WRAL TechWire keeps tabs on the latest and greatest meetups, summits and conferences, workshops and all things happening in the North Carolina startup world. This is the fourth of our new weekly roundup of noteworthy upcoming events to add to your agenda.

This digest will focus on must-attend events happening in the next month, including a consumer product meetup, a community workshop, a few holiday parties, and more.

Scroll down for a section lining up hot events in December, January and even February. Monthly meetups that occur on a regular basis are listed at the bottom.

An online interactive calendar will be part of WRAL TechWire’s new website, which is set to launch at the end of this month. At that time, the weekly wrap-up of headliners also will include live links.

If you’d like to suggest an event to be added to the weekly roundup, send me an email at shannoncuthrell@gmail.com.

Let’s start with the headliners:

  • ExitEvent November Startup Social

(https://www.eventbrite.com/e/exitevent-november-startup-social-tickets-39197022349)

November 20, 6-8 p.m. @Pour Taproom

ExitEvent’s November Startup Social series in the Triangle will be held at Pour Taproom in Durham. Enjoy networking and drinks with the local startup community. Gridworks, a new co-working space in Durham, will offer a sweet prize to a lucky raffle winner.

  • Southeast Fintech Venture Conference

(http://www.qcfintech.co/se-fintech-venture-conference)

November 20, 2017 @Barings in Charlotte, North Carolina

A full-day showcase of the top fintech companies growing around the Southeast will take place in Charlotte later this month. The inaugural conference will bring together venture capital and growth firms, as well as financial technology entrepreneurs and industry leaders in the Queen City. Southeast Fintech Venture Conference coincides with a free Demo Day event at the venue, spotlighting the startups in the latest Queen City Fintech (http://www.qcfintech.co/) cohort. See the lineup here: http://startcharlotte.com/qc-fintech-announces-full-pitch-lineup-for-se-fintech-venture-conference/.

  • Community Workshop: Skills for the Competitive Business World

(https://www.eventbrite.com/e/community-workshop-skills-for-the-competitive-business-world-tickets-37760817622)

November 28, 8:30-10 a.m. @The Frontier

The latest in RTP’s series of free community workshops focuses on the topic, “The Athlete Advantage: Transferable Skills for the Competitive Business World.” The course will guide participants through the top three athletic skills that could easily apply to mapping a successful business strategy. The workshop will by led by Meg Foley and Katharine Leslie, co-owners of the coaching and training provider OPTHRIVE (https://www.opthrive.com/).   

  • Introduction to the Charlotte Startup Community

(https://www.eventbrite.com/e/introduction-to-the-charlotte-startup-community-tickets-39449636926)

November 29, 5:30-7 p.m. @Advent Coworking

Those unacquainted with the Queen City startup scene are invited to attend a free orientation to the community presented by StartCharlotte (http://www.startcharlotte.com/). The event will offer attendees introductions and networking, along with connections to local resources, events, companies, programs, investors, and more. Food and drinks will be provided.

  • American Underground Consumer Product Meetup in Wilmington

(https://www.eventbrite.com/e/consumer-product-meetup-wilmington-tickets-39398827955)

November 30, 4:30-6:30 p.m. @UNCW Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Consumer product entrepreneurs in Wilmington are invited to join together with American Underground Chief Strategist Adam Klein for an evening to meet with one another and hear about AU’s Startup Stampede (http://startupstampede.com/) program. A presentation will highlight how entrepreneurs can get involved in the Startup Stampede consumer product incubator next year. The event will offer beer, wine and other beverages. It is free and open to the public.

  • Technology Commercialization Symposium: Exploring the Full Potential of SBIR/STTR

(http://www.sbtdc.org/events/sbir/symposium2017/registration.htm)

December 4, 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. @RTP Foundation

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program is offering local innovators and entrepreneurs the opportunity to meet in person with SBIR/STTR federal agency representatives to learn about how project applications can be considered, what other funding opportunities they should look into, and the difference between grant and contract funding. Tickets are $85 per attendee.

  • Tech Slam’N Eggs

(https://www.meetup.com/techslamneggs/events/ntmgznywqbhb/)

December 5, 7:30-10:30 a.m. @Flywheel Coworking

Held the first Tuesday of every month, this breakfast meetup series will include live demos from tech entrepreneurs in the Triad area. The startup presentations are largely centered around hardware and software technology, infused with data-driven solutions. This is a free gathering for Winston-Salem and Triad innovators, designers and developers within the tech field.

  • Community Workshop: Email Marketing

(https://www.eventbrite.com/e/community-workshop-email-marketing-tickets-38011356992)

December 5, 8:30-10 a.m. @The Frontier

Focused around the potential for email marketing to drive the “building blocks for success,” this iteration of Research Triangle Park’s community workshop series will guide attendees through the process of building successful email campaigns to build brand awareness and generate more revenue for their ventures. The free workshop will be led by iContact (https://www.icontact.com/) Manager of Strategic Services Hank Hoffmeier, who has over 18 years of experience in building successful sales and marketing strategies. Attendees will be provided with coffee and donuts.

  • NCBA Ugly Sweater 5k to Support Low Wealth Entrepreneurs

(https://cednc.org/events/ncba-ugly-sweater-5k-to-support-low-wealth-entrepreneurs)

December 9, 8-10 a.m. @Dorothea Dix Park in Raleigh

The North Carolina Bar Association is hosting an upcoming holiday-themed 5k, donating all proceeds to the pro bono legal services provider, North Carolina Lawyers for Entrepreneurs Assistance Program (https://www.ncbar.org/public-resources/nc-leap/), which serves low-wealth entrepreneurs in helping build their businesses. Organizers invite the local community to join the 5k in support of a larger mission to boost statewide economic and employment outcomes by helping break the poverty cycle for North Carolina citizens. After the race, there will be food trucks and entertainment, along with prizes for the ugliest sweater.

  • Startup Grind Triangle: Goodbye 2017 and Hello 2018 + Startup Expo

(https://www.startupgrind.com/events/details/startup-grind-triangle-presents-goodbye-2017-and-hello-2018-startup-expo#/)

December 12, 6-9 p.m. @Archie Davis Conference Center

Expect networking, food, drinks, music, games, prizes and more at the upcoming annual Startup Grind Triangle end-of-the-year party. This year’s event is adding a new feature—Startup Grind will be presenting a special showcase to celebrate local startups and their success. Entrance to the party is free of charge.

  • Charlotte PitchBreakfast December 2017

(https://www.meetup.com/packardplace/events/244995762/)

December 13, 8-9:30 a.m. @The Garage at Packard Place

Four Queen City-based companies will headline December’s Charlotte PitchBreakfast, pitching their products and services for a total of five minutes, after which they will answer questions from the audience and a panel of entrepreneurs and experts. The goal of PitchBreakfast is to give startups a comfortable environment to test out pitches they can later present to investors.

  • The AU Loves Durham Holiday Party

(https://americanunderground.com/event/the-au-loves-durham-holiday-party/)

December 19, 6-8 p.m. @The Armory

Join American Underground members, elected officials and the local entrepreneurial community at-large for a fun end-of-the-year party to celebrate 2017’s greatest accomplishments. During this time, American Underground will also present the results of its latest Annual Report. The event will offer local food, drinks and music. Tickets are $10.

  • Triangle TechBreakfast December 2017

(https://www.meetup.com/Triangle-TechBreakfast/events/236640824/)

December 21, 8-10 a.m. @RTP Headquarters

This month’s TechBreakfast will feature Hologruf (http://hologruf.com) Co-Founder and CEO Ted Meng and Fluree (http://www.flur.ee) Co- CEO and Co-Chairman Brian Platz. After some networking over food and coffee, these entrepreneurs will share some of their startup experiences with the audience.

On the Horizon: Save the Date

  • 2018 North Carolina State University Make-A-Thon

(https://sustainability.ncsu.edu/get-involved/events/makeathon/)

January 26-28 @Hunt Library

Student solutions are needed to make a more sustainable world. During this weekend-long challenge, student teams research, design, prototype and build a new solution that addresses a sustainability challenge. On the last day, community and industry sustainability experts evaluate solutions and award prizes to the top teams in each category, as well as a grand prize to the overall winner.

  • 2018 NC CEO Forum

(https://www.ncceoforum.com/)

February 12 @North Ridge Country Club

Registration is now open for next year’s North Carolina CEO Forum, an annual event featuring executive and management team leaders and innovators in the state’s business and healthcare fields. The 2018 program will involve several compelling speakers, including North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper as well as top executives at the Wake Forest Comprehensive Cancer Center, Lab Corp, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Liquidia and GlaxoSmithKline. Attendees should prepare for a day of insight and lessons from successful figures in North Carolina leadership. Attendees are invited to a cocktail reception and dinner at the Angus Barn Pavilion after the Forum. Proceeds will go toward Teen Cancer America (http://www.teencanceramerica.org).

  • CED Life Science Conference

(https://cednc.org/LSC)

February 27-28 @Raleigh Convention Center

Ticket registration is live for the Council for Entrepreneurial Development’s 27th annual flagship Life Science Conference, presented in partnership with the North Carolina Biotechnology Center and North Carolina Biosciences Organization. Prospective attendees should expect two days of insightful speeches, panels and discussions from top leaders and companies in the life sciences scene in North Carolina. Speakers will be announced soon. (Psst—register early by midnight February 1 to get $75 off your ticket.)