Unleashing possibilities with the power of innovation and entrepreneurial spirit.
What you'll read:
- From Heather’s Desk: Thoughts on AI and Entrepreneurship
- Your Next Big Step: Thrive Lab
- CareHome Health: Entrepreneurial Wins Showcase Wilmington's Startup Community
- Calendar Quick View
- Your Next Workspace Awaits
- Upcoming Event Highlights
- CIE in the News
- Parting Thought
1. From Heather's Desk
Thoughts on AI and Entrepreneurship
Don't Forget the Basics:
- Entrepreneurship is a team sport
- Customer discovery is non-negotiable
- Fall in love with the customer's problem, not your innovation.
Warm greetings and welcome to February!
At CIE, we are seeing a remarkable wave of new innovators energized from the availability of artificial intelligence (AI). AI has become a powerful tool to help entrepreneurs with creativity and problem solving, and can absolutely help businesses move further, faster.
However, we've been seeing a disconnect of new innovators relying too much on AI as a trusted innovation partner, and developing ideas in a vacuum for too early and too long. This is an observation, it isn't judgement. AI is a new technology that people are still figuring out. This is a reminder that if you are developing a new product or businesses, it's important to remember entrepreneurial fundamentals.
- Entrepreneurship is a team sport.
AI can help with creativity, but it can't replace the value of real human collaboration. The best ideas develop evolve through conversation. - Customer discovery is non-negotiable.
A new product, invention, or AI-generated idea isn't a business until it solves a real problem for a real customer. If you have a new AI creation, and want to start customer discovery I highly recommend reading or listening to The Mom Test by Rob Fitzpatrick. - Fall in love with the customer's problem, not your innovation.
Sometimes solving the customer's problem may not be the innovation that you think it is. Through customer discovery, you may find other solutions that will solve the problem even better. Stay curious, stay flexible, and let the customer guide you to a stronger solution. (Yes, I know this is a repeat of #2 with a reframe, but it's that important.)
Interested in more basics? Here are a few of my Greater Wilmington Business Journal Insights columns:
We're here to help guide your innovation - AI powered or otherwise - and we can't wait to see what you create next.
- Heather McWhorter, UNCW CIE Director
2. Your Next Big Step: Thrive Lab
Thrive Lab: Business Skills for Sustainable Growth
Build Bold. Grow Smart. Thrive Long.
Beginning March 2026, Thrive Lab will guide participants through a three-plus-month series of sessions focused on finance, funding, sales, product strategy, and leadership. Entrepreneurs will also build a strong peer network and receive hands-on support to develop the mindset and capabilities of CEOs, CFOs, and CPOs, all while preserving the unique strengths that make their business thrive.
What’s in it for YOU?
- Mentorship and guidance; access to CIE mentors and peer mentoring
- Connections to a network of UNCW community and ecosystem partners
- Hear from expert speakers and panelists
- Included course materials
- Post-program support
Program Schedule
Thrive Lab includes monthly in‑person sessions, paired with mentor meetings between sessions. See the website below for additional schedule information.
Program Registration
Thanks to Wells Fargo’s support, we’re able to offer Thrive Lab at a reduced rate of $750. Participants are invoiced upon acceptance. Applications close Friday, February 27 at 5 p.m.
3. CareHome Health: Entrepreneurial Wins Showcase Wilmington's Startup Community
AJ Trelease, founder of CareHome Health Solutions, continues to stand out as an entrepreneurial leader in healthcare innovation in southeast NC, earning significant recognition in 2025 for his work that improves medication safety and supports senior wellness. Below we are highlighting three recent wins that showcase the startup's traction.
NC TECH Awards (Dec 2025)
CareHome Health was named a "Top Tech Startup to Watch" in the NC TECH Awards, one of the state’s largest celebrations of innovation. (We missed CareHome Health in our list of NC TECH winners last month.)
Greater Wilmington Business Journal 2025 Health Care Heroes (Nov 2025)
AJ was awarded as the 2025 winner in the "Innovation in Healthcare" category.
Catalyst 2025 Winner (Sept 2025)
CareHome Health Solutions received the 2025 CTIA Wireless Foundation Catalyst award for its Graciela device, a smart pill and water dispenser. With 5G connectivity and real‑time caregiver alerts, Graciela offers a comprehensive, tech‑forward approach to medication management and senior safety.
CareHome Health Solutions also received an NC IDEA MICRO grant in 2025. These recognitions underscore the impact of the CareHome Health Solutions team's work in advancing medication compliance and leading proactive emergency prevention for seniors and their caregivers. Congratulations, AJ and team!
4. Calendar Quick View
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Feb 3 | CIE Office Hours @ Randall Library Feb 4 | Welcome Wednesday Feb 5 noon-1 p.m. | Wilmington Innovation Forum Kickoff – then every month on the first Thursday Feb 5 | GrepBeat Rising Stars Celebration, Durham (Heather is a judge) Feb 10 | All Blue meeting: 2026 planning* - rescheduled from Feb 3 due to the snow Feb 10 | Leadership Wilmington Entrepreneurship & Small Business Growth Day @ CIE* Feb 10 | Idea Test Lab Alumni Founders Roundtable* Feb 17 | UNCW WITX - https://csbapp.uncw.edu/witx/WITX Feb 17 | Founders’ Roundtable* Feb 17 | CIE Office Hours @ Randall Library Feb 17 | CIE Mentor Meeting* Feb 19 | NEW Tough Love event at CIE* Feb 19-22 | Women's Coastal Retreat and Business Summit, Kitty Hawk - Information and Registration Feb 25 10:30-11:30 | Deep Dive into Agentic AI 201 seminar by Dr. Karl Ricanek Feb 23 @ 5 p.m. | NC IDEA grants DUE Feb 26 | Coalition meeting at CIE Feb 27 | Thrive Lab Applications DUE Mar 2 1-2 p.m. | CCube Roundtable Open House | Centering Entrepreneurs Through Advocacy and Program Design | Heather McWhorter as conversation facilitator Mar 4 | Welcome Wednesday Mar 5 noon-1 p.m. | Wilmington Innovation Forum Mar 9 | Thrive Lab | Session 1 – Think Like a CEO @ CIE (for registered cohort members only) Mar 9-12 | Elevate CEO by Cape Fear Ventures | 📍 Saltwater Resort – Surf City, NC | $2,000 | Apply here: https://capefear.vc/elevate/#apply Mar 16-20 | UNCW Business Week Mar 16 | NEW DEEEEEP Dive at CIE Mar 17 | Founders’ Roundtable* Mar 17 | CIE Office Hours @ Randall Library Mar 17 | CIE Mentor Meeting* Mar 24-25 | CED VentureConnect Mar 25 | Chamber CLDA 7th Graders Visiting CIE Mar 31 | CIE Office Hours @ Randall Library
*By invitation. As CIE for additional information. |
5. Your Next Workspace Awaits
Join our startup incubator with private office space now available for growing ventures. These offices are designed for companies seeking a focused, professional workspace inside a collaborative innovation hub.
CIE’s incubator includes 20 private offices and supports both UNCW-affiliated and community-based startups. Each office offers a quiet, secure environment while keeping founders connected to mentoring, workshops, networking opportunities, and university resources.
Why choose CIE?
- Quiet and work-friendly offices
- 24/7 access and free parking
- Free conference room reservations
- Business support services
- Proximity to a community of innovators and changemakers.
If you’re interested in learning more or exploring if CIE space is the right fit for you, contact cie@uncw.edu or learn more on our website.
6. Upcoming Event Highlights
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February CIE Office Hours at Randall Hall Tuesday, February 3 and 17 | 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. CIE Office Hours give UNCW students the chance to connect one‑on‑one with our team for personalized guidance on their entrepreneurial journey. Whether you’re exploring a new idea, developing a startup, or simply curious about innovation, we’re here to support you. Students can stop by to:
Who: UNCW Students Where: Randall Hall, First Floor, Room 1045 Cost: Free, no registration required
Wilmington Innovation Forum February Session Spotlight: How Entrepreneurs Work with Mentors Dr. Seth Butler, Assistant Professor in the UNCW Cameron School of Business, leads a dynamic conversation on how entrepreneurs and mentors work together to strengthen decision‑making, accelerate growth, and navigate the challenges of building a business. Who: Entrepreneurs, UNCW faculty, staff, and students. Where: UNCW CIE Cost: Free for CIE members, tenants, mentors, and coworkers, and UNCW staff and faculty. $5.00 for non CIE members. Welcome Wednesday Welcome Wednesday is on Wednesday, February 4, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and you're invited to spend the day with us! Throughout the day, CIE staff are available to provide guided tours of our facility, answer questions about CIE and UNCW, and help visitors connect with programs, resources, and ecosystem partners. As a bonus, entrepreneurs enjoy free coworking all day, making it a perfect opportunity to experience our space, meet the team, and plug into our community.
Who: Entrepreneurs, UNCW faculty, staff, students, and anyone curious about innovation, entrepreneurship, or the CIE community. Where: UNCW CIE Cost: Free, no registration required. |
7. CIE in the News
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8. Parting Thought
"We live in a world of never-ending To Do Lists. What would it look like for you if you transitioned from a To Do List to a To Be List?"
- Heather McWhorter, CIE Director, at Intentional in January 2026