Membership Benefits & Options

• Advocate and support
  • Support of CIE’s mission to engage and support UNCW students, faculty, staff, and alumni, as well as high school students and entrepreneurs throughout the community and region, in the creation of entrepreneurial ventures, knowledge-based jobs, and innovative business solutions.
• Event access
  • Free attendance for all general events hosted by the CIE
  • A discounted rate for paid programs and events, such as the Ocean Innovation Conference
  • Access to networking opportunities in the Wilmington entrepreneurial community
• Space access
  
  • 10% discount on CIE event space and conference room rentals upon request
  • Ocean Conference Room reservations during CIE operating hours (up to 2 hours/week)
• Discounts and virtual access - Coming in 2025!
• Informed
  • Members-only events and newsletter
  • Receive CIE updates and announcements about Wilmington’s business scene and opportunities
• And more! Additional opportunities and recognition not available to nonmembers

Continue your engagement with our programs and events, mentor program, media services, and all the other support avenues the CIE provides our startup community.  

Individual Membership types:

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

Join our community with ease by choosing from the following convenient options for new membership:

• Sign up using the online registration system. 
• Visit CIE and make a payment with either a check or credit card.
• Pay over the phone using your credit card.
• Mail a check along with your completed Membership Application to CIE at 803-G South College Road, Wilmington, NC 28403.

Memberships support the CIE's resources to maintain and expand programs that support entrepreneurship in the Wilmington region. Memberships begin from the day the payment is received and end December 31 of the same year (with the exception of lifetime memberships).

Membership may 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.