Insights

While studying Entrepreneurship at NC State, I was eager to find a way to connect my educational practices with real-world startup activity. At the recommendation of one of my professors, I connected with the Center for Entrepreneurial Development (CED), and that introduction proved to be a turning point. My journey with CED began as a student volunteer during Venture Connect 2024, where I got a firsthand look at the vibrant energy of RTP’s startup ecosystem. As an aspiring founder myself, I was surrounded by a community of like-minded individuals I could learn from, collaborate with, and grow alongside. It was during these 3 days that I had the chance to meet and speak briefly with former Startup TNT Associate Emma Martinez-Morison, who recognized my entrepreneurial mindset and recommended I look into the program. I applied the following year and was fortunate to become part of the spring 2025 cohort.

The Startup TNT program placed me face-to-face with early-stage founders and members of the CED community where I gained key insights and built lasting connections. As a Startup TNT Associate on the Rotational Track, I gained exposure to every corner of CED’s operations. I had the opportunity to work across all of the organization’s small but dynamic teams—learning how to build partnerships through the business development team, explore capital strategy with the finance team, engage directly with founders alongside the startup team, and even get a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to run CED day-to-day while working with CED CEO Kelly Rowell.

A standout experience from being a part of the spring cohort specifically was getting the chance to contribute to the planning and execution of CED’s flagship event, Venture Connect 2025. From behind-the-scenes logistics to day-of coordination, I witnessed firsthand the immense effort that goes into creating such a high-impact event that connects startups with investors, advisors, and community leaders. Being involved in the process gave me a deeper appreciation for the ecosystem CED supports, and it was incredibly rewarding to see our hard work and energy spread innovation and connectivity.

Now for my biggest takeaway from my time with CED: entrepreneurship is not a solo journey—it thrives on community, shared knowledge, and mutual support. Through every day in the office, founder interaction, and internal team discussion, I saw how open and collaborative the entrepreneurial world truly is. What stood out to me most was the strength of the RTP community itself—a uniquely supportive and community-valuing environment that sets itself apart from more competitive, high-pressure ecosystems like Silicon Valley. Rather than focusing solely on scale or status, RTP emphasizes relationships, long-term growth, and genuine connection. What made CED even more special was how deeply invested the team was in my personal development—not just as a future founder, but as a student, professional, and individual. They consistently offered their support, advice, and encouragement, making it clear they cared about my success far beyond the bounds of the program. As I move forward in my own entrepreneurial journey and continue building my own ventures, I’ll carry these lessons and skills I’ve developed with me every step of the way.

Nicholas Otelsberg is a senior at North Carolina State University, specializing in entrepreneurship, with an interest in innovation. His anticipated graduation date is May 2025.