June CIE Connection

Intentional - Plan for a Remarkable Year

Tuesday, January 21 | 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

Develop your own plan for a remarkable 2025 in this workshop. CIE Director Heather McWhorter will facilitate a process to help you intentionally develop your plan for success.

Open to entrepreneurs, students, facility, and anyone interested in developing a plan for a great year.

This hands-on session will guide you through the process of building a personalized plan to achieve your goals, foster resilience, and stay on track throughout the year.

This workshop is designed to:

Set intentional goals for 2025.
Learn strategies to balance your life while building your business or career.
Gain access to ongoing support—past participants were offered follow-up opportunities for 1:1 guidance from our facilitator, Heather McWhorter.

Last month, the CIE hosted 7th graders as part of the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce's Career and Leadership Development Academy (CLDA). The day started with the 7th grade students learning from the 1 Million Cups presentations - thank you to 1 Million Cups Wilmington Lead Organizer Jack Fleming for incorporating the students into our community's weekly event, and to Christy Owens from UTAP2 for sharing her venture with them, and to Angela Mundy from Carolina Girl Cookie Company for sharing her venture and delicious cookies with them!

After 1 Million Cups, they prototyped wearable tech devices using tinsel, cardboard, and markers. After creating their devices, they shared their innovations with entrepreneurs Robert S. Cooley, Jr. from Nuream and Daniel Summers from Lab Logs.

Keep an eye out this month to see what the next group of CLDA 7th graders make on January 15th, where the focus of prototyping will be on life sciences!

Wayne Hippo is an owner and Managing Partner of PS Solutions, a custom software development and consulting firm with offices in Altoona, PA, Pittsburgh, PA, and Wilmington, NC. PS Solutions is a team of U.S.-based software developers who build custom software solutions for businesses of all sizes, ranging from building prototypes for start-ups to enterprise-level software for international businesses and all steps in between.

Wayne’s primary role as one of the Managing Partners of PS Solutions is in Company Strategic Planning and Development. The Software Development Outsourcing Industry has always been about change driven by the evolution of technology. If you do not like change or refuse to look at new opportunities, you can’t last in this industry.

PS Solutions returned to CIE in December, which was actually a homecoming. They first expanded to Wilmington in 2017 and their first office was at the CIE. As they grew, PS Solutions expanded into larger development centers in the Wilmington area. Even after they grew out of CIE, PS Solutions remain engaged as a CIE Stakeholder and active participant through the years.

Most recently, Wayne evaluated market workforce demands and changes in the industry, and realized that that under the proper circumstances many people can productively work from home. Wayne recognized that it’s not for everyone, so it’s important to create a model that allows flexibly to accommodate employees of all types. Some want to be in the office every day, others want to work from home. The CIE facility allows PS Solutions to create a model the needs of the employees can be accommodated and they have the opportunity to succeed. PS Solutions is finishing up their biggest year ever and plans to continue growth. The flexibility that the CIE can provide as needs arise allows PS Solutions to not have to worry about the confines of a rigid work environment. Wayne also appreciates that he and his team are part of such a creative and sharing environment.

Memberships support the CIE's resources to maintain and expand programs that support entrepreneurship in the Wilmington region. In addition to supporting the CIE mission, some benefits in becoming a member include event access, space access, virtual access and discounts (coming soon in 2025!), and much more!

Individual Membership types:

Student – $25: Open to formally enrolled university and community college students.
UNCW Faculty/Staff/Alumni – $50: For UNCW faculty and staff, this special membership level provides an opportunity to become involved in the Center.
Individual – $75: Open to individual community members.
Individual (Lifetime) – $500: Lifetime membership. Open to individual community members.

Business Memberships:

Startup – $125: Two entrepreneurs and/or executives in the same company or organization.
Nonprofit – $125: Organizations with current or pending 501c3 status; includes all organization members.
Stakeholder < 25 Employees – $250
Stakeholder > 25 Employees – $500

Idea Test Lab Applications Launch

January 6, 2025

The Idea Test Lab is a cohort based, 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. These two cohorts in early 2025 will include a Women in Tech/Female Founders cohort, as well as a Bluetech/Climate-tech focused cohort.

Qualifications

Early-stage (ideation stage) company
High impact technology
Relevant to cohort technology sector
Able to attend the 4 sessions and the Pitch Day

Time Commitment

Four weeks - One 3-hour session per week for four weeks, followed by a Pitch Day (will be held at the of the fourth week). If you cannot make the sessions in person, there will be a hybrid option, but Pitch Day is in person.

Women in Tech & Female Founders - Cohort runs March through April, 2025

Bluetech & ClimateTech - Cohort runs May through June 2025

Five Year Anniversary of 1 Million Cups

Wednesday, February 12 | 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Join us on February 12th, 2025 to celebrate the 5th Anniversary of 1 Million Cups at UNCW CIE! This milestone event will bring together entrepreneurs, innovators, and community members for an exciting day of networking, collaboration, and inspiration. Over the past five years, 1 Million Cups has served as a platform for local startups to share their ideas, receive feedback, and grow their businesses. Don't miss out on this special anniversary event, where we'll look back on the incredible journey, highlight success stories, and continue building a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem.

1. Intentional Workshop 2025

2. NC TECH Awards

3. Entrepreneurship as a Career Path

4. Spotlight: Wayne Hippo, PS Solutions

5. 2025 Membership Available

7. CIE in the News

8. Parting Thought