Where Founders Grow, So Did I: My Journey Through CED & GRO
When I first applied to be a CED Startup TNT Associate, I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect — only that I was eager to step beyond the campus bubble and into the real startup world of the Triangle. As a founder and Duke Melissa & Doug Entrepreneur, I’ve always been drawn to the local ecosystem. So when I reapplied to CED’s Startup TNT Associate Program— this time with a car and more experience — and was selected as the sole GRO Associate for the newly launched track, I knew I had to say yes.
From day one, I was trusted as a teammate, empowered to take initiative, and included in the behind-the-scenes work that fuels innovation across the Triangle.
I feel incredibly fortunate to have been involved in GRO9 from start to finish: from reaching out to ecosystem partners and sending recruitment emails, to sitting in on interviews, shaping the curriculum, and eventually helping run the program. I hosted sessions, welcomed guest speakers, managed the Kajabi community platform, and even co-created Demo Day spotlight videos with Katelin Wheeler, Marketing Lead, for CED’s official LinkedIn (still one of my proudest moments). Watching founders grow week by week, and knowing I played even a small part, was deeply fulfilling.
I’m especially grateful to Preet Mankad, Startup Programs Lead, for trusting me to lead over half of the Tuesday sessions. Facilitating conversations in front of passionate founders was equally thrilling and nerve-racking — and exactly the kind of challenge I hoped for. Through GRO, I could see my growth, too. Duke’s I&E program gave me a solid foundation, but GRO threw me into the messy, fast-paced, and rewarding middle of real-world startup building. As someone actively working on my own venture in AI-powered pet healthtech and e-commerce, working with so many incredible founders made me a better listener, communicator, and strategist — lessons I’ll take with me into future work, and into how I support others as well.
And while the skills mattered, it was the people who made the experience unforgettable.
Elaina Bade, Customer Experience Lead, was the first to welcome me into the program — her trust meant so much. Sophie Ashley, a Senior Associate also from Duke, organized a career chat for me with Brennan Barber, Head of Business Development, that was truly transformative. Sanjana Bharadwaj, Business Development Lead, and I bonded over a class we both took at Duke MEM. Yash Mehta, Capital Lead always offered warm, thoughtful insights on fundraising. And CEO Kelly Rowell’s sharp sense of humor, design instinct, and love for cats made every meeting more joyful.
Preet, my supervisor, in particular, was an anchor throughout. Our weekly check-ins went beyond logistics — they became a space to talk about mindset, goals, and life.
When I pitched at the Duke Startup Showcase in April, several CED teammates showed up to cheer me on. I’ll never forget the hug from Preet afterward. We ended up winning both the Audience Choice Award and Second Place for Graduate Student Venture. Coincidentally, one of the other six winners was also a former GRO Associate — a full-circle reminder that CED gives you more than training; it gives you momentum.
What I didn’t expect? How much I’d learn from the founders themselves. Whether it was asking questions during learning sessions or troubleshooting pitch decks, the energy and conversations reminded me why I care so much about building — and why ecosystem builders like CED are so vital.
Being part of GRO gave me a front-row seat to CED’s broader mission: fueling North Carolina’s startup growth through community, capital, and connections. And that ambitious 10-year vision — unlocking $20 billion in new enterprise value across the Triangle by 2034 — felt like something we were actively building toward, week by week.
If you’re thinking about joining Startup TNT: don’t just check boxes. Explore (I especially loved Empowered Women’s Forum). Build real relationships. Be present. If you’ve ever dreamed of creating something that matters, this program gives you the starting point, the people, and the space to take a real shot at it.
The Triangle might move at a gentler pace than NYC or SF — but that’s exactly why it works. Here, people build with heart. They root for each other. And thanks to GRO, I finally feel like I’m truly part of that ecosystem.
As I return to building my own AI-powered pet healthtech startup, I’m bringing with me a clearer sense of what it actually takes to scale: the art of financial modeling, the nuances of regulatory pathways, the difference between an investor deck and a pitch deck, and many more. GRO filled in pieces I hadn’t even realized were missing — and for the first time, I don’t just feel like a founder with a vision, but one with the practical tools to bring it to life.
Rui Sun is a Master of Engineering Management student at Duke University, also pursuing an Innovation & Entrepreneurship Graduate & Professional Certificate. Her anticipated graduation date is May 2025.
