Membership Benefits & Options

• Members-only events and newsletter
• 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. The CIE strategically focuses its activities in areas where regional strengths and university expertise converge – education, health and IT technologies, coastal and marine sciences, and digital arts and media production.
• 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
• Conference room rentals
• 10% discount on CIE 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

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:

• Student – $25: Open to formally enrolled university and community college students.
• UNCW Faculty/Staff/Alumni – $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: 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:

• 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.
• Sign up for membership using the online registration system. 

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 31st of the same year (with the exception of lifetime memberships). Membership renewals begin on January 1st.

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.