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
2023 Metrics
Our Investment Areas
In 2023, we made significant strategic investments to expand our programs and services, aiming to maximize CED’s impact and drive the next wave of growth for entrepreneurial companies in North Carolina. Here are our four areas of focus:
