CIE Calendar
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.
October
CIE Office Hours at Cameron School of Business
Tuesday, October 13 | 10 a.m. - 1 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: Lobby of UNCW Cameron School of Business
Cost: Free, no registration required
CIE Office Hours at Randall Hall
Wednesday, October 21 | 1 - 3 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
Entrepreneur Day Teacher and Faculty Requests Due
Friday, October 23 | 5 p.m.
What: On Entrepreneur Day - Tuesday, November 10, 2026, UNCW students and New Hanover County high school students have an opportunity to meet entrepreneurs and ask their questions! Teachers and UNCW faculty can request an entrepreneur for their classrooms using the link below, request by October 23.
Teachers and Faculty Request an Entrepreneur
Investor Roadshow - Wilmington, NC
Wednesday, October 28 | 5 - 8 p.m.
What: Investor Roadshow hosted by RAMP, Lighthouse Network, Idea Fund Partners, and Launch Chapel Hill at the UNCW Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. This event is designed for investors to take a look at 10 open deals from startups in Virginia and North Carolina. Each company will deliver a 5 minute pitch with networking and drinks afterward.
Come explore the tools, programs and community connections that can help your ideas take root and thrive!
Who: Investors, entrepreneurs, and ecosystem partners
Where: UNCW CIE
Cost: Free, Approval and Registration Required
Request to Join the roadshow Here
November
Welcome Wednesday
Wednesday, November 4 | 8 a.m. - 5 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
Thursday, November 5 | noon - 1 p.m.
What: 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. Lunch is provided.
Who: Entrepreneurs, UNCW faculty, staff and students
Where: UNCW CIE
Cost: Free for CIE members, tenants, mentors, and coworkers, and UNCW staff and faculty. $5.00 for non CIE members.
CIE Office Hours at Cameron School of Business
Tuesday, November 10 | 10 a.m. - 1 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: Lobby of UNCW Cameron School of Business
Cost: Free, no registration required
Ocean Innovation Networking Meetup
Tuesday, November 10 | 5:30 - 7 p.m.
What: Join us on Tuesday November 10 5:30pm-7pm at Flying Machine Brewing Company! Meet with other ocean innovators, business leaders, scientists, engineers, passionate fans of the ocean. We'll can continue the conversations started at the Ocean Innovation Conference and collaborate on ways to innovate for the ocean. We look forward to seeing you there!
Who: Ocean innovators, business leaders, scientists, engineers, passionate fans of the ocean
Where: Flying Machine Brewing Company (3130 Randall Pkwy, Wilmington, NC 28403)
Cost: Free, registration required
Register for the Ocean Innovation Meetup Here
NC IDEA Ecosystem Summit
Thursday-Friday, November 12-13, 2026
What: The NC IDEA Ecosystem Summit is the only statewide conference that brings together diverse leaders to address what is needed to support all entrepreneurs and create a shared vision of making our state the best place to start and grow a business.
While the audience and topics of past Summits have often focused on support organizations and community partners, the conference also includes targeted content for the entrepreneurs we collectively serve.
Who: Entrepreneurs and founders, Entrepreneur support organizations (ESOs), investors & community partners
Where: Holiday Inn Resort Lumina on Wrightsville Beach
Cost: $350 General Admission through September 2, 2026, $450 Admission September 3 - November 8, 2026
Register for the NC IDEA Ecosystem Summit Here
CIE Office Hours at Randall Hall
Wednesday, November 18 | 1 - 3 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
Global Entrepreneurship Week
November 16 - 22, 2026
What: GEW Wilmington is a celebration of entrepreneurship in the greater Wilmington region. It highlights some of the best of Wilmington's entrepreneurs and the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
December
Ocean Innovation Networking Meetup
Tuesday, December 8 | 5:30 - 7 p.m.
What: Join us on Tuesday December 8 5:30pm-7pm at Flying Machine Brewing Company! Meet with other ocean innovators, business leaders, scientists, engineers, passionate fans of the ocean. We'll can continue the conversations started at the Ocean Innovation Conference and collaborate on ways to innovate for the ocean. We look forward to seeing you there!
Who: Ocean innovators, business leaders, scientists, engineers, passionate fans of the ocean
Where: Flying Machine Brewing Company (3130 Randall Pkwy, Wilmington, NC 28403)
Cost: Free, registration required
Register for the Ocean Innovation Meetup Here
January 2027
CIE Office Hours at Cameron School of Business
Tuesday, January 12 | 10 a.m. - 1 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: Lobby of UNCW Cameron School of Business
Cost: Free, no registration required
February 2027
CIE Office Hours at Cameron School of Business
Tuesday, February 9 | 10 a.m. - 1 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: Lobby of UNCW Cameron School of Business
Cost: Free, no registration required
Innovate Health Summit
February 2027 | 9 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
What: Join a high-energy day of ideas, connections and solutions for improving health outcomes with the assistance of technologies. Open to everyone, from investors and innovators to students and citizens. Learn, engage and pave a path for a healthier tomorrow.
Where: UNCW Burney Center
March 2027
CIE Office Hours at Cameron School of Business
Tuesday, March 9 | 10 a.m. - 1 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: Lobby of UNCW Cameron School of Business
Cost: Free, no registration required
April 2027
CIE Office Hours at Cameron School of Business
Tuesday, April 13 | 10 a.m. - 1 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: Lobby of UNCW Cameron School of Business
Cost: Free, no registration required
Weekly Event
1 Million Cups Wilmington
Every Wednesday at 9-10 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