Insights

We are thrilled to announce the addition of two exceptional entrepreneurs to CED’s Founders-in-Residence (FIR) program: Kelli Luginbuhl and Jed Carlson. Both bring a wealth of experience, passion, and leadership that will be invaluable to our community of entrepreneurs.

Meet Kelli Luginbihl:

Kelli Luginbuhl joins us with a strong background in the biotech industry. She is the Co-Founder and former CSO turned CEO of Isolere Bio, a company that has been at the forefront of developing enabling manufacturing technology for advanced therapeutics. Kelli played a crucial role in bootstrapping Isolere Bio with various forms of non-dilutive funding until its successful Series Seed round. In February 2023, Isolere was acquired by Donaldson, where Kelli led the integration efforts and now serves as General Manager. Kelli holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Colorado State University and both an M.S. and Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from Duke University. Her expertise in scaling biotech startups and navigating the complexities of acquisition and integration will be a tremendous asset to CED and our community.

Meet Jed Carlson:

Jed Carlson brings over 25 years of entrepreneurial experience across multiple industries. He is the Founder and CEO of Adwerx, and was the Founder and President of ReverbNation, which was acquired in 2021. Earlier in his career, Jed founded The Carlson Print Group, which was acquired in 2000. Jed’s academic background includes a B.A. in Economics and Environmental Studies from Bowdoin College, as well as an MBA from Duke University. His deep understanding of achieving product/market fit and acquiring customers during the critical early stages of a company will be a guiding light for emerging founders. In addition to his entrepreneurial ventures, Jed is an active angel investor and a mentor to many entrepreneurs in the Triangle area.

CED’s FIR Program: Founders Helping Founders

For 40 years, CED has been committed to connecting entrepreneurs with high-value resources to accelerate business growth. Our Founder-in-Residence (FIR) program embodies the philosophy of “Founders Helping Founders,” providing a structured environment where seasoned entrepreneurs can pay it forward. This program is fully funded through financial investments made by founders who are committed to accelerating startup growth in the Triangle.

Kelli and Jed will be working closely with the CED team to deepen our expertise in specific sectors such as Biotech and software/ SaaS. They will provide first-hand experience, wisdom, and advice to qualified founders and operators in a confidential setting. Additionally, our FIRs act as advocates for their respective sectors, ensuring that CED continues offering the highest value access and resources, directly or through our extensive partner network.

Get Involved

We are excited about the impact Kelli and Jed will have on our community, and we encourage you to connect with them through CED. For more information on working with our FIRs, please contact Preet Mankad or JP Maloney. If you’d like to learn more about investing in programs that directly impact regional growth, please contact Jay Bigelow.

Join us in welcoming Kelli Luginbuhl and Jed Carlson to the CED family!

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