The Investors are confirmed for Azalea Festival week and they are ready to mingle with YOU. How will you prepare?

If you simply want to register for our excellent March 2nd event with two nCino execs and moderated by the leader of a $50 m Venture Fund , here is the link


VERY EXCITING NEWS !!!

We have a new ANNUAL Sponsor
Please welcome Bill Spruill and his 2ndF foundation, Mr. Spruill has spoken at our events, he also is new Board Chair of CEDnc.org, and he is also a new Board member of nCino. He recently sold his company and is also mentoring two coastal startups.
https://wraltechwire.com/2022/10/17/a-deeper-look-inside-2ndf-bill-spruills-vehicle-he-says-can-help-triangle-tech-ecosystem-achieve-its-destiny/
Thank YOU Mr. Spruill 

AND HAPPY Birthday to ANNUAL Sponsor McKay Siegel at East West Partners
Wish him a Happy Birthday full of new happy clients !!!


We have a NEW solution for venture capital for startups in Wilmington

Ok, I listened to the criticism.

And I am doing something about it. I don't see anyone else in Wilmington doing much about capital on your behalf.

We are hosting the Inaugural Wilmington Investor BUZZ In on April 13th during Azalea Festival.
We are using the fun of Azalea Festival, the Garden Party and the concerts as a magnet for investors to network with YOU.
(While the Investor BUZZ In event is private and invite only from 1 - 4 PM, the 4 PM event with Scot Wingo will be open just like our normal monthly event.)

We have $185 MILLION speaking on stage on April 13th and more investors in the audience.

I had a dream list of FIVE out of town investors to speak at my April 13th event and I got four out of the five.
(Ok, the one Silicon Valley investor was a bit of a stretch goal.)
-  A $40 million fund from Boston
-  A $100 million fund from Charleston
-  A $20 million fund from Raleigh
-  A $25 million leading Angel investor from Tennessee

And 15 more investors have confirmed that they will attend the event. More to come.

Four to Six local startups will be invited to present to these investors. And those not selected are invited to the 4 PM event.

So how will you prepare so you make the right impression that first time or in the follow up meeting with an investor?
I suggest you attend the CED Venture Connect event and get some handshake meetings with some of these investors.
Yes, you have to make some effort and spend some money to help yourself.
The Conference has a half off early bird price cut if you register NOW. (BEFORE Feb 13. before Valentine's Day.)

Save the date for the Wilmington event .... April 13th - Special thanks to Heather at UNCW CIE for the sponsorship

The public section of the Wilmington event will open at 4 PM on April 13th
When Scot Wingo of Spiffy will give his presentation on the common challenges of startups when they begin to Scale.
Scot Wingo is the highest profile successful serial entrepreneur in Raleigh - Durham.
He has started Stingray Software, AuctionRover, ChannelAdvisor (IPO) and now GetSpiffy.  with a WIlmington franchise.
Get a preview of his speech here in this podcast 
https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/episode-92-scot-wingo/id1532749316?i=1000591023011


But first, Register for the March 2nd event.

70 people have already registered 
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/is-your-startup-a-unicorn-workhorse-or-camel-march-2nd-event-tickets-518110160437

Yes, VERY unfortunate news that nCino announced a 7% workforce reduction.
Upside, there is some MUCH needed tech talent on the market. Let's KEEP them in Wilmington.

MANY of these people have registered to attend our March 2nd event with two former nCino executives will speak
Natalie Waggett - former SALES executive and founder of Ohanafy Software
Dory Weiss - A Leader and software engineer. She had also moved on to a new job earlier in January.
And this Riverside Chat will be moderated by investor Tim McLoughlin of Cofounders Capital  - $50 million fund
Register here - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/is-your-startup-a-unicorn-workhorse-or-camel-march-2nd-event-tickets-518110160437


NEWS

What are the trends in Venture Capital in 2023?
https://fortune-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/fortune.com/2023/01/23/zombies-fire-sales-scrappiness-vc-venture-capitalist-startups-year-predictions-2023-maelle-gavet/amp/

Shark Tank is casting for entrepreneurs 
https://abc11.com/shark-tank-entrepreneurs-casting-mark-cuban/12731803/?ex_cid=TA_WTVD_FB&utm_campaign=trueAnthem:+Trending+Content&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR0e9-Y50N4PQ6aMpGc6ZBV_qms9PNO7IUyQsr5Of6fKljnBj7Mi_II6xhY&mibextid=Zxz2cZ

Raleigh's #1 SCALING entrepreneur is looking to spend more time at the beach. Heard of Pendo?
https://portcitydaily.com/latest-news/2023/01/23/pendo-founder-submits-revised-plans-for-the-point-with-half-the-acreage/?fbclid=IwAR080lP_Ff_HPoiLeBXYsg75KwHOUqL8RJpUpUjx7LoaTJvFhHPWMt5CUq4&mibextid=Zxz2cZ

The HIGHs and lows of being a visionary cutting edge entrepreneur like Elon Musk
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/17/magazine/tesla-autopilot-self-driving-elon-musk.html

Did you see our March event made the news in Charleston, SC ? (Thanks Stanfield!!!!)
https://mailchi.mp/digsouth/apply-to-pitch-at-dig-south-tech-summit-call-experts-wins-award-ev-myths-debunked-1061873?e=b922ce1385

EVENTS

1 Million Cups Wilmington 
Every Wednesday morning at 9 am 
UNCW CIE
https://www.1millioncups.com/s/account/0014W00002AqQgGQAV/wilmington-nc

January 24th - UNCW CIE - I hope Tim and Heather had a GREAT event this morning. Did you attend?
Living your life and work life with intentionality
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/intentional-plan-for-a-remarkable-2023-tickets-489018536607

January 26 - Noon
NC IDEA statewide tour comes to Wilmington to discuss their grant programs for startups - MUST register 
https://ncidea.org/spring-2023/

March 29-30
CED Venture Connect Investor Conference 
https://cednc.org/venture-connect/

DigSouth Tech Summit - Charleston  (Did you apply to pitch your startup on stage?)
https://www.digsouthtechsummit.com/
 

SPONSORS-