Regional News

Don't miss our other news sources!

Mark Your Calendar for the Conference on Entrepreneurship on February 7th!


Bankers, attorneys, accountants, oh my! Choosing and using a team of advisors and service providers can make your trip to the Emerald City an arduous journey or a joy ride. Let the experts at CED's Conference on Entrepreneurship show you how to make safe passage down the Yellow Brick Road with our series of sessions called "Their Time Costs You Money." The series provides proven strategies and tactics for getting the most from your banker, PR/marketing consultant, accountant and attorney. The event is on Saturday, February 7 at the Fuqua School of Business in Durham, N.C.

Cree Research Extends Contract with Siemens A.G.


Durham-based Cree Research has extended a contract potentially worth more than $12 million over the next 12 months with Siemens A.G., Cree's largest customer.

Cree plans to sell more than $12 million in blue light-emitting diodes to Siemens over the next 12 months. The contract guarantees more than $6 million in the next six months. Siemens buys about 70 percent of Cree's blue LEDs.

Accipiter Names Kip Frey President and COO


Accipiter

, a Raleigh-based developer of software for the management of Internet advertising, has named Kip Frey as president and CEO. Frey will take charge of the day-to-day operations on January 1, 1998.

Frey was an executive vice president at Ventana Communications Group. Accipiter founder Chris Evans will remain as chairman and CEO. Accipiter has 40 employees.

14th Annual Conference on Entrepreneurship Gives You a Keynote Speaker You Can Sink Your Teeth Into


Wiley Mullins, founder of Uncle Wiley's Company, will be the keynote speaker at the 14th annual Conference on Entrepreneurship on February 7! Uncle Wiley's is a mail-order and retail food business specializing in healthy Southern foods.

"You'll never work harder, and you'll never find more fulfilling work," Mullins says of being an entrepreneur. This session will satisfy your hunger for business know-how just like banana pudding satisfies your sweet tooth! Sign up now!

Entrepreneurs of all stages are invited to join us for a full day of learning. Informational sessions will cover all aspect of an entrepreneurial venture, including starting out, growing up and cashing out. For more information, contact Tawnya Louder-Reynolds at CED.

First Round Presenting Companies Selected for CED's Venture '98


Eight companies in search of venture capital have been selected from the first round of applicants to present at Venture '98, which will be held on April 22-23rd on the campus of UNC-CH. More companies will be selected in later rounds for the 15th annual venture conference, sponsored by the Council for Entrepreneurial Development (CED) in cooperation with Kenan-Flagler Business School. For look at last year's conference, checkout the Venture '97 Web site.

The conference has grown to become one of the largest venture conferences in the country, attracting venture capitalist from across the nation and Canada. Because of the region's dynamic entrepreneurial growth, the Venture '98 selection committee, led by Martin Zorn of Wachovia and Tom Laundon of the North Carolina Biotechnology Center, intends to select up to 25 companies this year. Past conferences have featured 15-17 companies. For the first time the committee will also seriously consider including strong applicants from outside of North Carolina.

CED is still accepting applications from companies interested in presenting at the venture conference. For more information on how to apply, call CED at 919.549.7500 or contact Tawnya Louder-Reynolds.

The eight companies selected in the first round represent a wide range of stages and industries, reflecting the diverse entrepreneurial strength of the region.

Companies selected to date are:

Check out CED Activities for the Coming Early in the New Year!


Do you know what do you need to know about the process of negotiating and closing a venture capital deal? Hear what advice veterans of the venture capital process have to offer entrepreneurs and their advisors at How to Negotiate and Close a Venture Capital Deal. This seminar provides valuable tools that will increase an entrepreneur's chances to successfully compete for venture capital.

Do you have an idea for a new business but need to develop a plan?
Do you want to increase your business revenues and profitability?
Do you need to develop a business plan to seek funding or for strategic purposes?

Join us for lunch to learn about the FastTrac entrepreneurial training program!

  • More than 16,000 people have taken FastTrac since its inception in 1986. FastTrac graduates outperform non-graduates in all business measurements.

  • The SBA reports that only 40% of new businesses are still in existence 5 years after start-up, but 74% of FastTrac businesses are still operating successfully.

  • 40-55% of FastTrac graduates more than double their sales within two years of graduation.