RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK – With regular updates to keep content fresh, WRAL TechWire’s Triangle Startup Guide offers a timely resource package for anyone looking to start or grow a business in the Triangle area.
Now we’re back with another new resource for local entrepreneurs. The latest update comes to the “Accelerators and Mentorship Programs” section of the guide, which features a range of resources for early-stage startups seeking expert guidance on business development and a way to test their prototypes as they prepare to launch.
Today, we added E3 Durham, a new program launching this month to support under-served entrepreneurs in Durham.
National nonprofit Forward Cities, which has a local chapter in Durham, first announced the E3 Durham program in late-2021. With support from a Small Business Administration grant and partnerships with the City of Durham and Durham County, E3 Durham will start with an outreach-focused community navigator pilot program, where designated “navigators” will connect with local entrepreneurs through community events.
E3 Durham aims to provide mentorship, capital resources, workshops and networking for entrepreneurs in under-served communities across the Durham area.
Read more about the program here.
Other recent additions to the Triangle Startup Guide
Every week, we update the guide with new resources for local entrepreneurs for our exclusive Triangle Startup Guide. If we missed something, please feel free to suggest it for inclusion. You can email me directly or use this contact form. In case you missed it, check out this recap of all the updates we made in 2021. And here’s a review of the additions from recent weeks:
- In the “Inspiration, Advice & More Resources” section of the guide, we added the newly released Innovation Road Trip series from Capitol B Creative Studios (a division of WRAL TechWire’s parent company, Capitol Broadcasting). The six-episode video series profiles the people, organizations, companies and programs that contribute to the state’s ever-growing innovation and entrepreneurship community. Season one tells the stories of CRISPR gene-editing researchers, UNC Chapel Hill’s Innovate Carolina, the North Carolina Biotechnology Center, Beaufort-based Jarrett Bay Boatworks, CBRE Raleigh and Gig East in Wilson.
- In the ” Competitions, Grants & Other Funding Sources” section, we updated the listing for NC State University’s eGames pitch competition, adding new information about the program’s scope. eGames, which first launched in 2009, divides student pitches into a “think” category (idea-stage ventures) and a “do” category (startups that already have a product and customers). Judges evaluate the startups’ market feasibility, design, prototype and other aspects. Every year, the program grants about $100,000 to the winning companies. Applications are currently open for this year’s edition of eGames, scheduled for April 18. The deadline for the first round of applications is Feb. 20, and finalists will be revealed on March 10.
- In the “Accelerators & Mentorship Programs” section, we added Wake Technical Community College’s Main Street Entrepreneurs Accelerator Program (or MSEA), which launched earlier this month to support entrepreneurs and small business owners across Wake County. Starting in late-February, participants will attend five training sessions covering everything from attracting customers to planning financial projections. Those who attend all sessions and complete the required materials will submit their business pitches for the chance to win awards ranging from $2,000 to $8,000. Read more information about the program here.
- In the “Competitions, Grants & Other Funding Sources” section, we added the upcoming Duke Cyber Pitch Competition, a program from Duke University’s Sanford Cyber Policy Program. The competition, held on Feb. 26 from 12–5 p.m., targets students with business ideas in the fields of cybersecurity, data protection, privacy and online safety. Selected individuals or teams will pitch their ventures to investment experts for a chance to win $25,000 and other prizes. Winners will also receive a grant from Paladin Capital, an investment firm headquartered in Washington, D.C.
- In our list of COVID relief programs, we added a line about an upcoming informational webinar covering the NC Department of Revenue’s new Business Recovery Grant for businesses dealing with pandemic-related losses. The Downtown Raleigh Alliance, an organization serving local small businesses, hosted an informational webinar earlier this month to discuss the program’s provisions, eligibility criteria and how to apply. We added a link to the webinar in our COVID relief program list.
- In the “Venture Capital and Angel Groups” section of the guide, we added the Triangle Tweener Fund, a sort of “index” targeting early-stage startups in the Triangle. The fund launched in December with support from more than 20 local entrepreneurs.
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