The Entrepreneurs helped by the Network for Entrepreneurs in Wilmington are creating the JOBS and positive headlines at the NC coast.

Would YOU share our excitement on YOUR social media?

We have more than 20 highlights below from 2022. Maybe you would prefer to post one of those stories on your social media. (I can't be the only cheerleading advocate to have a real impact.)

Yes, Entrepreneurs create JOBS not bureaucrats.


2022 - A year of growth to remember at the coast

New article this week - Tech Trends in the NEW Year ... And more than 20 highlights below  - https://www.wilmingtonbiz.com/technology/2022/12/16/tech_trends_in_the_new_year/23969


SUPPORT for NEW
Imagine what we could do with more financial support. Would you consider upgrading and becoming a TITLE level sponsor like Adam Shay CPA, Jordan at Spelamode, Kymanox. UNCW CIE, Canapi Ventures and NC IDEA ? Anyone want to upgrade?

Can you name a North Carolina ecosystem organization that had a better year with such limited resources?


FOR HOLIDAY GIGGLES 
(Just for fun, before the holidays, keep in mind about the unique dish of Wilmington, the Christmas Flounder )
https://www.ourstate.com/the-tall-tale-of-the-christmas-flounder/

The WHALE in the picture at the top is an albino humpback whale named Migaloo. No, that is not me in my paleness at the beach in the ocean pretending to be MOBY....A reference to the WALE Angel Network.


OK Here is the long list of highlights in 2022 for NEW and our members

1. Well, it is hard to share better news than being ranked #1 startup ecosystem in the USA among cities our size and #2 in the World. This happened at the 7th Anniversary event for NEW held at End of Days Distillery in May.
This is the StartupBlink.com ranking of ecosystems.
https://wraltechwire.com/2022/06/02/wilmingtons-startup-scene-isnt-up-and-coming-its-here-and-ranked-no-1/


2. If Wilmington NC is the #162 size city by population in the USA, how are we ranked the #59 EMERGING startup ecosystem in the WORLD? This is the recent StartupGenome.com ranking that is less about population size.
Hard work, heavy lifting and great work by entrepreneurs
It is VERY possible that Wilmington could pass Charlotte next year as we only trail by 7 US cities.
Keep in mind, Charlotte has over 2 Million citizens compared to 285,000 in Wilmington region.
https://startupgenome.com/reports/gser2022
See page #41 


3. NC Technology Association Tech Innovation Index - 
Wilmington NC is ranked #54 in a new national Tech Innovation Index and again we are the #162 city by population size.
Again, Raleigh / Durham region, Charlotte and Wilmington in third place in North Carolina.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmIO_TBKzNU


4. WINS 
OpiAID - Wins $50,000 SEED grant from NC IDEA   https://www.wilmingtonbiz.com/technology/2022/11/16/data_science_startup_opiaid_receives_50000_grant_to_scale/23863

Essential Personnel - Wins $50,000 SEED grant from NC IDEA and wins NC Tech Association Startup Showcase and Top Ten Startups to Watch
F3TCH - Wins the 1st place Greensboro Capital Connect cash prize ...in GREENSBORO  (I was there in support)
CECIL - Wins NC IDEA SEED grant 
Project HEEL - Wins NC IDEA Micro Grant 
Telios - See #21

(This happens because of the work of the entrepreneur AND the advocacy work of NEW as I serve on these committees at NCTA and NC IDEA. You HAVE to be in the room where important decisions are made.)


5. CED - Wilmington members attended the annual VentureConnect Investor Conference to actively support  F3TCH and Renaissance Fiber presenting on stage.
Wilmington had more participants /attendees at CEDnc.org than any other city in NC other than the host region of Triangle.
Who will present this year?
https://www.tfaforms.com/5023134


6. DigSouth in Charleston SC, FOUR presenting companies from Wilmington and the After Party at the WALE bar, oops the WHALE Bar
Telios
Essential Personnel
OpiAId
F3TCH
https://www.digsouthtechsummit.com/

Applications open now - https://share.hsforms.com/1qQgPb5ztTimWTDdPEihmSwbze6


7. Start Up TV Show that NEW recruited to Wilmington , filmed FIVE episodes in Wilmington NC, named for three Emmy Nominations including the CASTING of our entrepreneurs.
https://www.starnewsonline.com/story/entertainment/2022/05/11/wilmington-filmed-pbs-tv-show-start-up-earns-3-emmy-nominations-docuseries/9703711002/

https://www.pbsnc.org/blogs/watch/start-up-showcases-wilmington/


8. GREAT events hosted by NEW like the Three Wise VCs talking about Traction, market size and team
(Thanks again to Jack Fleming of Socialry Marketing for recording)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yuy8lCMZTA


9. Our 1/2 day, three session Life Sciences in Wilmington (SOLD OUT) event with Art Pappas, with the largest VC fund we have ever had on our stage at $250 MILLION
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMF_jP0mA6U&feature=youtu.be

https://www.wilmingtonbiz.com/more_news/2022/10/21/bringing_jobs_to_life/23772


10.  WALE Angel Network made new LOCAL investments - F3TCH, Telios and OpiAID and other regional deals.
https://www.wilmingtonbiz.com/technology/2022/11/18/email_for_a_web3_world/23867

https://hypepotamus.com/feature/wilmington-north-carolina-f3tch/


11. Growth of Ohanafy Software - Now with 10 clients and 12 employees and hiring   (Former female sales exec with nCino)
We REALLY helped with media coverage, investor and industry contacts.
https://hypepotamus.com/people/profiles/from-banking-to-a-brewery-meet-ohanafys-co-founder-natalie-waggett/

https://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/inno/stories/profiles/2022/11/25/ohanafy-salesforce-craft-beer-north-carolina.html


12. Wilmington got a shout out at the annual NC IDEA Ecosystem Summit. 
Wilmington finally gets some R-E-S-P-E-C-T as the city is recognized in ALL THREE graphs on this slide in front of 600 people in Winston - Salem. I gave Wilmington a solo standing ovation.
I was also a speaker at this event.
Startup Genome, NC Tech Index and the StartupBlink were the three graphs on the slide by the NC IDEA executive.
https://wraltechwire.com/2022/11/16/guest-opinion-to-be-rather-than-to-seem-yall/


13. Finally some programming is accepted by the local entrepreneurs outside of monthly EVENTS.
The Startup EQ , or emotional intelligence programming was a VERY positive experience for the entrepreneurs who participated. Thanks to Heather and NC IDEA for the partnership.

This will lead to the Hustle N Harvest PREcelerator program that is close to going LIVE.
This is based on the Lean Business Canvas Plan.
https://www.wilmingtonbiz.com/entrepreneurs/2021/11/15/grant_funds_to_enhance_local_entrepreneurship_resources/22556


14. NEW led the effort to create a new web site for the Wilmington Business Coalition funded by NC IDEA
https://wilmingtonbusinessresources.com/


15. F3TCH has now graduated from the Founder's Institute accelerator, PRE SEED 
https://fi.co/about


16. We ended the year with our newsletter that had a 54% open rate. That is well above industry average of 38.8%
https://mailchi.mp/407957495720/newsletter-what-if-wilmington-passed-charlotte-in-startup-ecosystem-rankings-maybe-next-year-13514540?e=[UNIQID]


17. We introduced a Wilmington entrepreneur to a Raleigh investor who put a $2 million term sheet on the table after due diligence. But the entrepreneur chose to raise the money from existing investors.


18. We asked past speaker Bill Spruill to mentor two local startups , Telios and Lapetus Solutions but he was also named Triangle Business Journal Person of the Year 
https://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/news/2022/12/16/bill-spruill-business-person-of-the-year-raleigh.html
https://www.cnbc.com/2022/12/13/after-selling-out-spruill-focuses-family-office-on-minority-tech-.html


19. We are now at 95 angel investors and venture capitalists who have spoken at our events over 7 years.
You have access to capital. Yes, some of these investors / speakers have actually met and invested in Wilmington entrepreneurs who attended these events.
New investors on our stage include Art Pappas, Wolfpack Investor Network, Gregg Bordes, John Espey, Pat Gouhin and others.


20. Telios wins a HUGE grant 
https://www.wilmingtonbiz.com/technology/2022/11/18/email_for_a_web3_world/23867
https://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/inno/stories/news/2022/11/08/live-oak-bank-veterans-entrepreneurship-web3-email.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s743j-82Ydw&embeds_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fmail.google.com%2F&embeds_origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmail.google.com&feature=emb_logo


21. NEW began to use videos in our efforts to educate and to market our efforts to find new members.
I need to give a big thanks to Jack Fleming of Socialry Marketing for the help with filming events.
(This was also funded by NC IDEA.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUtaUHw_wZs


Other achievements by local entrepreneurs 
Local entrepreneur Seth Bostock of SAAS Alerts raises $22 million
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/saas-alerts-secures-22m-investment-from-insight-partners-to-scale-saas-security-monitoring-and-response-platform-301620430.html


Happy Holidays and Happy New Year !!!
I am off to see the Florida Gators basketball team in Charlotte on Tuesday in the inaugural Jumpman Classic. Thanks Michael Jordan !!!

SPONSORS-