Upcoming Events
Welcome Wednesday
When: Wednesday, April 5, 2023 | 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
What: Visitors welcome! CIE staff will be available all day to provide tour of our facility, to answer questions about CIE or UNCW, and to connect you to programs and ecosystem partners. Bonus: Free coworking all day for entrepreneurs!
Who: Entrepreneurs, UNCW faculty, staff, and students, and anyone interested in learning more about CIE
Where: UNCW CIE
Cost: Free. Registration is not required.
Sponsored by: City of Wilmington
Business Launch Academy (Lunch and Learn) - Session 1: Setting the Foundation for Success
in partnership with Cape Fear Community College Small Business Center
When: Tuesday, April 18, 2023 | 11a.m.-1 p.m.
What: You will explore the Business Model Canvas 9 building blocks of success for any small business. In this workshop you will begin to understand how to connect the dots and find red flags that could impact your business and prevent growth opportunities. The instructor will guide you through a team exercise that will help you explore how to navigate all opportunities and decide which are best for your business utilizing the business model canvas. At the end of the workshop, you will have a strong understanding of how to prepare your business and your employees for reviewing every new product or service and its benefit or impact.
Where: UNCW CIE
Cost: Free. Register here prior to event. Light lunch will be provided.
Note: This is part of a 4-part series. Be sure to also register for the following programs on April 25, May 2, and May 9.
Co-sponsors: Cape Fear Community College Small Business Center (SBC) and Small Business Technology Development Center (SBTDC)
All Blue 101
When: Thursday, April 20, 2023 | 9-10 a.m.
What: What is the Blue Economy? Attend our workshop to learn about the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth. Just in time for Earth Day!
These questions will be answered:
- What is the blue economy and what does it mean to North Carolina and to the United States?
- What aspects of the blue economy surround the Cape Fear Region? Why is it critical to the local economy?
- What are some of the developments in the blue economy in our region?
- What types of opportunities are there to get involved as we see greater investment in the blue economy?
Who: Entrepreneurs, UNCW faculty, staff, and students, and anyone interested in learning more about the blue economy
Where: UNCW CIE
Cost: Free. Register here prior to event.
Sponsored by: City of Wilmington
Business Launch Academy (Lunch and Learn) - Session 2: Analyzing and Validating Your Products or Services
in partnership with Cape Fear Community College Small Business CenterWhen: Tuesday, April 25, 2023 | 11a.m.-1 p.m.
What: You will learn the proven techniques of identifying your best products and services and their benefit and impact on your profitability. You will explore Access to Capital from the “eyes of a lender” to help you understand and navigate how to prepare your businesses short- and long-term capital needs and what it takes to obtain the capital with confidence. Students will explore best practices for financial success to include learning how to navigate a cash flow projection and its impact on the business plan. Students will also learn how to identify the best three products/services that will propel their business forward towards profitability.
Where: UNCW CIE
Cost: Free. Register here prior to event. Light lunch will be provided.
Note: This is part of a 4-part series. Be sure to also register for the following programs on May 2 and May 9.
Co-sponsors: Cape Fear Community College Small Business Center (SBC) and Small Business Technology Development Center (SBTDC)
YEPex Youth Summit and Competition
When: Friday, April 28, 2023 | 10:00 AM – NOON
What: Six entrepreneurial high school teams will pitch their ideas to judges and peers to compete for cash.
Who: Entrepreneurs, UNCW faculty, staff, and student, and anyone interested in supporting future entrepreneurs and leaders
Where: Kenan Auditorium, UNCW
Cost: Free.
To cheer on the finalists, register at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/yepex-youth-summit-tickets-533972866217
Sponsored by: UNCW
Business Launch Academy (Lunch and Learn) - Session 3: Finding Your Customers & Growing Your Brand Through Customer Loyalty
in partnership with Cape Fear Community College Small Business CenterWhen: Tuesday, May 2, 2023 | 11a.m.-1 p.m.
What: You will explore the best ways to identify the customers that are the best fit for business growth and stability and how to build long-term relationships and buyer loyalty. You will focus on which marketing materials, social media channels, and branding elements will be important for your business goals as you begin to launch your products and services. Teams will work to define a launch strategy to ensure that students understand how to define a path to success. You will also build a project startup budget utilizing the business model canvas building blocks to ensure they are confident on how to prepare budgets and capital requirements.
Where: UNCW CIE
Cost: Free. Register here prior to event. Light lunch will be provided.
Note: This is part of a 4-part series. Be sure to also register for the following programs on May 9.
Co-sponsors: Cape Fear Community College Small Business Center (SBC) and Small Business Technology Development Center (SBTDC)
Welcome Wednesday
When: Wednesday, May 3, 2023 | 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
What: Visitors welcome! CIE staff will be available all day to provide tour of our facility, to answer questions about CIE or UNCW, and to connect you to programs and ecosystem partners. Bonus: Free coworking all day for entrepreneurs!
Who: Entrepreneurs, UNCW faculty, staff, and students, and anyone interested in learning more about CIE
Where: UNCW CIE
Cost: Free. Registration is not required.
Sponsored by: City of Wilmington
Business Launch Academy (Lunch and Learn) - Session 4: Preparing the Launch & Understanding Environmental Factors That Can Impact Your Business
in partnership with Cape Fear Community College Small Business CenterWhen: Tuesday, May 9, 2023 | 11a.m.-1 p.m.
What: You will learn how to review and explore potential “road blocks” that your business may face with the first year of your launch. These include financial restraints, market shifts, supply chain issues, and state and federal laws that may impact your employees. Working as a team, you will be able to navigate the interior and exterior of the business model canvas to ensure your business in prepared. You will also learn Disaster Relief and Resiliency Best Practices for North Carolina to ensure you keep your business safe and prepared for natural or economic disasters of the future.
Where: UNCW CIE
Cost: Free. Register here prior to event. Light lunch will be provided.
Co-sponsors: Cape Fear Community College Small Business Center (SBC) and Small Business Technology Development Center (SBTDC)
All Blue 101
When: Thursday, June 8, 2023 | 9-10 a.m.
What: What is the Blue Economy? Attend our workshop to learn about the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth. Just in time for World Oceans' Day!
These questions will be answered:
- What is the blue economy and what does it mean to North Carolina and to the United States?
- What aspects of the blue economy surround the Cape Fear Region? Why is it critical to the local economy?
- What are some of the developments in the blue economy in our region?
- What types of opportunities are there to get involved as we see greater investment in the blue economy?
Who: Entrepreneurs, UNCW faculty, staff, and students, and anyone interested in learning more about the blue economy
Where: UNCW CIE
Cost: Free. Register here prior to event.
Sponsored by: City of Wilmington
Cape Fear Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week
When: October 2-6, 2023
What: MED Week recognizes the achievements of local minority entrepreneurs, provides opportunities for networking, and presents workshops to help grow and strengthen businesses. For a list of free in person and virtual events, please refer to the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce website.
Who: All are welcome
Where: Virtual and in-person events throughout the Wilmington region
Cost: Free
Sponsored by: Wilmington Chamber of Commerce coordinates MED Week. CIE is a proud sponsor.
Welcome Wednesday
When: Wednesday, October 4, 2023 | 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
What: Visitors welcome! CIE staff will be available all day to provide tour of our facility, to answer questions about CIE or UNCW, and to connect you to programs and ecosystem partners. Bonus: Free coworking all day for entrepreneurs!
Who: Entrepreneurs, UNCW faculty, staff, and students, and anyone interested in learning more about CIE
Where: UNCW CIE
Cost: Free. Registration is not required.
Sponsored by: City of Wilmington
All Blue 101
When: Wednesday, October 4, 2023 | 1-2 p.m.
What: What is the Blue Economy? Attend our workshop to learn about the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth.
These questions will be answered:
- What is the blue economy and what does it mean to North Carolina and to the United States?
- What aspects of the blue economy surround the Cape Fear Region? Why is it critical to the local economy?
- What are some of the developments in the blue economy in our region?
- What types of opportunities are there to get involved as we see greater investment in the blue economy?
Who: Entrepreneurs, UNCW faculty, staff, and students, and anyone interested in learning more about the blue economy
Where: UNCW CIE
Cost: Free. Register here prior to event.
Sponsored by: City of Wilmington
Welcome Wednesday
When: Wednesday, November 1, 2023 | 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
What: Visitors welcome! CIE staff will be available all day to provide tour of our facility, to answer questions about CIE or UNCW, and to connect you to programs and ecosystem partners. Bonus: Free coworking all day for entrepreneurs!
Who: Entrepreneurs, UNCW faculty, staff, and students, and anyone interested in learning more about CIE
Where: UNCW CIE
Cost: Free. Registration is not required.
Sponsored by: City of Wilmington
Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) Wilmington
When: November 13-19, 2023
What: GEW Wilmington is a celebration of entrepreneurship in the greater Wilmington region. It highlights some of the best of Wilmington's entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial ecosystem. GEW Wilmington is part of Global Entrepreneurship Week, a worldwide celebration of entrepreneurs that 200+ countries and 10 million participate in each year.
Who: Entrepreneurs, mentors, and community
Cost: Free
Registration: TBA
Sponsored by: TBA
Recurring Events
1 Million Cups Wilmington
Every Wednesday at 9 a.m. at CIE; Virtual options (Zoom and Facebook live) are available.
Follow us on our Facebook @1MCWilmingtonNC to get weekly updates. Subscribe to our 1 MC Email on the website to receive Zoom links!
Check out the 1 Million Cups website to get more information on who is presenting this week and if you are interested in being our next presenter!
