I wish you all well in the statewide snowpocalylpse that is allegedly beginning within the hour-ish. It seems Wilmington may be spared. So one may as well read some news.
We saw some nice exposure for Wilmington's OpiAID late last week when CEO David Reeser appeared on Amplified CEO with serial entrepreneur and host Richard Stroupe. David (whom we know to be a great show guest from his Friday Noonerappearance) discussed his early interests, some of the injustices and imbalances that plague the healthcare system, and ultimately how his startup implements AI to improve opioid use disorder.
Big news for CareHome Health Solutions (which GrepBeat recently wrote about) as the startup announces on LinkedIn that it’s been accepted into RIoT’s spring accelerator program. This program—aka “RAP”—is a 12-week experience supporting “startups and entrepreneurs who are ready to take their businesses to the next level.”
For CareHome, this will mean progress various hashtag-agetech solutions such as the Graciela device (which automates medication dispensing older patients), and—big winkyface—an “upcoming caregiver app.”
Okay. I thought I was done talking about our inaugural “Rising Stars” event. And there’s not much new to say. But it is worth noting, just because it’s cool, that the Wilmington winners got an additional shoutout from Wilmington Biz after the fact.
Check out this last (I promise) little celebration of the honorees here. Use it as an excuse to congratulate them if you forgot to before.
CIE ITL WiT App
Obviously this means that it's crunch time for applications to the CIE Idea Test Lab "Women-in-Tech" cohort. Said cohort will participate in a four-week program designed to "create an inclusive pipeline for high-growth entrepreneurs and startups in southeastern North Carolina" and help founders build resilience. Per UNCW CIE, it's a chance to "refine your concept, gain feedback, and take your vision to the next level."
There's a bit of time left, but applications are due Friday, February 28th. See details and apply here.
In The Soup
The GrepBeat Podcast’s weekly In The Soup program returns with an episode about AI’s influence on the future of healthcare. Co-hosts Jenn Summe (Primordial) and Melissa Crosby (Colopy Ventures) take the lead as usual, and are joined by two healthtech: Scott McQuiggan of Social Cascade (a Primordial portfolio company) and CareYaya’s Neal Shah (who spoke on similar topics at last week’s Triangle Tech Night event).
This is a great conversation on a topic that seems to make people nervous and hopeful in equal measure. Listen and subscribe here, and don’t forget to catch those just-for-fun opening notes (this week concerning phonographs, the Tuskegee Airmen, and the importance of mint-chocolate things)
More Deadlines
Not to harp, but just in case you aren't reading our Triangle-centric newsletter as well, we did make note yesterday of a few deadlines relevant to founders throughout the state. First, the application window for CED's ninth "GRO" cohort closes this Friday, the 21st. Second, applications for NC IDEA's next round of MICRO ($10K) and SEED ($50K) grants are due next Monday the 24th.
Details and application forms for CED's GRO Incubator here, and for NC IDEA spring grants here.
Extra Bit
Did you know that virtual book clubs are allegedly on the rise? I Googled it. Judging by the super-trustworthy AI response and sources ranging from Time Magazine to something called BookNet Canada, itappears that anywhere from 5 million to all Millennial and Gen-Z Americans are participating in some kind of online book club.
This is just to say that while the GrepBeat Book Club meets in the Triangle (and will do so this Friday), you're all welcome to join the group, read along (our latest book is Kurt Vonnegut's "Player Piano") and send us your thoughts, ideas for next books, and so on.
