on January 23, CIE Director Heather McWhorter guided each participant, from visionary entrepreneurs to experienced mentors, to design an actionable, meaningful plan for 2024. Through this interactive and personal process that works, each person will aim to focus on what matters most to them this year. MOST goals were developed:
M - motivating, exciting
O - objective, measurable
S - small enough to be obtainable
T - timely - important now + time-bound
Focusing energy builds resiliency and balance for long-term success. Heather will follow up with the attendees in May as an accountability partner. This program will be offered again on January 21, 2025.
5. Tenant Spotlight: Forté Institute
This month, we are shining the spotlight on Hoop and Jessica from the Forté Institute as our featured incubator tenant. Forté is a strengths-based communication style process that shares the “who the person is”, “how they have been adapting to their environment over the past 30 days” and “how they are most likely coming across to others presently.”
The positive energy of Hoop and Jessica has an incredible influence on the entire CIE Community and we are so happy that they are part of it! Be sure to check out Hoop's recently published Communications Intelligence book with McGraw Hill!
6. Upcoming Events - Register Today!
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Every Wednesday at 9:00 AM, entrepreneurs and the community gather to hear from an entrepreneur or two and to provide suggestions and connections to help them. If you are an entrepreneur and have been in business less than 5 years, please visit the website and apply to present.
NC TECH NC STIR Briefing
Thursday, February 8, 2024 | 9:00AM - 11:00AM | Free | @CIE
NC TECH is hosting a supplemental briefing in Wilmington for the annual North Carolina State of Technology Industry Report (NC STIR). The STIR provides a snapshot of North Carolina's tech sector. The actual report serves as a repository of facts, statistics, trends, narratives, and insights into NC’s tech industry. It is a guide for companies considering headquarters relocation or operations establishment and a source of information on tech trends for policymakers. It also serves as a collection of stories that highlight the vibrancy of the state’s tech sector.
NC BIOTECH Venture Challenge
The North Carolina Biotechnology Center has introduced an exciting venture challenge with a focus on life sciences innovation. This initiative aims to elevate the visibility, amplify the impact, and drive the achievements of life science commercialization, innovators, entrepreneurs, and companies throughout North Carolina's diverse regions. Benefits include networking, mentoring, incubator tenancy, promotion, and monetary awards!
Application Period: February 1 – February 29, 2024 5:00 pm
Welcome Wednesday
Wednesday, March 6 | 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM | @CIE
Visitors welcome! CIE staff will be available all day to provide tours of our facility, to answer questions about CIE or UNCW, and to connect you to programs and ecosystem partners.
Bonus: Free coworking all day for entrepreneurs!
Registration is not required.
Sponsored by: City of Wilmington
CIE Idea Test Lab powered by Wells Fargo
March - June | @CIE
The Idea Test Lab is a 4-week program designed to create an inclusive pipeline of high-growth entrepreneurs and startups in Southeastern North Carolina and to build resilience in founders. There are two upcoming cohorts that are focused on Women in Tech and Blue Tech. Click the button below to learn more.
EcoInnovate Weekend for Startups
March 15-17 | @CIE
Join us for an extraordinary experience of sustainable innovation at EcoInnovate Weekend! This event is the perfect platform for you to ignite your passion for sustainability and jumpstart impactful ideas and startups. Get ready to connect with like-minded innovators, researchers, and the thriving startup community of Wilmington.
The Coalition
Your go-to business resource for Southeast North Carolina.
Partners throughout the region have a variety of events each month.
Check out the Monthly Community Calendar for details.
7. Elevate Your Visual Storytelling
The CIE Media Team is comprised of talented Film Studies and Communications students dedicated to providing top-notch media and digital arts services.
While our primary mission is to serve as a resource for CIE tenants,
we're also passionate about giving back to the community.
That's why we offer our expertise to local businesses.
Our expertise includes a diverse range of services:
-Videography & Photography
-Pitch and Promotional Videos
-Kickstarter or GoFundMe Videos
-Demo and Training Videos
-Recording Programs and Events
-Headshots and Product Photos
-Graphic Design
-Web and App Development
Check out our Team's Intro Video!
Let's craft stories, build brands, and make an impact together.
The CIE Media Team is here to transform your imagination into reality.
8. CIE in the News
$500M Endowment Aims To Back NC University Innovation
Durham-based NCInnovation plans to use a $500 million endowment granted by the state legislature in October to help North Carolina universities commercialize the finished product of their research. The mission stems from a disconnect between the state’s academic research distinctions and the commercialization of that research.
While the University of North Carolina Wilmington has a healthy research department, NCInnovation can help improve the connections between research being done in Wilmington and other parts of the state, said Heather McWhorter, director of UNCW's Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
Read more here:
$500M endowment aims to back NC university innovation - WilmingtonBiz
NC IDEA Encourages Startups To Apply For Up To $50,000
The Durham-based NC IDEA Foundation has sniffed out 100 million-dollar ideas.
The independent private foundation’s grants have provided the state’s entrepreneurs with capital since 2006. Almost 20 years later, its 2024 grant cycle has almost begun, as entrepreneurs gather their resources to apply for either $10,000 or $50,000 in nondilutive funding.
Each year, the industry-agnostic foundation awards 12 SEED grants to early-stage startups that have proven a concept and 30 micro grants to young startups that still need to prove their concept.
Read more about how SEED grants have benefited our local entrepreneurs here:
NC IDEA Encourages Startups To Apply For Up To $50,000
UNCW Program To Incubate Female, Blue Economy Startups
UNCW CIE is thrilled to introduce the groundbreaking Idea Test Lab, a transformative four-week program crafted to empower and nurture the brightest minds in entrepreneurship.
Our inaugural cohort is exclusively dedicated to empowering women in the tech industry and will run from March to April. Following this, the second cohort will delve into the exciting realms of blue tech and climate tech, commencing in May.
Those fortunate enough to be selected for the Idea Test Lab will not only receive invaluable guidance and support but will also become co-workers within the CIE, paving the way for an extraordinary future in 2024.
Read more in the article: UNCW program to incubate female, blue economy startups | WilmingtonBiz
9. Parting Thought
"Don't be afraid to give up the good to go for the great." - John D. Rockefeller