Editor’s Note: This column was written by Jim R. Roberts, the founder of the Network for Entrepreneurs in Wilmington (NEW) and the WALE Angel Network. In addition, Roberts is a core reviewer for NC IDEA and the recipient of multiple NC IDEA ECOSYSTEM grants. Roberts is the founding executive director of the UNCW CIE incubator, and previously worked at the Durham-based Center of Innovation for NanoBiotech (COIN), funded by the NC Biotechnology Center. He is a former employee of the state of North Carolina, having served in the International Trade Division of the North Carolina Department of Commerce.
Note to readers: WRAL TechWire would like to hear from you about views expressed by our contributors. Please send email to: info@wraltechwire.com.
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WILMINGTON – I know it seems like the dog days of summer and business slows down, but July brings a new fiscal year and “Christmas in July” brings Santa Claus with new annual budgets.
One of the best things the Network for Entrepreneurs has done in the last eight years is bring a new regional and outsider contribution for the media spotlight on the startup community. Articles have appeared in WRAL TechWire, the Atlanta and Nashville media and worldwide with five episodes of a tv show called Start Up on PBS that was nominated for three Emmy Awards.
Jim Roberts
If you want your startup and your products to be seen by larger companies with those full budgets, it certainly helps if the big company has heard of your company before your cold call or your cold email is sent and received.
The same goes for investors which is VERY important at the summer cookout and cocktail parties when the small talk starts about how business is going. “Hey Gregg, how is the new fund going? Got any new hot startups I can take a look at?” … “Well Jack, I read about this new startup in Wilmington that just landed a HUGE federal grant that is a solution to the opioid crisis in America….”
But as a startup on a shoestring budget, how do you get your company in the headlines and in front of decision makers?
On July 13th in Wilmington, we have an interesting lineup of media relations and marketing experts who can speak from the angle of the media writer, the in house company communications expert, the communications consultant and the marketing expert as the moderator.
- From the viewpoint of the writer – WRALTechwire.com writer and UNCW grad – Sarah Glova
- From the viewpoint of the company – iContact – Chuck Hester was leader of communications for this company that had a $169 m dollar exit by acquisition
- From the viewpoint of a communications consultant – IVT – Founder Nannette Stangle – Castor
- Moderator – Margaret McNab – Marketing expert , Founder of McNab LLC, formerly with LaunchBio
