Insights

RTP, NC, February 1, 2022 – The Council for Entrepreneurial Development (CED) announces Demo Day for its Life Science cohort to complete the GRO Incubator. Demo Day will be held in person, Wednesday, March 30th at Alexandria Real Estate Launch Labs.

GRO is a twelve-week incubator program aimed at supporting high-growth, high-impact companies looking to grow their venture through valuable educational programming and coaching. Educational content follows lean-startup principles. CED pulls from its vast network of domain experts for special sections on effective customer discovery, regulatory and intellectual property strategy, non-dilutive funding options, equity funding, business model, cash management, and more. Each company is matched with a coach who works one on one with the company throughout the 12 weeks cycle.

“We combine core content with 1:1 coaching and then add guest speakers — successful entrepreneurs from our network to give real-life stories of their entrepreneurial journey,” says Jay Bigelow, CED’s VP of Entrepreneurship. GRO incorporates the foundations of the Entrepreneurship Course throughout weekly classes. It’s an evolved version of the organization’s past educational programming, including Fastrac^TM and Fastrac Tech Venture^TM.

GRO Demo Day is the opportunity for these companies to share their story and vision for an exciting new venture. “Demo Day allows these companies to pitch to the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem,” Bigelow said. “They’ve spent 12 weeks working towards launch and are looking for customers, partners and investors,” he added. “It takes a village to build a great company, and GRO Demo Days are a chance for the entrepreneurial village to see these new additions.” GRO gives founders of life science companies the foundational knowledge to create a repeatable and scalable business.


Meet our GRO Companies:

IrNex is the pi-MRSI software for fast biomarker imaging that enables high diagnostic specificity for early detection of treatment response.

Selsym Biotech develops shelf-stable, non-immunologic platelet-like particles to treat surgical bleeding and address critical blood shortages.

Mycologics is an early-stage biologics company that is developing a new line of safe, affordable, and naturally derived fungicides to help farmers save their crops from fungal spoilage.

LabRunner offers real-time tracking and digital management of irreplaceable specimens from creation to receipt.

OraBiotech offers a personalized intraoral wireless device and mobile gaming app that provides positive reinforcement and motivation for at-home speech therapy.

A NewCo is developing a wearable biometric feedback device to help patients be proactive in their own health management.



“We are fortunate to have successful Founders who once received support from CED, returning to give back,” said Kelly Rowell, CED’s President, and CEO.  We’d like to thank our sponsor Mispro Biotech Services and our host for the event Alexandria Real Estate Launch Labs.

“Mispro is built for biotech startups and we’re proud to sponsor CED’s 2022 GRO Demo Day for Life Science companies. We wish all of the companies luck with their presentations and share with their investors great excitement in the potential of their discoveries to benefit the health and wellness of patients across the globe.” Philippe Lamarre, CEO Mispro Biotech Services. Mispro Biotech Services is a contract vivarium organization (CVO) offering a network of full-service preclinical vivarium facilities where biotech and biopharma companies can conduct their own in vivo rodent studies. Mispro has locations in all major U.S. biotech hubs. 

GRO Demo Day will be on March 30th from 4:30 pm to 7:00 pm. Due to covid safety precautions, space will be limited.

For more information about the program, visit https://local.40th.cednc.test/get/gro/. Media should contact Brennan Barber at bbarber@cednc.org for more details.

About CED (Council for Entrepreneurial Development):

The Council for Entrepreneurial Development was formed in 1984 by a group of business leaders wanting to empower the successful creation and growth of entrepreneurial companies in the North Carolina region. CED acts as the connective center for all of this to happen. Through high-touch support, education, access to capital, and crucial connections, CED brings entrepreneurs together with the optimal resources needed to turn a new company into a success story.