TechWire's exclusive Triangle Startup Guide adds more resources, updates

With regular updates to keep content fresh, WRAL TechWire's Triangle Startup Guide offers a timely resource package for anyone looking to start or grow a business in the Triangle area.

Today, we're back with two new resources for local entrepreneurs. The latest updates come to the Inspiration, Advice & More Resources section of the guide, which features a mix of podcasts, video series, blogs, tips, market data reports and other miscellaneous resources for beginning entrepreneurs in the Triangle.

We added a link to the latest State of the Region address delivered by Tom Snyder, executive director of Raleigh-based RIoT. The annual address lays out the progress, opportunities and threats facing the Triangle over the course of the year.

This year's edition, delivered at Raleigh Founded last week, focuses on changes in the labor force, supply chain struggles and inflation, domestic and foreign affairs, and the growth in entrepreneurship. You can read it in full here.

OTHER RECENT ADDITIONS TO THE TRIANGLE STARTUP GUIDE Every week, we update the guide with new resources for local entrepreneurs for our exclusive Triangle Startup Guide. If we missed something, please feel free to suggest it for inclusion. You can email me directly or use this contact form.

In case you missed it, check out all the updates we made in 2021. And here's a review of the additions from recent weeks:

In the Inspiration, Advice & More Resources section, we added the Council for Entrepreneurial Development's 2021 Innovators Report. The organization's annual report provides an overview of North Carolina's innovation economy, including the latest data on startup funding, deal flow and exits. The 2021 edition reported a record $4.6 billion raised by 222 companies across 250 separate funding events-a 35% increase from 2020's total. Technology investments accounted for 69% of the year's deals, while life sciences claimed 24%.

In the Competitions, Grants & Other Funding Sources section of the guide, we added Folla Capital, an organization that helps startups and small businesses raise capital through regulation crowdfunding. Though Folla Capital is based in Wilmington, entrepreneurs in the Triangle and elsewhere can use its online platform to organize, launch and manage their crowdfunding campaign and investor relations. Folla Capital primarily focuses on raising capital for minority-, woman- and veteran-owned businesses.

We added E3 Durham to the Accelerators and Mentorship Programs section of the guide. Launching this month, E3 Durham is a new program that aims to provide mentorship, capital resources, workshops and networking for entrepreneurs in under-served communities across the Durham area. National nonprofit Forward Cities, which has a local chapter in Durham, first announced the E3 Durham program in late-2021. With support from a Small Business Administration grant and partnerships with the City of Durham and Durham County, E3 Durham will start with an outreach-focused community navigator pilot program, where designated navigators will connect with local entrepreneurs through community events.

MORE RECENT ADDITIONS

In the Inspiration, Advice & More Resources section, we added the newly released Innovation Road Trip series from Capitol B Creative Studios (a division of WRAL TechWire's parent company, Capitol Broadcasting). The six-episode video series profiles the people, organizations, companies and programs that contribute to the state's ever-growing innovation and entrepreneurship community. Season one tells the stories of CRISPR gene-editing researchers, UNC Chapel Hill's Innovate Carolina, the North Carolina Biotechnology Center, Beaufort-based Jarrett Bay Boatworks, CBRE Raleigh and Gig East in Wilson.

In the Competitions, Grants & Other Funding Sources section, we updated the listing for NC State University's eGames pitch competition, adding new information about the program's scope. eGames, which first launched in 2009, divides student pitches into a think category (idea-stage ventures) and a do category (startups that already have a product and customers). Judges evaluate the startups' market feasibility, design, prototype and other aspects. Every year, the program grants about $100,000 to the winning companies. This year's eGames is on April 18.

In the Accelerators & Mentorship Programs section, we added Wake Technical Community College's Main Street Entrepreneurs Accelerator Program (or MSEA), which launched earlier this month to support entrepreneurs and small business owners across Wake County. Starting in late-February, participants will attend five training sessions covering everything from attracting customers to planning financial projections. Those who attend all sessions and complete the required materials will submit their business pitches for the chance to win awards ranging from $2,000 to $8,000. Read more information about the program here.

In the Competitions, Grants & Other Funding Sources section, we added the Duke Cyber Pitch Competition, a program from Duke University's Sanford Cyber Policy Program. The competition targets students with business ideas in the fields of cybersecurity, data protection, privacy and online safety. Selected individuals or teams will pitch their ventures to investment experts for a chance to win $25,000 and other prizes. Winners will also receive a grant from Washington, D.C.-based investment firm Paladin Capital.

Thanks to WRAL TechWire's Shannon Cuthrell for this Capcom story & graphic.

LINK:	https://capitolbroadcasting.com/2022/03/08/techwires-exclusive-triangl...
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