CED (Center for Entrepreneurial Development)

Spend time connecting with our Venture Connect sponsors! Visit their booths, learn about their work, and explore ways to collaborate and build meaningful relationships.

Bill Spruill leads a fireside chat with Yoram Wijngaarde, CEO of Dealroom. The conversation will break down how the Triangle stacks up against other global ecosystems and what the data shows about category shifts, founder activity, and where capital is actually flowing right now.

The companies in this session are operating at the frontier of what hardware and deep technology can do. From advanced robotics and satellite systems to novel materials and semiconductor architecture, these innovators are building the physical and computational infrastructure of tomorrow.

An informal, high-energy meet-up designed to connect students, startups, and university partners in one room. Whether you're a founder looking for sharp summer talent or a student seeking a hands-on internship for Summer 2026, this session creates space for real conversations and meaningful connections. Come ready to introduce yourself, explore opportunities, and spark the next […]

Led by Chloe Domergue, Human Capital Deloitte Principal, this hands-on workshop explores what collaborative intelligence between humans and AI looks like inside a real organization. The next leap in performance will not come from better tools alone. It will come from teams that think differently, challenge assumptions, and work intentionally with intelligent systems. Through guided […]

This session showcases software companies using artificial intelligence, automation, and modern cloud platforms to solve real-world problems across healthcare, construction, education, finance, and beyond. What unites them is a commitment to replacing inefficiency with intelligence — and delivering measurable impact to the people and organizations they serve.

This talk with Lesley Ross of Enjoy the Work covers revealing topics such as “The 28 Questions All Investors Ask” and what represents a “Minimum Viable Investor Funnel, ” providing the audience with frameworks from which to construct a professional fundraise regardless if your startup is barely off the ground or well beyond product-market fit.

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 KPMG for sponsoring this lunch!

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 […]

From ENT care to oncology, the companies in this session are redefining how medicine is practiced, delivered, and experienced. Whether through novel device engineering, AI-powered diagnostics, or breakthrough therapeutics, these innovators are tackling some of healthcare’s most persistent challenges.

Launch Chapel Hill Powered by KPMG presents a live showcase of its inaugural cohort, featuring ten early stage AI and deeptech startups building technical, high impact solutions. Founders take the stage back to back in a fast moving session that offers a clear look at emerging technologies, bold ideas, and the next generation of companies […]

The Triangle's next biotech companies are already taking shape in university labs. This session brings six faculty scientists to the stage to present discoveries at the frontier of venture formation — giving investors an early look at the human health innovations poised to anchor the Triangle's next wave of biotech companies.