• Members-only events and newsletter
• Support CIE’s mission to nurture high-impact startups and create a vibrant hub of innovation in Southeast NC
• Free attendance for all general events hosted by the CIE
• A discounted rate for paid programs and events
• Access to media team services at a discounted rate
• Discounted event space rentals
• Inclusion on CIE mailing lists, which includes updates and announcements about Wilmington’s business scene and opportunities
• Access to networking opportunities in the Wilmington entrepreneurial community
• Additional opportunities and recognition not available to nonmembers

(For even more benefits, consider becoming a tenant in our incubator space.)

Continue your engagement with our programs and events, mentor  program, media services, and all the other support avenues the CIE provides our startup community, please sign up for membership using the brand new registration system TODAY! Click here, select your membership type, and create a student profile. If you're a larger company and want to show additional support, please consider a stakeholder level membership.

Individual Memberships

• Student – $25: Open to formally enrolled university and community college students and youth participating in CIE programs.
• UNCW Faculty/Staff/Alumni Annual Membership – $50: For UNCW faculty and staff, this special membership level provides an opportunity to become involved in the Center.
• Individual – $75: Open to individual community members.
• Individual Lifetime – $500: Open to individual community members.

 Business Memberships

• Startup – $125: Two entrepreneurs and/or executives in the same company or organization.
• Nonprofit – $125: Organizations with current or pending 501c3 status; includes all organization members.
• Stakeholder < 25 Employees – $250: Open to all company employees. (Purchasing this membership will also secure a listing for your company on our sponsors and partners page.)
• Stakeholder > 25 Employees – $500: Open to all company employees. (Purchasing this membership will also secure a listing for your company on our sponsors and partners page.)

Memberships support the CIE's resources to maintain and expand programs that support entrepreneurship in the Cape Fear region. With the exception of the Individual Lifetime Membership, memberships begin from the day the payment is received and end December 31st of the same year. Membership renewals begin on January 1st.

Membership can be revoked if it is discovered that you are blatantly advertising or selling your products/services at events, including solicitations, forcible networking, taking advantage of members, engaging in business or professional activities that may be deemed unethical, misrepresenting your affiliation with the Center, or publicizing the Center using falsified statements.

Please note: Memberships only provide access to our events and programs. They do not provide access to the conference room, lobby, or co-working space for meetings. For these and other benefits, look into becoming a co-working tenant in our premier incubator space.

Membership Application

When you are ready to purchase your membership, please follow the below link to create an Augusoft account with the CIE and directly purchase your membership. To apply, simply fill out the following membership application.

You may also download and complete a Membership Application (PDF) and email the completed pdf to cie@uncw.edu or hand deliver it our center.