CED - Center for Entrepreneurial Development

10th IdeaFest Business Pitch Competition
2025-04-02

Miami Tech Week
2025-04-06 - 2025-04-13

Raleigh-Durham Startup Week
2025-04-07 - 2025-04-11

AgBio 2025: Innovating Agricultural Resilience
2025-04-08 - 2025-04-09

Crafting Your Board Journey: Perfecting Your Board Resume and Board Bio
2025-04-08 16:00 - 18:00 (America/New_York)

Duke Startup Showcase
2025-04-10 16:00 - 19:00 | Duke University – Fuqua School of Business, 100 Fuqua Drive, Durham, NC, 27708, United States

RDSW | How Your Inner Circle Can Make or Break Your Success
2025-04-11 10:00 - 11:30 | Raleigh Founded – North Street, 509 W North St, Raleigh, 27603, United States
Your startup’s success isn’t just about your idea—it’s about the people you surround yourself with. The right co-founders, advisors, investors, and peers can accelerate your growth, open doors, and challenge your thinking. But how do you find them? And just as importantly, how do you know when to cut ties?
This interactive panel and discussion will dive deep into:

The Founder’s Inner Circle – Who should be in it, and how does it evolve?
Picking the Right Advisors – Finding advisors who actually move the needle.
Investor Fit Beyond Capital – How to secure strategic investors, not just checks.
Knowing When to Walk Away – Red flags, tough calls, and why the wrong people can kill momentum.

After the panel, we’ll break out into smaller groups for a deeper dive on how to leverage, activate, and nurture your circle.

Smart Cities Connect
2025-04-14 - 2025-04-16

From Startup to Standout: How Founders Scale Smarter - Featuring Build It Labs & Gameflo
2025-04-16 09:00 - 10:30

Startup TNT Graduation Showcase, Spring 2025
2025-04-17 13:00 - 14:30 | RTP Foundation, 700 Park Offices Drive, Durham, NC, 27709, United States
Join us for the Spring 2025 Startup TNT Graduation Showcase, where our 8 talented Associates will present their innovative projects and share their experiences from the 12-week program. This event is an exclusive opportunity to celebrate the next wave of entrepreneurs from Duke, NC Central, NC State, and UNC Chapel Hill.
Don’t miss your chance to see what’s next for Startup TNT and our vibrant startup ecosystem!
Please Note: RSVP is by invitation only.

Startup Grind Global Conference
2025-04-22 - 2025-04-23

RIoT - A Fireside Chat
2025-04-22 17:30 - 20:00

BioAgTech World Congress
2025-04-23 - 2025-04-25

Brews + Bytes + Insights: Network With Innovation Pros
2025-04-29 16:00 - 18:00

Founder’s Playbook: A Step-by-Step Look at Launching an AI Product
2025-04-29 17:30 - 19:30 | Thousand Hills Coffee, 218 Southport Drive, Morrisville, NC, 27650, United States

Ag Tech Investors Forum
2025-04-30 | North Carolina Biotechnology Center, 15 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709

Dig South Tech Summit
2025-05-01 - 2025-05-02

Triangle Business Journal's Empowered Women's Forum
2025-05-15 11:00 - 18:00 | The Umstead Hotel and Spa, 100 Woodland Pond Dr, Cary, NC, 27513, United States

FORGE Networking
2025-05-15 16:00 - 18:00
Building a strong, supportive network of like-minded entrepreneurs is essential for navigating the highs and lows of launching and scaling your startup. FORGE Networking is a private, invite-only event where you can connect with fellow founders and operators who are on a similar journey. At this quarterly gathering, you’ll have the chance to share experiences, gain insights, and form meaningful connections without any distractions.
Please Note: This networking event is invite only. If you are a founder/operator interested in being added to the list, please email admin@cednc.org.

Seed the South Capital Summit
2025-05-20 - 2025-05-21

Investor Happy Hour
2025-05-22 17:30 - 20:00
CED is creating a space for you to build your peer network without distraction. This private event is for investors and is invite only. If you would like to learn more about investor partnership with CED and be considered for this invitation list, please email Hunter at hyoung@cednc.org or Yash at ymehta@cednc.org.

Accelerate Impact Breakfast
2025-05-28 09:00 - 11:00
In 2024, CED stepped boldly into a new chapter. We clarified our purpose, centered founders, and we are building systems that scale. We launched new communities—FORGE, ACCELERATE, and CONNECT—to ensure every startup, investor, and partner knows how to engage and where to grow. And we did it all with one shared goal: to unlock $20 billion in new enterprise value for the region by 2034.
Please Note: This is a private, invite-only event. We appreciate your understanding that no exceptions can be made.

Grep-a-Palooza
2025-06-05 | Durham Convention Center, 301 W Morgan St, Durham, NC, 27701, United States

Strength in Numbers: Headshots & Happy Hour
2025-06-11 16:00 - 18:00 | Savills, 400 Hillsborough St, 9th Floor, Raleigh, 27603, United States
We’re bringing the community together for a feel-good evening of connection, conversation, and celebration. Show up, share stories, and build something real: relationships, opportunities, and maybe even a few fresh headshots. (Let’s be honest… when’s the last time you updated your LinkedIn photo?)
Please Note: This event is exclusive to our Strength in Members list, which is comprised of female-identifying founders, operators, investors, and ecosystem partners. Interested in learning more about a Strength in Numbers membership? Reach out at admin@cednc.org.

Triangle Tech Night: Women Who Innovate (pt II)
2025-06-12 17:00 - 20:00 | American Underground, 324 Blackwell Street, Durham, NC, 27701, United States

BIO International Convention
2025-06-16 - 2025-06-19

GRO Demo Day
2025-06-26 16:30 - 20:30 | Cary Founded, 167 E Chatham St Suite 300, Cary, NC, 27511, United States
Join us for an evening celebrating the Spring 2025 GRO Incubator cohort, sponsored by Wells Fargo, as founders pitch their startups. Connect with investors, entrepreneurs, and ecosystem partners while enjoying food, drinks, and great conversation. Let’s support the next generation of innovators growing in the Triangle!
Please Note: RSVP required. No cost to attend.

Strength in Numbers Monthly Meet-up (Members Only)
2025-07-17 09:30 - 11:00
We hold casual monthly meet-ups for members of Strength in Numbers — a growing network of female-identifying founders, operators, investors, and ecosystem champions building meaningful connections and sharing candid conversations.
This event is for members only. If you’re not yet a member but are interested in joining, visit our Strength in Numbers member page to learn more: https://cednc.mykajabi.com/strength_in_numbers

Girls In Tech RDU: Women In Tech Networking Event
2025-07-30 18:00 - 20:00 | East Bower Cider Company, 2020 Progress Ct Suite 160, Raleigh, NC, 27608, United States

Quarterly FORGE Networking (Members Only)
2025-08-14 08:00 - 10:00 | Guglhupf, 2706 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd, Durham, NC, 27707, United States
This quarterly gathering is exclusively for members of FORGE — a peer community of growth-stage founders and operators navigating the unique challenges of scaling a company.
You must be a FORGE member to attend. If you’re interested in learning more, visit our FORGE membership page: https://cednc.org/forge/
