A New Era of Growth for the Triangle Startup Ecosystem, CED Releases 2025 Impact Report
Research Triangle Park, NC – June 5, 2026 — CED’s Impact Report documents a landmark year in 2025 for North Carolina’s startup ecosystem and reaffirming the organization’s commitment to fueling the founder flywheel through education and connections.
The report captures both the scale and depth of CED’s reach, including:
- 747 startups supported through more than 13,000 hours of programming, coaching, and hands-on mentorship
- 1,032 curated introductions connecting founders to capital, partners, and talent
- 405 investor funds engaged with 68% coming from outside North Carolina
- 421 investor introductions facilitating connections between Triangle startups and national capital
- 47% engagement rate with underrepresented founders across programs
- 114 Triangle area university students engaged in CED programming
“Reflecting on my first six months as CEO of CED, I am both humbled and energized by this organization — what we have accomplished, what we are doing now, and the significant opportunity that lies ahead.”
Alex Bloom, CEO of CED
The report also presents new data from Dealroom powered by CED — the real-time dashboard launched at the end of 2024 — which now tracks more than 3,800 companies and $185 billion in ecosystem value across the Triangle. The platform positions the region among North America’s top tech hubs and provides founders, investors, and partners with an always-current picture of where the ecosystem stands. Yoram Wijngaarde, CEO of Dealroom, affirmed the finding at CED’s Venture Connect event: “We would put this region in the breakout stage — on par with Seattle and Los Angeles — on its way up.”
A central finding of this year’s report is the measurable performance advantage of CED-backed companies: compared to non-CED peers, CED-supported startups raise 4.8 times more total funding, complete 3.6 times more funding rounds, and score 2.1 times higher on Dealroom’s Signal Index, a composite measure of startup momentum, investor interest, and growth trajectory.
The Triangle is no longer an emerging ecosystem. It is an established one — and CED’s data makes that case clearly.
Looking ahead, CED is seeking funding partners to scale three proven programs:
- Founders-in-Residence – A program which embeds experienced entrepreneurs inside the ecosystem to mentor the next generation of founders
- Startup TNT – CED’s student pipeline connecting university talent to Triangle startups
- Strength in Numbers – A peer community supporting female founders with networks, capital access, and practical guidance
“I welcome the chance to connect with each of you, share more about our direction, and explore how you can play an even greater role in this collective effort,” said Bloom. “I look forward to building the future of this ecosystem — together”.
The full 2025 Impact Report is available here. To schedule a conversation with CED leadership, contact Alex Bloom at abloom@cednc.org, Jay Bigelow at jbigelow@cednc.org or Abha Bowers at abowers@cednc.org.
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.
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