CIE Events
Register today for a UNCW Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) event to connect with others, learn something new, and accelerate your success. CIE offers educational and networking events for community members and UNCW faculty, staff, and students. While not required, CIE membership is encouraged for those registering for UNCW CIE events.
Additional weekly, monthly, and annual programs to support entrepreneurs and the ecosystem are described on the CIE Programs page.
December
NEW DEEEEEP Dive
Thursday, December 11 | 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
What: Network for Entrepreneurs in Wilmington presents the final DEEEEEP Dive of the year. Trends in finding capital are shifting. Where can entrepreneurs find new sources of capital like Family Offices and Venture Philanthropy?
Time for our final DEEEEEP DIVE Series of Events in 2025. (And we are barely sneaking it in on December 11th.) The DEEEEEP DIVE series is sponsored by Hutchison Law.
Speakers:
- Amy Jacobs of Abundance Capital from Charlotte / Greenville SC.
- Liam King of 2ndF , a family office in Raleigh.
Where: UNCW CIE
Cost: Free, Registration required
January
Deep Dive into Agentic AI 201
Wednesday, January 7 | 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
What: In this advanced session with Dr. Karl Ricanek, we’ll dive into the core components that power Agentic AI systems. You'll explore how tools come together to enable planning, memory, and dynamic decision-making. Through live examples and walkthroughs, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of how these agentic frameworks are built.
Who: Entrepreneurs, UNCW faculty, staff, and students, and anyone interested in learning more about Agentic AI.
Where: UNCW CIE
Cost: Free
Register for the Deep Dive into Agentic AI Workshop
Intentional - Plan for a Remarkable Year
Tuesday, January 13 | 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Develop your own plan for a remarkable 2026 in this workshop. CIE Director Heather McWhorter will facilitate a process to help you intentionally develop your plan for success.
Open to entrepreneurs, students, facility, and anyone interested in developing a plan for a great year.
Location: UNCW CIE Event Space
Sponsored by: City of Wilmington
CIE Office Hours at Randall Hall
Tuesday, January 20 | 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
What: Join us for CIE Office Hours to connect one-on-one with our team, ask questions, and get personalized guidance on your entrepreneurial journey. Whether you’re brainstorming a new idea, working on a start-up, or simply curious about innovation, we’re here to help.
Come explore the tools, programs, and community connections that can help your ideas take root and thrive!
Who: UNCW Students
Where: First Floor of Randall Hall, Room 1045
Cost: Free, no registration required
NC IDEA Spring 2026 Grants Information Session: Wilmington
Monday, January 26, 2026 | 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
What: NC IDEA FOUNDATION staff provide an overview of Spring 2026 NC IDEA MICRO ($10K) and NC IDEA SEED ($50K) grants, which provide funding to early-stage, high-growth companies. Pizza and beverages are provided.
Who: Whether you have an idea or have already launched your startup, NC IDEA delivers grants to help you take that next leap or scale operations. This Information Session is most relevant to early-stage, high-growth companies.
Where: UNCW CIE
Cost: Free, Registration Required (coming soon!)
Sponsored by: NC IDEA
February
CIE Office Hours at Randall Hall
Tuesday, February 3 | 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
What: Join us for CIE Office Hours to connect one-on-one with our team, ask questions, and get personalized guidance on your entrepreneurial journey. Whether you’re brainstorming a new idea, working on a start-up, or simply curious about innovation, we’re here to help.
Come explore the tools, programs, and community connections that can help your ideas take root and thrive!
Who: UNCW Students
Where: First Floor of Randall Hall, Room 1045
Cost: Free, no registration required
Welcome Wednesday
Wednesday, February 4 | 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
What: Visitors welcome! CIE staff will be available all day to provide tours 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 not required
Sponsored by: City of Wilmington
Wilmington Innovation Forum: How Entrepreneurs Work with Mentors
Thursday, February 5 | noon - 1:00 p.m.
What: The UNCW CIE is excited to launch the Wilmington Innovation Forum: a monthly, one-hour program spotlighting the ideas, expertise, and research shaping our region’s future. Wilmington Innovation Forum will take place on the first Thursday of every month.
Each session features a UNCW faculty member or community expert sharing a 35–40-minute talk on their area of expertise, whether in technology, science, business, or other fields, followed by a 20-minute interactive Q&A. At its core, the forum is about knowledge sharing and collaborative learning. It’s an opportunity to explore new ideas, gain fresh insights, and connect university and community partners in meaningful conversations that drive innovation and growth.
This session, learn about: The differences in types of entrepreneurs and types of mentors, different types of support provided by mentors, tips for finding a mentor or for programs to match mentors with entrepreneurs.
Speaker: Seth Butler is an Assistant Professor at UNCW's Cameron School of Business, where he teaches and researches entrepreneurship. He received a PhD and MBA from The University of Alabama.
Who: Entrepreneurs, UNCW faculty, staff, and students.
Where: UNCW CIE
Cost: Free for CIE members, tenants, mentors, and coworkers. $5.00 for non CIE members.
CIE Member/tenant/Mentor/Coworker Registration
CIE Office Hours at Randall Hall
Tuesday, February 17 | 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
What: Join us for CIE Office Hours to connect one-on-one with our team, ask questions, and get personalized guidance on your entrepreneurial journey. Whether you’re brainstorming a new idea, working on a start-up, or simply curious about innovation, we’re here to help.
Come explore the tools, programs, and community connections that can help your ideas take root and thrive!
Who: UNCW Students
Where: First Floor of Randall Hall, Room 1045
Cost: Free, no registration required
March
Welcome Wednesday
Wednesday, March 4 | 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
What: Visitors welcome! CIE staff will be available all day to provide tours 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 not required
Sponsored by: City of Wilmington
Wilmington Innovation Forum: Making Smarter Systems: Content Strategy for an AI World
Thursday, March 5 | noon - 1:00 p.m.
What: The UNCW CIE is excited to launch the Wilmington Innovation Forum: a monthly, one-hour program spotlighting the ideas, expertise, and research shaping our region’s future. Wilmington Innovation Forum will take place on the first Thursday of every month.
Each session features a UNCW faculty member or community expert sharing a 35–40-minute talk on their area of expertise, whether in technology, science, business, or other fields, followed by a 20-minute interactive Q&A. At its core, the forum is about knowledge sharing and collaborative learning. It’s an opportunity to explore new ideas, gain fresh insights, and connect university and community partners in meaningful conversations that drive innovation and growth.
This session, learn about: Why AI struggles with your content — and the simple structural changes that make information more accessible to both humans and machines, improving search, reducing confusion, and cutting time spent hunting for answers. The five information types framework — a practical system for organizing knowledge that works whether you're managing a small business website, coordinating nonprofit programs, or structuring educational materials. How to diagnose and fix information chaos — concrete strategies for identifying where your content systems are breaking down and immediate steps to build more effective knowledge infrastructure.
Speaker: Lance Cummings is a professor of English in the Professional Writing program at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Dr. Cummings explores content strategy and writing in technologically and culturally diverse contexts both in his research and teaching. His most recent work looks at how to leverage structured content with rhetorical strategies to improve the performance of generative AI technologies and shares his explorations in his newsletter, Cyborgs Writing.
Who: Entrepreneurs, UNCW faculty, staff, and students
Where: UNCW CIE
Cost: Free for CIE members, tenants, mentors, and coworkers. $5.00 for non CIE members.
CIE Member/tenant/mentor/coworker registration
CIE Office Hours at Randall Hall
Tuesday, March 17 | 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
What: Join us for CIE Office Hours to connect one-on-one with our team, ask questions, and get personalized guidance on your entrepreneurial journey. Whether you’re brainstorming a new idea, working on a start-up, or simply curious about innovation, we’re here to help.
Come explore the tools, programs, and community connections that can help your ideas take root and thrive!
Who: UNCW Students
Where: First Floor of Randall Hall, Room 1045
Cost: Free, no registration required
CIE Office Hours at Randall Hall
Tuesday, March 31 | 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
What: Join us for CIE Office Hours to connect one-on-one with our team, ask questions, and get personalized guidance on your entrepreneurial journey. Whether you’re brainstorming a new idea, working on a start-up, or simply curious about innovation, we’re here to help.
Come explore the tools, programs, and community connections that can help your ideas take root and thrive!
Who: UNCW Students
Where: First Floor of Randall Hall, Room 1045
Cost: Free, no registration required
April
Welcome Wednesday
Wednesday, April 1 | 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
What: Visitors welcome! CIE staff will be available all day to provide tours 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 not required
Sponsored by: City of Wilmington
CIE Office Hours at Randall Hall
Tuesday, April 14 | 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
What: Join us for CIE Office Hours to connect one-on-one with our team, ask questions, and get personalized guidance on your entrepreneurial journey. Whether you’re brainstorming a new idea, working on a start-up, or simply curious about innovation, we’re here to help.
Come explore the tools, programs, and community connections that can help your ideas take root and thrive!
Who: UNCW Students
Where: First Floor of Randall Hall, Room 1045
Cost: Free, no registration required
CIE Office Hours at Randall Hall
Tuesday, April 28 | 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
What: Join us for CIE Office Hours to connect one-on-one with our team, ask questions, and get personalized guidance on your entrepreneurial journey. Whether you’re brainstorming a new idea, working on a start-up, or simply curious about innovation, we’re here to help.
Come explore the tools, programs, and community connections that can help your ideas take root and thrive!
Who: UNCW Students
Where: First Floor of Randall Hall, Room 1045
Cost: Free, no registration required
May
Innovate & Elevate: A workshop for UNCW Faculty, Researchers, and Graduate Students
Tuesday, May 12 - Wednesday, May 13 | noon - 4:30 p.m. each day
Elevate your creativity and innovation by participating in this workshop! Explore commercialization paths and entrepreneurial concepts while networking with your peers.
Program highlights: Additional program content TBA. Both days begin with lunch and networking, and end with reflection.
Location: CIE Event Space
Sponsorships are available, please contact cie@uncw.edu to learn more.
September
Welcome Wednesday
Wednesday, September 2 | 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
What: Visitors welcome! CIE staff will be available all day to provide tours 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 not required
Sponsored by: City of Wilmington
November
Welcome Wednesday
Wednesday, November 4 | 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
What: Visitors welcome! CIE staff will be available all day to provide tours 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 not required
Sponsored by: City of Wilmington
Weekly Event
1 Million Cups Wilmington
Every Wednesday at 9:00-10:00 a.m. at CIE or online. No registration needed - just show up!
1 Million Cups Wilmington is part of a national movement to educate, inspire, and connect entrepreneurs and communities over one million cups of coffee. Any regional business that is 5 years old or less is welcome to present.
Subscribe to our 1 Million Cups Wilmington email by signing up for the CIE Email List to receive weekly emails with speaker announcements and Zoom links. Follow us on our Facebook @1MCWilmingtonNC to get weekly updates and to watch the speakers on Facebook Live.
1 MILLION CUPS Wilmington website