Past Events
2011
Coastal Entrepreneur Awards Celebrates Entrepreneurship
May 21
Efficient Energy America (E2) received the prestigious 2011 Entrepreneur of the Year Award for their innovative energy-saving technology for HVAC systems. The award was announced , Friday, May 20, as part of the 15th annual Coastal Entrepreneur Awards event in front of an audience of over 300 local entrepreneurs, business leaders, students, and government officials.
The awards, hosted by the University of North Carolina Wilmington Entrepreneurship Center in partnership with the Greater Wilmington Business Journal, recognize southeastern North Carolina's most promising regional businesses. Of the ten category award winners, judges were asked to consider which business they would choose to invest in when selecting the Entrepreneur of the Year.
Entrepreneurial BBQ Serves Up Fun
June 15
A tradition with the Entrepreneurship Center come June is to kick back, relax and fire up the grill. And invite the entrepreneurial community. Over 80 entrepreneurs enjoyed a warm Wilmington evening with lots of great food and drinks, and for a few rounds of the now ever popular game of Entrepreneurial Jeopardy led by host Jonathan Rowe and score keeper Jenni Harris.
Business Guru Steve Little Speaks to Packed House
August 31Steve Little, the much sought after expert on the subject of business growth and the future of opportunity, spoke to a packed house on August 31st on the campus of UNCW. Over 120 entrepreneurs and students enjoyed the opportunity to hear Steve's seven irrefutable rules for business growth and the story behind his famous "milkshake moment." The event was part of the Wells Fargo Entrepreneurial Speaker Series and was broadcast on UNCW-TV.
Online Advertising Seminar and Panel Provides Fantastic Information and Ideas
September 20
This special EC event highlighted the next wave of digital advertising options. Businesses can now place ads on search engines, websites, social media property and many other online destinations. Advertisements can be tailored to user behavior, location or a wide variety criteria. Tate Struttmann, an online advertising specialist, covered some of the latest trends in search & display advertising that are relevant for your company. The expert panel of entrepreneurs including Jim Mahan IV of Live Oak Bank and Fred Meyers of Queensboro Shirt Co. followed Tate by sharing their successes and lessons learned with digital advertising. The panel was followed by a very lively Question/Answer session with Tate, Jim and Fred where attendees asked questions specific to their businesses.
Rocket Pitch Helps Companies Grow
October 25
With a standing room only crowd that spilled into the hallways at the Executive Development Center, the October Rocket Pitch delivered alot of excitement and five great pitch presentations. The presenting companies are listed below. The event helps bring together investors and entrepreneurs and to highlight the level of entrepreneurial activity in the region, to date all five of the pitch companies have met with at least one investor they met at the event and one company is finalizing an investment deal worth $250k
Pandoodle - www.pandoodle.com
Pandoodle creates personalized and interactive animation-based products. Their patented technologies allow customers of businesses to interact in virtual worlds with personalized recommendations.
Coyle Industries- www.coyleindustries.com
Coyle is the designer, manufacturer, and distributer of solar powered generators. The portable devices provide 3kW of continuous electrical output. The company is notable for its ecological efficiency.
DigiEffects - www.digieffects.com
DigiEffects is a developer of visual effects software that functions as a "plug-in" compatible with most digital design programs. The technology helps create 3D images, motion graphics, and more. They work with a number of corporations, non-profits and universities from across the nation, including Adobe.
Waterplay, USA -www.waterplayusa.com
Waterplay, USA is an online service that searches destinations and prices for water sports, scuba and fishing charters, boat tours and cruises, rentals, sailing schools, and more.
Monarcares - www.monarcares.com
Monarcares is a software-based service that empowers family and professional caregivers to remotely assist someone who needs aid and support. Their technology helps caregivers organize and consolidate essential information, as well as enable multiple mediums of communication with the person requiring aid.
Freaker, Freaker, Freaker, Freaker
November 15The founders of the Freaker, joined host Jonathan Rowe, for the Wells Fargo Entrepreneurial Speaker Series. With over 125 students present the Freakers shared their fascinating story of how they met, created a product, formed a company and drove across country selling Freakers. It was one of the most unique speaker series yet and offered alot of laughs, entertainment, and opportunity.
Students Excel at Student Rocket Pitch Event
November 16With over a crowd of over 350 people and six distinguished judges, 10 UNCW students stood up and delivered 5 minute presentations on business ideas in a competition for over $1,000 in seed capital to further develop their business ideas. First place was won by the student team of Michael Burrows, Dalton McGuire, and Brendan Burns.
