May
13
May 13 – May 14 · All Day
NCTECH Tech Fest
The largest tech gathering in NC — connect with 1,500+ tech leaders, hiring partners, and investors in one room.
FoundersInvestorsPartners
📍 Durham Convention CenterDetails →
FORGE · Founders + Operators
For founders, by founders.
FORGE is the community of NC founders and operators who've been in your chair. Honest coaching, vetted resources, warm intros. No noise, no upsell.
Become a FORGE Member →Served This Year
Real outcomes, not vanity numbers.
706
Startups Engaged
in 2024
13K
Support Hours
delivered
11K+
Introductions Made
warm intros
47%
Women/BIPOC Led
founders served
GRO Incubator
Turn your idea into traction in 12 weeks.
The GRO Incubator is CED's intensive 12-week program for tech and life sciences founders. Expert coaching, strategic tools, and a peer cohort that pushes you from concept to first customers.
- Weekly 1:1 coaching from Founders-in-Residence
- Cohort-based peer accountability
- Direct intros to NC investors + customers
- Curriculum built around tactical milestones
Weeks 1–4
Problem & Customer Validation
Weeks 5–8
Product, GTM, and First Sales
Weeks 9–12
Pitch, Capital, and What's Next
The Marketplace
Tools, templates, and intros — all vetted.
Hiring, fundraising, legal, finance, PR — the FORGE Marketplace gives members curated playbooks and trusted service providers. No pay-to-play.
Explore the Marketplace →Mark Your Calendar
Upcoming events + workshops
May
13
May 13 · 5:30 – 7:30 PM
NCLifeSci Legislative Reception 2026
Meet the legislators shaping NC's life sciences policy. Make your case to the people who write the rules.
FoundersInvestorsPolicy
📍 Marbles IMAXDetails →
May
15
May 15 – May 17 · Fri 6 PM – Sun 9 PM
Startup Weekend Durham VII: The Age of AI
Build an AI startup in 54 hours. Idea → prototype → pitch — with mentors who've actually shipped.
FoundersBuildersStudents
📍 American UndergroundDetails →
May
18
May 18 – May 19 · All Day
Seed the South Capital Summit
Southeast's biggest pre-seed and seed capital gathering. Founders meet 200+ early-stage investors face to face.
FoundersInvestors
📍 Bank of America StadiumDetails →
May
21
May 21 · 8:30 AM – 2:00 PM
TBJ's Empowered Women's Forum
Hear from NC's top women operators and investors on how they actually got here — and how to do it faster.
FoundersOperatorsInvestors
📍 The Umstead Hotel and SpaDetails →
May
21
May 21 · 4:00 – 7:00 PM
FFVC's Barbecue, Brews & Band
Front Porch Venture's signature low-key networking — real conversations, real intros, no pitch theater.
FoundersInvestorsPartners
📍 TBDDetails →