June CIE Connection

Join us in celebrating the inaugural cohort of the Bluetech Cohort of Idea Test Lab on June 5th from 2-5pm!

Join us for Demo Day which marks the culmination of the Bluetech Cohort journey, showcasing the innovative companies and their remarkable founders. Each team will have eight minutes to showcase their ideas, followed by feedback and engaging Q&A.

We welcome everyone to witness these inspiring presentations and the dedication they have shown over the past 4 weeks! The cohort members are able to win prizes totaling up to $10,000, with individual awards of up to $5,000.

Mark your calendars for the Ocean Innovation Conference on September 17th, 2024! Join us to explore technical and sustainable innovations in the Blue Economy. Secure your spot for our Ocean Innovation Conference early by taking advantage of our Early Bird Registration, now available. Don't miss the opportunity to listen to inspiring keynote speakers and a dynamic panel discussing groundbreaking work in the Blue Economy. This year, we’re expanding the Innovation Fair, increasing networking time, and even adding an optional second day (at no additional cost to you!). We can't wait to sea you there!

Current CIE coworker, Morris Nguyen, took home Coastal Entrepreneur Award of the Year for his company Predicate HPG! With a vision rooted in promoting health equity and ensuring no early warning sign goes undetected, Predicate HPG is pioneering the development of an AI-driven early warning system that leverages the combined use of wearable biosensors and natural language processing to detect signs of sepsis.

We are so proud of all the 2024 winners in each category:

Biotechnology: Portrett Pharmaceuticals
Emerging Company: Clean Community Inc.
Health Care: Predicate HPG
Internet Related: Ham House Sports
Manufacturing & Distribution: Greenfield Energy
Minority-Owned Business: Queen Esther Teas
Nonprofit: Safe Haven of Pender Inc.
Retail & Hospitality: Shaka Taco
Retail & Hospitality: Retro Meadery
Professional Services: ReEngineering HR
Technology: Local Catch

A heartfelt thank you to all the individuals who joined us in celebrating these outstanding entrepreneurs, and a special appreciation to the Greater Wilmington Business Journal for their invaluable support in making this event a success!

Photo Credit: Madeline Gray

A huge congratulations to Robert Cooley with Nuream for coming in 1st place for the NC Biotech Venture Challenge! Nuream, a cutting-edge startup in brain data sensing, is currently collaborating with UNCW researchers to craft its first product. Through innovative technology like Fabric-as-a-Sensor (FAAS), Nuream aims to track users' brain activity during sleep, unveiling insights into broader health patterns.

We also want to congratulate Morris Nguyen with Predicate HPG and Will Baird with Boreas Monitoring!

In addition, we want to congratulate three UNCW professors who were chosen as finalist for their pre-venture research. This includes Associate Professor Joseph Covi for his zooplankton toxicology kit, Professor Christopher Halkides for an antifungal compound, and Associate Professor Ying Wang for his universal flu shot!

We wish Robert Cooley and his team good luck as they go to compete at the state-wide level!

This month we are highlighting one of our newest tenants, Kelley Dunne with National Warrior Workforce. Kelley has more than 30+ years of experience in the telecommunications industry and is recognized as an industry pioneer in deploying some of the first 4G broadband wireless capacities across the country.

National Warrior Workforce stands as a testament to the spirit and dedication of our veterans. As a veteran-owned and operated organization, they are focused on the $1.2T infrastructure build out that has created the largest workforce need in our nation’s history. We are incredibly honored to have Kelley and NWW as a valued member of our community at the CIE.

⬆️This could be you⬆️

CIE has offices available!

Why choose an office at CIE?

Dedication to Innovators’ Success: We’re more than just a space; we’re your partners in growth. Our mentoring programs, workshops, and networking events are tailored to propel your entrepreneurial success.
Quiet and Work-Friendly Offices: Silence is golden for productivity. Our offices are designed to minimize background noise, ensuring a serene environment for focused work.
24/7 Access: Entrepreneurs thrive on flexibility. Our coworking space provides round-the-clock access, allowing you to work whenever inspiration strikes.
Free Conference Room Reservations: Need a professional setting for meetings? Our conference rooms are at your disposal, free of charge, for collaborative sessions and client presentations.
Free Parking: Forget the hassle of hunting for parking spots. Our convenient location offers free parking just steps away from your workspace.

Interested in renting an office at CIE?

Clink the link below for more information,

or contact us at CIE@UNCW.EDU to schedule a tour!

8. CIE Media Team

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

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.

"Painting 1 Million Cups Blue"

Join us every Wednesday in June for "Painting 1 Million Cups Blue" in celebration of World Ocean's Day! Bluetech and blue economy entrepreneurs will take the stage at 1 Million Cups Wilmington to showcase their innovative startups and organizations. This initiative not only provides a platform for entrepreneurs to shine but also serves as an opportunity for community members to learn more about the scope of the blue economy in our region. Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to dive into the world of ocean innovation and sustainability!

Idea Test Lab Blue Tech Cohort Demo Day

Wednesday, June 5th | 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM | UNCW CIE

This 4-week program is an early-stage entrepreneurship course designed to enable founders to determine if there is business value in an idea. Each of the four sessions focuses on different entrepreneurial design topics such as value proposition, identifying the customer's problem, competition, and market analysis.

Demo Day culminates the end of the cohort with a showcase of the companies and founders. Each company will have a chance to present and receive feedback and Q&A from the judges. $10,000 will be awarded to the top 3 startups!

1. Idea Test Lab Demo Day

2. Ocean Innovation Conference

3. Coastal Entrepreneur Awards

4. NC Biotech Venture Challenge

5. YWCA Pitch Event

6. Tenant Spotlight: Kelley Dunne

7. Office Space Available

8. CIE Media Team

9. Upcoming Events - Register Today!

"Painting 1 Million Cups Blue"

Welcome Wednesday

Ocean Innovation Conference

10. CIE in the News

11. Parting Thought

“If you can have enough grind and hustle to go sell that card, you’ll do really well in the sports card business.”

12. Message from CIE