Insights

Durham, NC – May 29, 2025 — The Center for Entrepreneurial Development (CED) has released its 2024 Impact Report, highlighting a pivotal year of transformation for North Carolina’s startup ecosystem and setting the course toward an ambitious 10-year target: unlocking $20 billion in new enterprise value in the Triangle region by 2034.

The report outlines CED’s bold repositioning around three interconnected communities—FORGE founders & operators, ACCELERATE investors, and CONNECT ecosystem partners—as well as the tangible results of that shift, including:

• 706 startups supported through 13,111 hours of programming and coaching
• Over 1,000 curated introductions connecting founders to capital, partners, and talent
• A 47% engagement rate with underrepresented founders across programs
• Launch of Dealroom, a public dashboard tracking real-time startup and investment activity across the region

“Startups aren’t a niche in our economy—they are the engine,” said Kelly Rowell, CEO of CED. “This year, we’ve seen just how powerful this ecosystem can be when we align founders, funders, and partners around a shared mission and measurable progress.”

The report compares the Triangle’s momentum against other rising national hubs like Austin, Atlanta, and Miami—revealing that the region is no longer emerging, but competing. With $148 billion in total startup enterprise value and over 70,000 jobs created by local startups, the Triangle is demonstrating high growth potential across core sectors like biotech, agtech, and enterprise software.

The release of the report was celebrated at CED’s Accelerate Impact event, where more than 100 founders, investors, and community leaders came together to explore key findings and honor the people powering the mission. Highlights included a panel discussion on capital and founder support, a preview of ecosystem growth data, and a recognition ceremony for board members completing their six-year terms.

“Behind every data point is a person who showed up,” Rowell noted. “This event reminded us that impact is powered by people—and we’re so grateful to the founders, board members, and partners who make this work possible.”

In 2024, 1,383 individuals and partners contributed over $2.1 million to support CED’s work—90% of which was reinvested directly into programs, mentorship, and regional infrastructure.

Looking ahead, CED is actively raising a new round of catalytic funding to support the next phase of its 10-year roadmap, with planned expansion in capital programs, talent development, and founder reinvestment models.

“This report isn’t just a summary of what we’ve done—it’s a call to action,” said Rowell. “We’re building something bigger than ourselves. And we’re inviting everyone—founders, investors, partners—to help lead what’s next.”

The full 2024 Impact Report is available online at cednc.org/impact. You can learn more and schedule a meeting with CED leadership team here.

About CED

The Center for Entrepreneurial Development (CED) is a nonprofit organization that connects North Carolina’s most promising startups with the capital, talent, and resources they need to grow. With a 40-year legacy of supporting innovation, CED powers a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem through programs, curated networks, and data-driven tools that unlock opportunity.