Insights

CED welcomes six companies into its tenth incubator cohort. The cohort features all technology companies, reflecting the region’s strength in the sector. 

We’re thrilled to the six new companies that have been accepted to GRO Incubator—our 10th GRO Cohort. The participating companies represent a diverse array of industries, ranging from sustainability to AI-based home solutions.

The twelve-week program will culminate in a Demo Day scheduled for November 13. We’d like to thank Wells Fargo for sponsoring this year’s GRO Programming. The companies were selected from a large pool of applications through a screening process to ensure company and program fit.

“The GRO Incubator has become a launchpad for bold ideas, giving founders the coaching, resources, and community to grow with confidence. Each company that takes off through GRO helps shape a stronger, more connected entrepreneurial ecosystem within the Triangle.”
– Preet Mankad

What if stock trading felt as fun and social as fantasy sports? Cameron Joyner, a former sales and data analytics professional from Eastern Carolina, is the founder of BearBull, a platform where fantasy sports meets Wall Street. Inspired by the camaraderie of fantasy leagues, Cameron envisions BearBull as a financial gaming app that makes stock trading more engaging and social. The platform will launch first as a mobile app, with plans to expand to desktop. Early users will soon test the concept as Cameron self-funds the venture and moves into design this September.

thredFORM – Stacy Shannon

After watching Buy Now: The Shopping Conspiracy on Netflix, Stacy Shannon was struck by the urgent need for more sustainable solutions in packaging. That inspiration led to thredFORM, a company creating eco-friendly shipping materials by shredding textiles, mixing them with adhesive, and pressing them into durable blocks and shapes as an alternative to plastic and foam. A lifelong recycler and sustainability advocate, Stacy draws on her prior startup experience to focus on customer discovery and validation during the incubator. She knows firsthand the importance of listening to mentors, testing assumptions, and staying patient throughout the entrepreneurial journey.

Squadies – Ryan Brown

Ryan Brown, founder of Squadies, is a health tech executive, community leader, and toddler mom from North Carolina. She loves a sunny park stroll—but like so many parents, she’s frustrated by the lack of clean restrooms. Backed by advisors from Meta to Amex, Ryan is building a clean-access infrastructure layer for U.S. cities. Her vision starts with Squadies, a mobile app where Waze meets Yelp to provide verified bathroom reviews for families on the go, starting in the Raleigh area.

With a waitlist of 200+ moms eager to join and contribute, Squadies is already proving demand. The data generated by the app has wide value—from real-time updates for municipalities to feedback for local businesses. Ultimately, Ryan’s mission is bigger than bathrooms: she wants to stimulate community activity by building trust between the public and the establishments they rely on.

Intellicair – Sam Ferrell

Imagine if your HVAC system could tell you what it needed before actually breaking down. This is the vision behind Intellicair AI. Father–son duo Bobby and Sam Ferrel are the team behind Intellicair AI, a smart platform for real-time HVAC monitoring. Bobby’s HVAC expertise and Sam’s business background sparked the vision for a straightforward system to save homeowners money, provide transparency, and spare technicians unnecessary headaches. That vision has grown into a platform that delivers easy-to-read system data, seamless communication, and peace of mind for users across Durham and beyond.

Home Dock – Andrew Katz & Joseph Yelle

Buying, selling, and maintaining a home often feels overwhelming. Serial entrepreneurs Andrew Katz and Joseph Yelle are back on the start-up scene with Home Dock, a platform built to streamline the entire homeownership journey. At its core is the AI-powered video walkthrough, which helps homeowners and agents instantly assess repair costs, understand which improvements add the most value, and generate buyer or seller reports in seconds. But Home Dock goes further: it offers a marketplace of vetted contractors recommended by real estate agents, giving homeowners trusted options to act on those insights. By combining data on your home with tools for buying, selling, and maintaining it, Home Dock empowers users to make informed decisions and maximize value every step of the way.

Flash Path – Sara Selitsky

Science moves faster when data is easily accessible. At the intersection of science and technology, Sara Selitsky is building Flash Path, a platform that makes scientific data digitally accessible and AI-ready. The company’s mission is to use its platform to accelerate discovery and innovation. Sara brings previous entrepreneurial experience, giving her insight into building connections and running a company. During GRO, she aims to refine her customer discovery process and sharpen her ability to communicate Flash Path’s value in ways that resonate with both scientists and non-scientists alike.

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We have two Startup TNT Associates supporting this Fall program:

Katie McCormack

Katie McCormack is joining the GRO team this year as the Incubator Intern. She’s a graduate student at NC State in the MedTech Innovation & Entrepreneurship program, where she’s working toward her M.S. in Biomedical Engineering. Katie recently graduated from Davidson College with a B.S. in Biology and is excited to dive into the startup world – getting a behind-the-scenes look at founders’ journeys and helping support them along the way.

Ana Lucia Ochoa

Ana Lucia Ochoa is joining the GRO team this fall as the Incubator Extern. Ana Lucia is a senior at Duke University, where she studies Computer Science and Visual Media Studies. She’s passionate about building products that deliver intuitive and impactful user experiences. This fall, she’s eager to collaborate with founders to leverage user insights in guiding product feature decisions.

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Creating equitable access for all startups

As part of an organization-wide focus on providing equitable access to programming, CED awarded [X] scholarships to eliminate financial requirements and create access for startups that otherwise would be unable to participate. We’d like to recognize Wells Fargo for their contribution to the GRO Scholarship Fund. Learn more about sponsoring a company. 

Programming Details

GRO will offer weekly classes delivered by talented speakers and other foundational learning elements. Participants of GRO will also receive 1:1 coaching from industry leaders and entrepreneurs and complete assignments that will help them launch their ventures.

The program will conclude with Demo Day, November 13, where participating companies will have the chance to get up on stage for a 5-minute pitch to the audience. Demo Day aims to serve as an introduction for our companies into the wider Triangle ecosystem of entrepreneurs and innovators.For more information about the program, head here.

About CED

The Center 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. For more information, go to www.cednc.org.

For interview requests, company introductions, or questions about our GRO Program, media should contact Preet Mankad.