DEFYING EXPECTATIONS
The Center for Entrepreneurial Development (CED) was formed in 1984 by a group of visionary founders and business leaders dedicated to empowering entrepreneurial growth in North Carolina. And for over four decades we’ve done that and so much more.
Today, we’re transforming the startup ecosystem in North Carolina, actively catalyzing growth in our area that will impact the economic landscape of our state for years to come.
CED MISSION + FOCUS
Our mission is to connect entrepreneurial companies with high-growth resources to accelerate business growth.
Our work is focused on three key areas:
Programs that provide education to startups, scaleups, and their teams.
Services that offer direct support for business and fundraising strategies.
Talent and training support to foster talent retention and placement through networking and direct introductions.
Our Scorecard
Metrics are everything when you’ve set out to change the trajectory of the startup ecosystem in North Carolina. We’re tracking against our 2026 Target and seeing upward growth in every category.
2026 Target
2024 Metrics
Building $20B by 2034
The Triangle’s long-term economic growth depends on our ability to align people, programs, and partners around a shared vision—and act with urgency. That’s why CED set a 10-year target to unlock $20 billion in new enterprise value by 2034. This number is built on substance, not just style. It’s a challenge to the entire region to show up, reinvest, and build what’s next. Our path forward includes 3 distinct phases—each with a different focus, and each powered by the collaborative work of FORGE, ACCELERATE, and CONNECT.
