Insights

CED is excited to welcome our Spring 2026 Startup TNT (Talent & Training) Associate cohort—a mix of returning leaders and new talent who will support high-growth founders across North Carolina while gaining hands-on experience inside the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

As Startup TNT continues to evolve, this spring marks an important moment of both continuity and growth for the program.

Continuing the Momentum: Returning Startup TNT Associates

We’re thrilled that three Startup TNT Associates from our Fall 2025 cohort are continuing on in their year-long roles with CED:

Their decision to stay on reflects both the depth of the program and the impact Associates can have across CED’s work—from startup support and programs to events and ecosystem engagement. This spring, they’ll take on greater ownership, deepen relationships with founders and partners, and help shape the future of Startup TNT itself.

Welcoming Our Spring 2026 Startup TNT Associates

We’re equally excited to introduce five new Associates joining CED this spring, each bringing unique skills, interests, and perspectives to the team:

Throughout the spring, these Associates will work closely with the CED team, gaining hands-on experience across entrepreneurial support, programs, and events, and direct startup engagement.

What’s New This Spring

As Startup TNT continues to evolve, we’re refining how Associates plug into CED’s work. This spring, we’re piloting several updates designed to create deeper ownership and more direct startup impact, including:

Dedicated Startup Programs Associate

Anika will focus on supporting the planning, execution, and continuous improvement of CED’s FORGE programs—working closely with our Startup Program Leads to ensure founders have a seamless, high-impact experience.

Dedicated Events Associate

Grace will support the execution and logistics of CED events, from small networking events to our annual capital capital conference, Venture Connect. In this role, she’ll work closely with our Customer Experience Lead to create thoughtful, well-run experiences that bring the ecosystem together.

Continued GRO Extern Pilot

Natalie joins CED as our second GRO Extern, continuing a pilot that places vetted Associates directly with startups. For this pilot, she will work hands-on with startups participating in CED’s GRO Incubator Program, contributing meaningfully to real business challenges and gaining immersive, startup-facing experience, and will work closely with our Startup Programs Lead and GRO Incubator Associate.

These updates reflect our ongoing effort to refine Startup TNT in ways that better serve founders, Associates, and the broader ecosystem.

Startup TNT is designed to be more than a traditional internship. Associates gain meaningful, hands-on experience while contributing directly to CED’s mission of helping founders build and scale high-growth companies. Through this immersive program, Associates also develop the skills and networks that can position them as future operators and leaders in the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Stay Connected

Interested in getting involved with Startup TNT or supporting CED programs this spring? There are several ways to connect:

Become a future Startup TNT Associate

👉 Join our interest list to stay in the loop. Our next cohort is slated for Fall 2026, with applications opening up this summer. 

Explore a university partnership
👉 Connect with Elaina Bade to learn about getting your involved with Startup TNT. Join our incredible group of university champions: Duke I&E, NC Central University, and Meredith College.

Volunteer at Venture Connect

👉 Sign up to be a student volunteer at Venture Connect. Students will get a free ticket to the conference, in exchange for a 4-hour shift.

Startup TNT continues to be a core part of how CED connects emerging talent with the startup ecosystem—creating pathways for students while delivering real value to founders.

We’re excited to kick off Spring 2026 and can’t wait to see what this cohort accomplishes!