Monday, May 23, 2016

Ten local businesses, including six with ties to UNCW or the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, are finalists for the 2016 Coastal Entrepreneur of the Year Award. The winner will be announced Tuesday, May 24, during the Coastal Entrepreneur Awards, presented by the Greater Wilmington Business Journal and the CIE.

This year’s individual-category winners, which were announced in the May 6 GWBJ, are:

• Biotechnology: Atlantic Biotechnology
• Emerging Company: Lapetus Solutions
• Emerging Company: Prone2Paddle
• Health Care: Wilmington Orthotics & Prosthetics
• Internet-Related Business: Likeli
• Manufacturing & Distribution: Bradford Products
• Nonprofit: WHQR Public Radio
• Professional Services: Edu-Tell
• Retail & Hospitality - Beau’s Coffee
• Technology: LifeGait

Lapetus Solutions, which has developed facial analytics, software and “dynamic questioning” to better predict risk and longevity, was founded by UNCW computer science professor Karl Ricanek. Edu-Tell, which helps people self-mentor “and take charge of their own success,” was founded by Marsha Carr, an assistant professor in the Watson College of Education. Both companies are housed in the CIE.

Atlantic Biotechnology was started by UNCW alumnus Richard Huse ’15. LifeGait is a tenant of Seahawk Innovation, which is housed in the CIE and helps entrepreneurs get their fledgling businesses off the ground. Prone2Paddle, which designs paddleboards, and WHQR are CIE members.

The awards will be presented during a ceremony that begins at 7:30 a.m. in the Burney Center at UNCW. (Ticket sales for the event have closed.)

-- Tricia Vance

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