When I started as an editorial intern at ExitEvent two years ago, I was a beginning journalism major with hippie, anti-establishment tendencies who frankly didn’t understand the appeal of business reporting. Not only was the concept completely foreign to me and my own interests, it was also incredibly daunting—a massive trove of subject matter complete with strange-sounding buzzwords and complicated concepts. It seemed like there was so much to learn.
But my editor, Laura, graciously took a chance on my startup ignorance. During this time, I slowly but surely began learning the ropes of entrepreneurship through an embarrassing number of dummy Google searches and countless follow-up questions.
Through the process though, I was drawn to the startup community’s immediate openness to new faces, as well as its family atmosphere where even competing companies have close relationships. I quickly understood that the community is interesting to research and write about, and well worth exploring.
I also began to grasp the significance of the startup scene at this point in the Triangle’s cultural and economic development, and how it represents the innate boldness of the region I’ve called home my entire life. I started to understand why so many men and women my age were eager to hop into startup life and join this growing community.
Two years later, I’m writing this guide specifically for that group: the young and eager new or potential startup founders. I’ve compiled some key resources, networks, organizations and people I’ve encountered since 2015 in hopes that you too may be spurred to step into this world.
In an effort to make this guide as comprehensive as possible, I’ll be adding to this list as new opportunities emerge. If you know of anything that I haven’t yet mentioned, please fill me in at shannon@exitevent.com.
