Small Business Resources

From its robust community of regional investors and Venture Capital fims such as Canapi Ventures, Cofounders Capital, Venture South and Jurassic Capital to thriving minority business incubators like Genesis Block and Channel powered by Live Oak Bank, Wilmington boasts a vibrant and supportive startup community, across industries.

Since 2013, the UNCW Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) has been successful in promoting startups within the region, while UNCW’s Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC) has provided resources, counseling and training to small businesses.

Whether it’s homegrown niche-industry lenders such as Live Oak Bank that have spun off companies nCino and Apiture — whose 20-person staff has more than 300 clients across the U.S. — or the talent from these tech companies who are bold enough to launch their own ventures, including Raleon, Ohanafy or Litify, Wilmington is home to its fair share of startups. In fact, the city has the No. 2 startup ecosystem in the U.S. for mid-sized populations.

Interested in connecting to likeminded professionals on? The Wilmington are is home to an abundance of networking groups and small business communities, such as the Network for Entrepreneurs in Wilmington (NEW) and Genesis Block.

UNCW’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) also offers educational events and a state-of-the-art incubator space that hosts the region’s 1 Million Cups series, which weekly provides budding entrepreneurs the opportunity to refine their elevator pitches with a diverse, engaged audience.