CED - Center for Entrepreneurial Development

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

Crafting Your Board Journey: Perfecting Your Board Resume and Board Bio
2025-04-08 16:00 - 18:00

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

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

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

10th IdeaFest Business Pitch Competition
2025-04-02

CELEBRATION
2025-03-27 16:30 - 19:30 | Plaza, 2 E South St, Raleigh, NC, 27601, United States
Venture Connect culminates with an exciting Celebration featuring live music, delicious food, and a lively atmosphere to celebrate the community and the innovation that has been showcased over the two days.

Biotech Investor Reverse Pitch
2025-03-27 16:00 - 16:30 | Memorial Auditorium, 2 East South Street, Raleigh, NC - North Carolina, 27601
Hear from a few of our most engaged life sciences investors about their investment focus. These firms provide much needed funding and expertise to life sciences companies, propelling their missions to improve global healthcare outcomes.

Pitch Session | Marketplaces & Platform Innovation
2025-03-27 14:35 - 15:40 | Fletcher Opera Theater, 2 E South St, Raleigh, NC, 27601, United States
65 minute pitch session featuring 8 companies. More information to come.

Pitch Session | Healthtech
2025-03-27 14:35 - 15:40 | Memorial Auditorium, 2 East South Street, Raleigh, NC - North Carolina, 27601

Pitch Session | Growth Software
2025-03-27 13:15 - 14:20 | Fletcher Opera Theater, 2 E South St, Raleigh, NC, 27601, United States

Pitch Session | Diagnostics, Tools & Platforms
2025-03-27 13:15 - 14:20 | Memorial Auditorium, 2 East South Street, Raleigh, NC - North Carolina, 27601

Founder Lounge
2025-03-27 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-03-27 11:00 - 13:00 | Lounge, 2 E South St, Raleigh, NC, 27601, United States
Join us in our a Private AMA (Ask Me Anything) Lounge – a space designed just for founders to connect, ask candid questions, and get real-time advice from experienced founders + operators.

Lunch Break: Connect & Recharge
2025-03-27 12:00 - 13:00 | Meymandi Upper Lobby, 2 E South St, Raleigh, NC, 27601, United States
Take a break, grab a bite, and connect organically with fellow attendees. This unscripted, unstructured lunch is your time to step outside, spark new conversations, and build relationships in a relaxed setting. Whether you’re diving into a deep discussion or simply recharging for the afternoon sessions, this is your opportunity to network, unwind, and fuel up for what’s next.

Tech Investor Lunch
2025-03-27 12:00 - 13:00 | Meymandi Lower Lobby, 2 E South St, Raleigh, NC, 27601, United States
We are excited to host an invite-only Tech Investor Lunch during Venture Connect. This is a unique opportunity to network with fellow tech investors over lunch and engage in insightful conversations.
Thank you to Rockefeller Capital Management for sponsoring this lunch!

NC School of Science & Math Pitches
2025-03-27 11:30 - 12:00 | Fletcher Opera Theater, 2 E South St, Raleigh, NC, 27601, United States
In this session you will hear from our area’s youngest entrepreneurs who are designing solutions to tackle global challenges.

Early Stage Investor Reverse Pitch
2025-03-27 11:30 - 12:00 | Memorial Auditorium, 2 East South Street, Raleigh, NC - North Carolina, 27601
Early-stage startups navigate some of the most uncertain waters, in search of their true north star of innovation. Let’s hear it from a few of the best groups to see if they’d be a great partner for startups building in these early innings.

Pitch Session | AI & Machine Learning
2025-03-27 10:00 - 11:15 | Fletcher Opera Theater, 2 E South St, Raleigh, NC, 27601, United States
75 minute pitch session featuring 9 companies. More information to come.

Pitch Session | Pre-Clinical & Biotech Platforms
2025-03-27 10:00 - 11:15 | Memorial Auditorium, 2 East South Street, Raleigh, NC - North Carolina, 27601
75 minute pitch session featuring 8 companies. More information to come.

DAY TWO KICKOFF | The Power of Ownership: Equity, Exits & Startup Trends
2025-03-27 08:30 - 09:45 | Memorial Auditorium, 2 East South Street, Raleigh, NC - North Carolina, 27601
When Bill Spruill sold Global Data Consortium to the London Stock Exchange in 2022, 21 employees became millionaires. His philosophy? Shared equity drives better alignment—and benefits the entire community.
Join Bill and Peter Walker, Head of Insights at Carta, as they break down the latest trends shaping startups and venture capital. Backed by Carta’s data from 45,000+ companies, they’ll dive into fundraising, valuations, and the evolving dynamics of ownership. Don’t miss this data-driven discussion on building wealth through equity.

Partnering & Investor Meetings
2025-03-27 07:00 - 17:00 | Carolina Room, 2 East South Street, Raleigh, NC, 27601, United States
Looking to accelerate your business growth? Bookable meeting spaces are available for one-on-one conversations with investors, partners, and key ecosystem resources. Whether you’re seeking capital, strategic guidance, or industry connections, this is your chance to forge valuable relationships that drive your startup forward. Schedule your meetings and make every moment count!

Day Two | Doors Open & Morning Welcome
2025-03-27 07:00 - 08:45 | Memorial Auditorium, 2 East South Street, Raleigh, NC - North Carolina, 27601
Start your second day at VC25 with registration and a light continental breakfast. Grab a coffee, reconnect with fellow attendees, and get ready for another day of impactful conversations and game-changing connections. Doors open early—let’s dive back in!

Live Oak's Investor After-Party
2025-03-26 21:30 - 23:30 | Whiskey Kitchen, 201 W Martin St, Raleigh, NC, 27601, United States
Join Live Oak Bank for an exclusive Investor After-Party at Whiskey Kitchen, right after Venture Connect day one and the invite-only Investor Dinner wraps up! Hosted by Live Oak Bank, this is your chance to unwind, mingle, and enjoy some great drinks with fellow investors in a relaxed, lively atmosphere.
​Come raise a glass, share insights, and celebrate a successful day with us. They can’t wait to see you there!

Investor Dinner
2025-03-26 18:00 - 21:30
A private, invite-only dinner offers a chance for our regional VCs to connect directly with out of region funds in an intimate setting at an undisclosed location.
A big thank you to our Event Sponsors – JP Morgan and Hutchison PLLC!

GrepBeat's Venture Connect After Party
2025-03-26 18:00 - 20:00 | Flying Saucer Draught Emporium, 328 West Morgan Street, Raleigh, NC, 27601
Join GrepBeat as they hoist a glass to celebrate Venture Connect and the Triangle’s entrepreneurial spirit. Connect, unwind, and spark new ideas! RSVP is required.
Sponsored by Fourscore Law and Big Pixel.

Fireside Chat: A Bold New Vision for North Carolina’s Financial Future
2025-03-26 16:30 - 17:15 | Memorial Auditorium, 2 East South Street, Raleigh, NC - North Carolina, 27601
Join us for an exclusive fireside chat with Brad Briner, North Carolina’s newly elected State Treasurer, as he sits down with Edwin Poston, General Partner and Co-Founder of TrueBridge Capital. In a time of rapid economic change, Treasurer Briner is taking a fresh approach to North Carolina’s financial strategy, with a focus on unlocking new opportunities for investment, innovation, and long-term economic growth.
This candid conversation will explore the future of the state’s financial landscape, including what’s next for North Carolina’s Retirement System and how smarter capital allocation could impact businesses, taxpayers, and the broader investment community. For founders, funders, and financial leaders alike, this session is a rare opportunity to gain insights from the state’s top financial decision-maker and a seasoned venture capital expert.
Don’t miss this engaging discussion on what’s ahead for North Carolina’s economy—and how it could shape the future of high-growth startups in the region.

Tech Investor Reverse Pitch
2025-03-26 16:00 - 16:30 | Memorial Auditorium, 2 East South Street, Raleigh, NC - North Carolina, 27601
We’re turning the tables as we put our investors on the hot seat! Hear from growth stage tech investors as they walk us through their firm, team and investment focus.

Pitch Session | Sustainability
2025-03-26 14:35 - 15:40 | Memorial Auditorium, 2 East South Street, Raleigh, NC - North Carolina, 27601

Pitch Session | Med Device & Biomaterials
2025-03-26 14:35 - 15:40 | Fletcher Opera Theater, 2 E South St, Raleigh, NC, 27601, United States
65 minute pitch session featuring 7 companies. More information to come.
