The WRAL TechWire Triangle Startup Guide provides regular updates on the latest additions and changes in the local startup ecosystem. Here are some of the recent updates:
The Commons: A Rebranded Workspace
Industrious, a national coworking chain, recently rebranded its downtown Raleigh location to The Commons. Managed by Highwoods Properties, The Commons offers private offices, suites, shared workspaces, and virtual memberships. Spanning 27,000 square feet, the space provides various amenities such as a podcast studio, wellness room, community events, private phone booths, and conference rooms.
Source: WRAL TechWire
Triangle Tweener List: Interactive Database
Entrepreneur and investor Scot Wingo presents the “Triangle Tweener” list annually, identifying promising companies in the RTP area. Starting in 2023, an interactive database was introduced, bringing together over 250 companies, including 51 newcomers. The list serves as a valuable resource for the local startup community and receives coverage in both Medium and local media.
Source: WRAL TechWire
Pitch Please Event: Pitch Competition in Raleigh
The upcoming Pitch Please event, organized by Raleigh Founded, provides startups with an opportunity to pitch for cash prizes and potential investments. To promote the event, a video from last year’s competition has been added to the “Competitions, Grants & Other Funding” section of the guide.
Source: WRAL TechWire
RD Fund: Investing in Retinal Degeneration Solutions
The RD Fund, based in Raleigh and affiliated with the Foundation Fighting Blindness, focuses on venture investment in retinal degeneration solutions. With over $70 million under management, the fund supports companies with products in or nearing the clinical testing stage.
Source: WRAL TechWire
RTP Angel Fund: Supporting Early-Stage Startups
RTP Angel Fund was established in 2023 with $3 million raised from over 50 investors, including local VC and angel leaders. The fund aims to back early-stage companies seeking their first institutional support, particularly those with the potential for significant returns.
Source: WRAL TechWire
Big Launch Challenge: Paving the Way for Startups
The annual Big Launch Challenge, hosted by The Launch Place, provides startups with the opportunity to win cash prizes and attract potential capital investments. Over its ten-year history, the competition has awarded $189,000 to 19 companies, fostering growth in the startup ecosystem.
Source: WRAL TechWire
RIoT Foundations and Accelerator Program
RIoT Foundations, a free four-week program, aims to equip early-stage entrepreneurs and small business owners with essential skills and knowledge for successful venture development. While the RIoT Accelerator Program specializes in tech startups, Foundations is open to businesses across industries, covering topics such as business development, market validation, and financial management.
Source: WRAL TechWire
First Flight Venture Center’s Propeller Program
First Flight Venture Center’s Propeller Program supports tech and life science ventures in effectively communicating their value to potential investors, partners, and customers. The program, which employs a design thinking framework, will focus on ag-tech startups in its next cohort starting in September 2023.
Source: WRAL TechWire
UNC’s Venture Catalyst Program
UNC Chapel Hill’s Venture Catalyst Program matches graduate and postdoctoral students with faculty-founded startups, providing support in market research, business development, and customer discovery. The program is currently accepting applications for its next cohort, which will run from August 2023 to April 2024.
Source: WRAL TechWire
Venture Atlanta: Southeast’s Premier Startup Conference
Venture Atlanta, one of the Southeast’s most prominent startup conferences, offers a pitch program for tech-enabled startups seeking funding. The conference attracts a significant number of attendees and investment funds annually, contributing to the regional startup ecosystem.
Source: WRAL TechWire
Triangle Tweener Fund: Supporting Early-Stage Startups
The Triangle Tweener Fund, launched with support from local entrepreneurs, invests in early-stage startups recognized in the Triangle Tweener List. By mid-2023, the fund had deployed over $4.6 million into 72 local startups across 86 investments.
Source: WRAL TechWire
For more information on these updates and additional resources in the Triangle startup ecosystem, please refer to the WRAL TechWire Triangle Startup Guide.
Sources: WRAL TechWire
