Agenda
2025 ecosystem summit
DAY ONE
Monday, November 17, 2025
9:00AM – 10:00AM | Imperial Convention Center Lobby
Registration and Networking
10:00AM – 10:15AM | Imperial Convention Center III-V
Welcome and Kickoff
10:15AM – 10:45AM | Imperial Convention Center III-V
Opening Remarks
- Thom Ruhe, President and CEO, NC IDEA Foundation
10:45AM – 11:00AM | Imperial Convention Center III-V
Global Entrepreneurship Week Welcome
- Jonathan Ortmans, Founder and President, Global Entrepreneurship Network
11:00AM – 11:45AM | Imperial Convention Center III-V
Featured Panel: Mayoral Perspectives on Innovation and Quality of Life
Introduction by Wells Fargo
- Moderator: Tom Snyder, Executive Director, RIoT
- Mayor Pro Tem Stormie Forte, City of Raleigh
- Mayor Leonardo Williams, City of Durham
These elected officials of Durham and Raleigh come together for a discussion about their visions for encouraging innovation, supporting entrepreneurs, and harnessing the power of entrepreneurship to create more prosperous and equitable communities. Hear directly from these civic leaders about how strategic investment in entrepreneurial ecosystems can drive economic growth, generate opportunities, and improve the quality of life for all residents.
11:45AM – 12:15PM | Imperial Convention Center III-V
Featured Panel: Breaking Down Barriers to Entrepreneurship
- Moderator: Catherine Read, Senior Director, Field & Campaign Strategy, Right to Start
- Jason Grill, Chief Government Affairs Officer, Right to Start
- Jennifer McDonald, Director of Activism, The Institute for Justice’s Cities Work Initiative
- Representative Dante Pittman, North Carolina General Assembly
North Carolina’s entrepreneurial ecosystem thrives when policy removes obstacles rather than creates them. Join Right to Start, the Institute for Justice, and Representative Pittman for a conversation about reducing barriers to business entry. Drawing on insights from Raleigh’s Barriers to Business report and state policy initiatives, this panel explores practical reforms that can make North Carolina more welcoming to founders at every stage.
12:15PM – 1:30PM | Imperial Convention Center III-V
Lunch and Networking
Featured Lunch Panel: The Bold Path Forward for North Carolina Entrepreneurs
- Moderator: Britney McCoy, Program Lead, Bold Path Fellowship, ECMC Group
- J.W. Carpenter, President, Prosper
- Carl Webb, Cofounder, Provident1898
The ECMC Foundation’s Bold Path Fellowship has demonstrated transformative impact in supporting underrepresented entrepreneurs. This session explores how its proven model is expanding to new communities. Prosper Birmingham will share insights from their successful implementation of the program, while Provident1898 will discuss the exciting opportunity to bring this innovative fellowship to North Carolina.
1:30PM – 2:15PM | Imperial Convention Center III-V
Featured Panel: Innovation Models for Statewide Growth
- Moderator: Michelle Bolas, Executive Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer, NCInnovation
- Conaway Haskins, VP, Entrepreneurial Ecosystems, Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation
- Troy LeMaile-Stovall, Chief Executive Officer, TEDCO
- Mitch Smith, Senior Investment Manager, South Carolina Research Authority/ SC Launch
States across the country are investing in bold approaches to strengthen innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic growth. Ecosystem leaders from South Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland share their approaches to building thriving innovation ecosystems. Moderated by NCInnovation, this discussion will highlight strategies and funding models driving entrepreneurship and technology commercialization, and how North Carolina can adapt these lessons to strengthen its own innovation economy.
2:15PM – 3:15PM | Imperial Convention Center III-V
Fireside Chat
- Moderator: Thom Ruhe, President and CEO, NC IDEA Foundation
- Andrew Yang, CEO, Noble Mobile
Andrew Yang joins us for an engaging conversation and will share insights from his entrepreneurial journey, from founding Venture for America to championing innovative solutions to economic challenges. This fireside chat will examine what it means to nurture innovation and how bold ideas can reshape local economies to create opportunity for all.
3:15PM – 3:50PM | Imperial Convention Center Lobby
Networking Break
3:50PM – 4:30PM | Imperial Convention Center III-V
Featured Panel: Entrepreneurs in Residence Accelerating Startup Success
- Moderator: Rachael Newberry, Program Director, RIoT
- Jay Mixter, Director of Mentoring, HATCHwnc
- Charles W. Pemble IV, PhD, Founder, Tetran, LLC
- Leah Townsend, Founder in Residence, Center for Entrepreneurial Development (CED)
Entrepreneurs in Residence (EIRs) bring hard-earned experience, fresh perspective, and strategic insight to early stage companies. This session explores how organizations across North Carolina are designing and leveraging EIR programs to strengthen their entrepreneurial ecosystems. EIRs from programs across the state will share their experiences that led them to become EIRs, the impact these experts have on founders’ growth, and practical ways other organizations can integrate EIR models to better serve startups.
4:30PM – 5:00PM | Imperial Convention Center III-V
Featured Panel: Where Are They Now?
- Moderator: John Austin, Entrepreneur In Residence, NC IDEA Foundation
- Eric Boggs, Founder and CEO, RevBoss
- Lauren McCullough, CEO and Co-Founder, Tromml
- Ryan Patrick O’Donnell, CEO and Co-Founder, Sunlight Group, LLC
Early stage funding can make or break a startup’s trajectory, but what happens after the check clears? Join Eric, Lauren, and Ryan for an honest conversation about how the NC IDEA SEED grant catalyzed their companies’ growth. These founders will share pivotal moments where the grant enabled them to take critical next steps, lessons learned while scaling their ventures, and where their companies stand today.
5:00PM – 5:15PM | Imperial Convention Center III-V
MICRO and SEED Grant Recipient Announcements
- Amy Bastian, VP of Grants and Programs, NC IDEA Foundation
Closing Remarks
- Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, NC Department of Secretary of State
5:15PM – 7:00PM | Imperial Convention Center Lobby
Reception and Resource Fair
DAY TWO
Tuesday, November 18, 2025
8:00AM – 9:00AM | Imperial Convention Center Lobby
Breakfast, Registration, and Networking
9:00AM – 9:15AM | Imperial Convention Center III-V
Welcome and Introduction to Day Two
- Spencer Disher, Board Chair, NC IDEA Foundation
9:15AM – 9:30AM | Imperial Convention Center III-V
Rural Entrepreneur Spotlight
Introduction by Wells Fargo
- Amy Dunlap, Founder & CEO, STEMZ, Inc.
9:30AM – 10:15AM | Imperial Convention Center III-V
Featured Panel: Eastern NC is Open for Opportunity
Introduction by Wells Fargo
- Moderator: Brandy Bynum Dawson, Sr. Director for Rural Prosperity and Investment, MDC
- Shemekka Ebony, Founder and CEO, Black Girl Magic Market
- Bridget Phifer, Founder and Program Lead, Living Better Life LLC
- Carlos M. Zepeda, Sr. Small Business Consultant, Prospera
Eastern North Carolina is cultivating a vibrant entrepreneurial landscape. Hear from some of NC IDEA’s Rural Community of Practice members, who will share stories of growth and resilience while unpacking what the data reveals. This conversation explores where impact is happening, what challenges remain, and how funders and ecosystem builders can keep Eastern NC open for business.
10:15AM – 10:30AM | Imperial Convention Center III-V
Partner Spotlight: Greensboro Steelhouse + Gig East
- Lisa Hazlett, President, The Nussbaum Center for Entrepreneurship
- Emily Wells, Greenlight Community and Engagement Manager, City of Wilson
10:30AM – 11:00AM | Imperial Convention Center Lobby
Networking Break + Transition to Breakout Sessions
11:00AM – 12:00PM | Breakout Sessions
Imperial Convention Center I
Breakout Session: Building North Carolina’s Innovation Clusters
- Moderator: Heather McWhorter, Director, UNCW CIE
- Krista Covey, CEO and President, First Flight Venture Center
- Molly Hemstreet, Co-Executive Director for The Industrial Commons and Deputy CEO of the NSF Textile Innovation Engine of NC
Discover how North Carolina’s diverse industry clusters are catalyzing economic growth and entrepreneurship across the state. This panel brings together leaders from UNCW’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Blue Tech), First Flight Venture Center (Deep Tech), and NSF Textile Innovation Engine of NC to share insights on how specialized clusters create competitive advantages, foster collaboration, and attract investment to their respective sectors. Learn how these ecosystem builders are supporting startups, connecting researchers with industry, and positioning North Carolina as a national leader in emerging technologies and advanced manufacturing.
Imperial Convention Center II
Breakout Session: From Barriers to Breakthroughs: How Entrepreneurs Can Advocate for their Needs
- Paula Pingel, Co-Founder, Crelucin Business Coaching & Consulting
- Vania Ramos Ponce, PhD, Entrepreneurial Advocate, Right to Start
This workshop style breakout session empowers entrepreneurs to engage effectively in policy and community advocacy. Participants learn why advocacy matters, how to communicate with policymakers, and how to share personal stories that highlight barriers to entrepreneurship. Through interactive exercises and action planning, attendees leave inspired to amplify their voices, influence change, and join the NC Starters Coalition to champion North Carolina’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Imperial Convention Center VI
Breakout Session: Creating and Sustaining Collaboration for Economic Growth in Rural Communities
- Isaac Blount, Community Liaison, Redirection CDC
- Rinnie Orr, Associate Director and Co-Founder, WEBB Squared
- Stephanie Terry, Executive Director and Co-Founder, WEBB Squared
- Maui Vang, Vice Chair, Hatch AVL
This session, designed and led by NC IDEA ECOSYSTEM Partners and members of NC IDEA’s Rural Community of Practice, is a discussion-based workshop focused on best practices for sustaining entrepreneurship-led economic growth in rural communities. Discussion topics will be relevant for both rural and non-rural attendees, including how to approach collaboration, identifying needs and resources that enable entrepreneurs to thrive, determining the most effective strategies for connecting communities across the state, and other relevant topics.
Imperial Convention Center VII
Breakout Session: Regional Coalitions to Expand Entrepreneurial Growth
Introduction by PNC Bank
- Moderator: W. Michael Buckovich, Founder and Executive Director, VisionToVenture
- Christine Laucher, Strategic Partnership Manager, Mountain BizWorks
- Anjanette Miller, CEO, Echo
- Stan Parker, General Partner, WSPR Fund
Breaking out of silos is crucial for creating a thriving and equitable entrepreneurial ecosystem across North Carolina. This session brings together leaders from the WNC Spark Tank initiative and Winston-Salem to share proven strategies for extending support, resources, and programming to communities beyond their traditional footprint. Attendees will learn practical approaches for building coalitions, forming regional partnerships, and ensuring entrepreneurs in underserved areas have access to the capital, mentorship, and networks they need to succeed.
12:00PM – 1:30PM | Imperial Convention Center III-V
Lunch and Networking
Program Spotlight: LEAF
- Jana Bradley, Senior Library Assistant, Durham County Library
- Carol Anne Hankinson, Director of Library Services, Roanoke-Chowan Community College
- Kyle Hearns, Adult Services Librarian, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library
Your local library can be a powerful ally to entrepreneurs and ESOs. NC IDEA’s LEAF Program (Libraries for Entrepreneurial Advancement Fellowship) is helping libraries become even more vibrant hubs of entrepreneurial activity and support. Hear from 3 LEAF Fellows about what the library can do for you.
1:30PM – 2:10PM | Imperial Convention Center III-V
Featured Panel: Entrepreneurship for the Defense Sector
- Moderator: Jesse S. Jur, PhD, Deputy Director: North Carolina Office of Science, Technology & Innovation; NC Department of Commerce
- Rob Creighton, Founder and CEO, Windlift, Inc.
- Jarrett Lane, Co-Founder, NC Critical Technologies Alliance
- Keith Wheeler, Executive Director, Office of National Security & Industry Initiatives, East Carolina University
- David Whitmire, PhD, Director Federal Programs – Lead Senior Commercial Advisor, Wireless Research Center
North Carolina is rapidly emerging as a hub for defense innovation, where entrepreneurial energy meets mission-critical needs. This panel will explore how defense-focused startups can leverage private capital and federal funding to scale, navigate the unique challenges of working with defense customers, and access entrepreneurship support services that strengthen their path to growth. Drawing on best practices and lessons learned, the panelists will share practical insights into how North Carolina’s ecosystem supports defense entrepreneurship, and how public-private partnership collaboration can accelerate innovation, expand supply chains, and strengthen national security while growing the state’s economic competitiveness.
2:10PM – 2:30PM | Imperial Convention Center III-V
Featured Speaker: Bootstrapping Bronto: The Art Of Scaling Your Startup Without Venture Capital
- Joe Colopy, CEO, Colopy Ventures
2:30PM – 3:10PM | Imperial Convention Center III-V
Featured Panel: Building Regional Capital Across North Carolina
- Moderator: Anna Tharrington, Managing Partner, Hutchison PLLC
- Jeffrey Kaplan, CEO of Optimist Ventures and Director of Venture Asheville
- Stan Parker, General Partner, WSPR Fund
- Jim Roberts, Founder, WALE Angel Network
- Scot Wingo, General Partner, Tweener Fund
This panel will explore how diverse funding models are strengthening North Carolina’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, with investor networks like WSPR and WALE, alongside funds such as Optimist Ventures and Tweener Fund. Panelists will share insights on how regional capital sources are filling funding gaps, supporting founders at various stages, and creating more accessible pathways to investment for entrepreneurs across the state. Panelists will share how these funding models accelerate regional economic growth, while keeping successful companies connected to their communities.
3:10PM – 3:15PM | Imperial Convention Center III-V
Closing Remarks
- Thom Ruhe, President and CEO, NC IDEA Foundation
