Triangle’s unfolding tech revolution: From 1984 to 2023, a story of remarkable progress | WRAL TechWire

Triangle’s unfolding tech revolution: From 1984 to 2023, a story of remarkable progress

Triangle’s unfolding tech revolution: From 1984 to 2023, a story of remarkable progress

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Editor’s note: As we enter 2023, Tom Snyder, executive director of Raleigh-based RIoT, reviews the Triangle’s progress over the past 13 years. His column is our Startup Spotlight this week and is part of our Startup Monday package.

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RALEIGH – In 2010 when we founded WRC, there were few entrepreneurial support resources in our home region and “IoT” [internet of things] as a buzzword was in its infancy.  In fact, we didn’t add the RIoT brand and services until 2014.  As we enter 2023 and approach our 13th anniversary, it is worthwhile to take a look back and recognize a number of huge milestones achieved by those first risk-taking organizations that bet on the Tech + Entrepreneurship equation before the market had been validated.

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Tom Snyder, RIoT executive director

10 Years:  Raleigh Founded, the first coworking space in Raleigh quickly became the center of gravity for all things entrepreneurship in Raleigh.  RF catalyzes serendipitous connection and inclusive relationship-building that led to dozens of companies graduating from the space and populating the region (and in the case of Pendo, building high rise headquarters).

12 Years:  While talking about inclusive coworking communities, we should also give kudos to American Underground, who similarly helped Durham achieve national prominence and has been focusing on diverse participation since before diversity was a buzzword in tech.

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17 Years:  NC IDEA recognized early that small amounts of capital, equitably deployed, can have an outsized impact on our community.  Seventeen years later, NC IDEA has deployed nearly $15M in non-dilutive grants to startups and ESO’s and can point back to hundreds of jobs created statewide.  A best-in-class playbook and differentiating resource for North Carolina.

20 Years: Rick Smith’s vision [along with that of the late cofounder Allan Maurer] to bring a voice to tech and startups through journalism led to the founding of TechWire.  TW elevated the region to national prominence.  The broader WRAL team continues to be a trusted voice across North Carolina and blazed a path for TBJ, GrepBeat and others to follow.

30 Years: The Research Triangle was founded to bring technology companies to the region.  First Flight Venture Center recognized early on that “research” doesn’t automatically just translate to business success.  Over 30 years, FFVC helped startups reach a combined $10B in market capitalization.

38 Years:  The OG of entrepreneurial support organizations, perhaps in the entire US, sits right here in the Triangle.  The Council for Entrepreneurial Development (CED) has helped more than 7,000 startups to raise $6B and continues to be a go-to resource, adding new programs like the Gro Accelerator in the past year.

Ratings organizations of all kinds continue to rank Raleigh and Research Triangle as a top place for business and entrepreneurship.  In this season of giving and thanks, I encourage everyone to reach out to the “Founders” of entrepreneurial support in NC and ask how you can get involved.  I also want to thank my own team here at RIoT, who work hard to make a positive impact every day.