February headliners, pt. I: ReCONNECT Forum, Esports Championship, ElectriCities & more Triangle events

WRAL TechWire keeps tabs on the latest and greatest meetups, panels, workshops, conferences, application deadlines and all things happening in the North Carolina startup/tech world.

“The Headliners” is a multi-part weekly roundup of upcoming events to add to your calendar. Below is a list of February events in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and the greater Triangle area.

To find out what’s happening this month in cities outside of the Triangle, check out part two of the “Headliners” column. Another post highlights events in March. Meetups that occur regularly are listed here.

If you’d like your event to be included, feel free to send me an email.

Check out a full range of events on TechWire’s interactive calendar for more, along with our comprehensive resource guide for startups in the Triangle.

Here’s our lineup of Triangle events through the end of February:

TechGirlz Workshop: Podcasting

February 3, 5-8 p.m. @Microsoft

This workshop serves as an introduction to popular podcasting software such as Audacity and GarageBand. Students will participate in hands-on activities where they can create their own podcast recording. Snacks will be provided.

NC IDEA MICRO & NC IDEA SEED Applications Open

February 3

NC IDEA is seeking applicants for its upcoming spring 2020 SEED and MICRO grant programs:

The NC IDEA SEED grant program offers a select group of early-stage startups $50,000 in funding for validating target markets, growing and scaling before they seek future investments. Recipients will also receive mentorship from NC IDEA and access to its network.
The NC IDEA MICRO grant program offers funding of up to $10,000 for early-stage companies seeking to validate and further develop their ideas. Recipients will also receive mentorship from NC IDEA and access to its network.

NC IDEA MICRO and NC IDEA SEED grant applications are due March 2 at 5 p.m. ET.

Application Deadline: Duke MEDx Biomechanics of Injury or Injury Repair RFA

February 3

Duke MEDx has announced a call for proposals for faculty-led interdisciplinary research in the biomechanics of injury and injury repair. Grant applicants should request up to $50,000 in direct costs.

Clean Energy in the Southeast 2020 Continuing Legal Education

February 4, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. @Raleigh Convention Center

This CLE program will feature the latest insights on the implementation of clean energy policy, customer choice, regulatory reform, resilience, utility-scale solar, electric vehicles, and more topics.

NC IDEA Spring 2020 Grants Information Session (Raleigh)

February 4, 3-4:30 p.m. @RIoT Labs

At this info session, NC IDEA will share details on the upcoming spring 2020 grants: NC IDEA MICRO and NC IDEA SEED. Learn more about the programs and how to apply. NC IDEA MICRO and NC IDEA SEED applications will close on March 2. (Note: This event is part of a series of upcoming information sessions NC IDEA is hosting throughout the state. See the full schedule here.)

Women in Agribusiness: RTP Meetup

February 4, 5:30-7 p.m. @La Cocina Mexican Restaurant

Join Women In Agribusiness for an evening of networking and conversation over cocktails and appetizers.

Code for Durham: Civic Hacking Session

February 4, 5:30-8:30 p.m. @Caktus Group

Code for Durham brings together technologists, designers, developers, data scientists, map makers and activists to collaborate on civic technology projects. Meetings are held every two weeks on Tuesdays. Pizza will be provided.

NC Chamber Environmental Compliance Conference

February 5, 7:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. @Renaissance Raleigh North Hills Hotel

Join the NC Chamber, NC Department of Environmental Quality officials and industry experts to discuss pressing regulatory issues, legislation and policy decisions impacting air, water, waste and natural resources.

1 Million Cups RTP

February 5, 9-10 a.m. @American Underground (@Blackwell)

1 Million Cups, presented by Kauffman, is a weekly informal pitch event for the startup community. Join for free coffee and entrepreneurial support as local startups deliver their presentations.

Lunch & Learn: Go Personal with Video Storytelling in 2020

February 5, 12-1 p.m. @HQ Raleigh

In this lunch and learn, Heather Burns and Joe Bruno of Oak City Productions will cover the key technologies, storytelling techniques and strategies for boosting brand awareness.

On the Menu: The Surprising Power of Questions

February 6, 11:45 a.m. – 1 p.m. @The Frontier

During this workshop, NextGen Founder Brian Alvo will show participants how to use questions to improve their everyday interactions. Lunch will be provided.

TriWiSTEM Advancing Your Career Series: Building an Effective Team

February 6, 12-1 p.m. @NCBiotech

TriWiSTEM is kicking off the next phase of its “Advancing Your Career” series, focused on providing tools to help attendees advance their career through informal, one-hour sessions. This event features a discussion on team-building and leadership.

Larger Than Life Science

February 6, 4-7 p.m. @The Chesterfield

Meet fellow entrepreneurs, get tips on growing your company and network with members of the life science community at Larger Than Life Science, a free event presented by LaunchBio.

Policygenius Meet & Greet

February 6, 5:30-7:30 p.m. @Van Alen Apartments, 12th Floor Penthouse

As Policygenius opens its new Durham headquarters, the company will be hosting a meet and greet to connect to members of the local community.

Raleigh Chamber Hispanic Business Momentum

February 6, 6-8 p.m. @Beltline Education Center

Raleigh Chamber’s first Hispanic Business Momentum event will cover the types of forms and documentation you need to start up your business. This free seminar will be conducted in Spanish.

Application Deadline: Duke CASE Launch Pad Program

February 6

Duke University’s Center for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship (CASE) is now accepting applications for its 2020 Launch Pad program for Duke MBA students. The program includes a $10,000 grant, coaching from CASE staff and the program’s global network of impact enterprise leaders.

Get2Know NC TECH Webinar

February 7, 9-9:30 a.m.

This free monthly interactive webinar provides participants with an overview of NC TECH’s activities, resources and member offerings.

Triangle Global Health Career Day

February 7, 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. @RTI International

During this event, students and professionals who are interested in global and public health careers can learn about the latest job opportunities and find out what it’s like to work in the field.

Triangle Esports Championship 2020

February 7-9 @Herb Young Community Center

During this year’s Triangle Esports Championship, Lenovo will be providing 200 gaming computers from Lenovo’s Legion line. Half will be designated for “free play” and the other half will be assigned to gamers for official tournament play. More TechWire coverage here.

Try Coding One-Day Workshop: Front End Programming 2.8.20

February 8, 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. @Project Shift (@WeWork Durham)

Project Shift’s Software Engineering Fellowship presents a full-day crash course in Front-End Engineering. Learn how to turn coding into a career.

Innovative Product Design in a Regulated Market

February 8, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. @Duke Schiciano Auditorium

This free product design workshop is geared toward medical device designers. Lunch will be provided.

Java Joust 2020

February 8-9 @Seguno Software HQ

This 24-hour hackathon tasks individuals and small teams with building something great using Java. Participants have the opportunity to win thousands of dollars worth of prizes.

ReCONNECT to Technological Opportunity Forum

February 10, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. @McKimmon Conference and Training Center

Join the Institute for Emerging Issues in Raleigh for its fourth forum in the ReCONNECT NC series. This full-day event will explore what communities can do to leverage high-speed internet in an equitable way. More TechWire coverage here.

Application Deadline: Duke MEDx Colloquia Series

February 10

Duke MEDx is offering funding and support for interdisciplinary colloquia that bring together physicians, engineers, computer scientists, data analysts, and basic and/or clinical researchers who are combining medicine and engineering to solve complex problems.

Application Deadline: 1789 Student Venture Fund

February 10

UNC-Chapel Hill’s new 1789 Student Venture Fund provides small, targeted funding to help undergraduate and graduate students get their commercial and social startups off the ground.

Application Deadline: 2020 UNC Innovation Showcase

February 10

Applications are now open to present or exhibit at the 2020 UNC Innovation Showcase on April 9. During the showcase, Innovate Carolina will celebrate a select group of ventures, research projects and initiatives within UNC’s ecosystem.

Triangle Biotech Tuesday

February 11, 5:15-7:30 p.m. @5 Laboratory Drive

Triangle Biotech Tuesday is a monthly meetup that connects scientific professionals across the RTP/greater Triangle area. Join for food, drinks and networking with professionals from different industries. The group meets on the second Tuesday of every month.

Young Professionals Network Social

February 11, 5:30-7 p.m. @Diamonds Direct Crabtree

Members of Raleigh Chamber’s Young Professionals Network are invited to an after-work social at Diamonds Direct Crabtree.

Adaptive Deep Reuse for Deep Learning, with Xipeng Shen (NCSU)

February 11, 5:30-7:30 p.m. @LifeOmic

For its next meetup, Triangle Computer Vision and Natural Language Processing will host Dr. Xipeng Shen, a computer science professor at NC State, for a discussion on “Adaptive Deep Reuse for Deep Learning.”

Pints & Pitches Chapel Hill

February 11, 6-7:30 p.m. @The Pit Chapel Hill

Join Chapel Hill Economic Development for appetizers and networking with local entrepreneurs, startup teams, freelancers and professionals. Attendees can pitch their business ideas. More coverage here.

Code for Chapel Hill

February 11, 6-8 p.m. @Town of Chapel Hill

Join the Code for Chapel Hill meetup to network with like-minded individuals and work on civic hacking projects. Meetings are held every two weeks on Tuesdays.

Duke Sustainable Business & Social Impact Conference

February 12, 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. @Duke Fuqua School of Business

The 15th annual Sustainable Business and Social Impact (SBSI) Conference will convene professionals, students and business leaders to discuss topics around the theme: “Innovating for a Better World.”

Women in Clean Energy Mentorship Program Launch Party

February 12, 5-8 p.m. @Trophy Brewing

Co-hosted by the NC Sustainable Energy Association, the Research Triangle Cleantech Cluster and the NC Clean Energy Technology Center, this Galentine’s Day event serves as the launch party for the new Women in Clean Energy Mentorship Program. Join to learn more about the program and network over drinks and snacks. Tickets are free.

TechGirlz Workshop: Scratch & Raspberry Pi

February 12, 6:30-8 p.m. @Wade Edwards Learning Lab (WELL)

This workshop will cover basic hardware concepts such as electricity and circuits. Students will then learn how to use the programming language Scratch to build circuits, program blinking lights and use buttons.

Webinar: Designing Utility Rates to Encourage Electric Vehicle Adoption in NC

February 13, 3-4 p.m.

The North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association is hosting a free webinar on electric vehicle-specific electric rate design, how it could be implemented in North Carolina, and what it means for the future of the industry.

RTP-AITP: Career Transition & Reinvention

February 13, 5:30-8:30 p.m. @NC State Club

This month’s RTP-AITP chapter meeting will feature a panel discussion on how to handle the late-career transition from leader to jobseeker. The panelists include Bill Heffelfinger of CloudFactory, Peter Adiletta of SAS, Perry Riggs of SoftPro and Gregory Saxton of CloudFrame.

NC TECH Capitol Hill Reception (Washington, DC)

February 12, 6-8 p.m. @Sonoma Restaurant + Wine Bar

NC TECH will host a Capitol Hill Reception for members and invited guests, including the North Carolina Congressional Delegation. Note: Registration is open to NC TECH members only.

Raleigh Chamber Hispanic Business Momentum

February 13, 6-8 p.m. @Beltline Education Center

This free workshop will show participants how to strategize their 2020 marketing plan, including tips on how to get early customers and attract investors. The seminar will be conducted in Spanish.

Building Communities and Creating Movements

February 13, 6-8 p.m. @HQ Gateway

General Assembly is hosting a panel with community innovation leaders who are spearheading projects to make entrepreneurship more accessible to the public. More TechWire coverage here.

Triangle Tech Net

February 14, 7-10 a.m. @Family Legacy Financial Solutions

This free bi-monthly event offers a space for local tech professionals to build connections and find potential job opportunities.

C-Suite Perspectives

February 14, 7:30-9 a.m. @Umstead Hotel and Spa

Raleigh Chamber’s next C-Suite Perspectives event features a talk with Walk West CEO Donald Thompson, who will share the story of his professional journey and how he led his company to success. (This event is for Raleigh Chamber members only.)

Application Deadline: Ice House Facilitator Training

February 16

NC IDEA’s three-day Ice House Facilitator Training, held March 17-19 in the Durham/RTP area, aims to provide education and insight on the “entrepreneurial mindset” to innovators who want to solve complex problems. NC IDEA currently seeks education partners interested in offering the course at their institutions.

NC TECH CEO Reception

February 17, 4:30-6 p.m. @Executive Mansion

At this invite-only event, NC TECH brings together CEOs and site leaders at the North Carolina Executive Mansion.

ElectriCities 2020 Connections Summit

February 18-20 @Embassy Suites, Cary

Join ElectriCities of NC for an interactive event focused on how utility staff and technology drive the customer experience. Conference tracks include Information Technology, Utility Operations, Finance and Customer Service, Human Resources, and Management.

Community Success Forum: Economic Mobility & Affordability

February 18, 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. @Marbles Kids Museum

This Raleigh Chamber event features national experts, local leaders and professionals discussing the opportunities and challenges surrounding affordability, housing and sustainable communities.

Rural NC Place-Based Entrepreneurship Roundtable

February 18, 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.

In partnership with NCGrowth, the NC IDEA Foundation is hosting a roundtable event focused on highlighting entrepreneurial centers and programs, incubators, co-working spaces and accelerators in counties of less than 200,000 people.

Code for Durham: Civic Hacking Session

February 18, 5:30-8:30 p.m. @Caktus Group

Black Business Momentum: Do’s & Don’ts of Networking & How to Build a Brand

February 18, 6-8 p.m. @Raleigh Chamber

In this free seminar, small business owners will learn how to enhance their networking skills, evaluate which networking events to attend and develop a one-minute elevator pitch. A light dinner will be provided.

Eastern North Carolina Career Alliance Career Fair

February 19, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. @McKimmon Center

The Eastern North Carolina Career Alliance invites students and alumni of all ENCCA institutions to attend its upcoming career fair in Raleigh.

Ag Tech Professional Forum

February 19, 4:30-7 p.m. @NCBiotech

This event convenes local ag tech entrepreneurs, professionals and leaders for an evening of networking and engagement outside of the traditional workplace environment.

AMA Triangle: Big Game Ad Bash

February 20, 8:30-10:30 a.m. @Brier Creek Country Club

AMA Triangle is hosting its first-ever Big Game Ad Bash, a panel-style debate and critical analysis of the top ad spots during Super Bowl LIV.

2020 NCWorks IT Career Fair

February 20, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. @NCWorks Career Center – Raleigh

This career fair is an opportunity for IT jobseekers to network and engage employers face-to-face and market their talent to potentially land their next job.

Cary Chamber Business of Women

February 20, 12-1:15 p.m. @Prestonwood Country Club

Cary Chamber’s next Business of Women meetup will feature a talk from Paula Alexander, director of sustainable business and innovation at Burt’s Bees.

RTP180: Expressions of Color

February 20, 5-7:30 p.m. @The Frontier

In honor of Black History Month, RTP180 is hosting a panel of five local African American leaders discussing their different fields, how they got there, and how they express their culture and heritage today. Speakers include Pierce Freelon of Blackspace, Dasan Ahanu of Carolina Performing Arts, Dr. Nehemiah Mabry of STEMedia, Zweli Williams of Zwelis Inc. and Cheri Selby Pearson of Public Allies.

Bunker Brews Raleigh-Durham: Navigating the Entrepreneur Ecosystem

February 20, 5:30-7:30 p.m. @Boxcar Bar & Arcade

Join Bunker Labs Raleigh-Durham to hear insights from Arden Rosenblatt, business launch specialist at SBTDC at UNC and NC State, as he shares tips to navigate the resources that are available within North Carolina’s startup ecosystem.

Startup Summit: Parallels of Life & Startups

February 20, 6-8 p.m. @HQ Raleigh

Startup Summit’s next event features a talk from Shaun Allen, sales leader at Citrix, who will discuss the intersection of life skills and skills required in working for a startup.

UNC Clean Tech Summit

February 20-21 @Friday Center

Hosted by UNC’s Institute for the Environment and Kenan-Flagler Business School, the 7th annual Clean Tech Summit will highlight the latest innovations, trends and challenges in the industry and North Carolina’s role in helping create a green global economy.

Duke School of Nursing Healthcare Innovation Conference

February 21, 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. @Duke University School of Nursing

Duke University’s School of Nursing and the North Carolina Biotechnology Center are hosting the inaugural Healthcare Innovation Conference, a one-day event that aims to help nurses and other healthcare providers understand how to develop and test their innovative ideas.

RTCC Clean Tech Summit Career Fair

February 21, 3-5 p.m. @Friday Center

The Research Triangle Cleantech Cluster and UNC’s Institute for the Environment are hosting a career fair during Clean Tech Summit. The event is open to all currently enrolled undergraduate and graduate students, in addition to those who have recently graduated from universities in the southeast region.

Application Deadline: City of Raleigh Building Up-fit Grant

February 24

The City of Raleigh’s Building Up-Fit Grant helps fund improvements, renovations and/or additions to the interior properties of local businesses.

Raleigh Chamber Networking 101

February 25, 8-9 a.m. @Raleigh Chamber of Commerce

During this event, Barfield Revenue Consulting President and CEO Will Barfield will show participants how to network with a strategy in mind. (Note: This is a members-only event.)

Code for Chapel Hill

February 25, 6-8 p.m. @Town of Chapel Hill

Join the Code for Chapel Hill meetup to network with like-minded individuals and work on civic hacking projects. Meetings are held every two weeks on Tuesdays.

The ‘Why’ Behind Javascript Frameworks (& How to Learn Them)

February 25, 6:30-8:30 p.m. @IBM

This month’s All Things Open RTP meetup features a talk on Javascript frameworks, from Peter Elbaum, software engineer at Praxent.

Downtown Techies Happy Hours @Midtown

February 25, 7-9 p.m. @Fox and Hound

Bring your ideas and opinions to the next Midtown Techies meetup. Events are held on the last Tuesday of every month.

Southeast Clean Power Summit 2020

February 25-26 @Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley

EUCI’s 9th annual Southeast Clean Power Summit will provide vital information regarding the future of the region’s clean power supply and infrastructure. The conference features utilities, project developers and industry experts discussing the most current information and what it’s likely to mean for stakeholders.

NAWBO Greater Raleigh Workshop

February 26, 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. @Executive Office Suites at Lafayette Village

NAWBO Greater Raleigh is hosting a workshop on exit planning, led by business scaling and acquisition experts Shanon Madrid, owner of Sunbelt Business Brokers, and Joy Thrash, owner of Business Resource Management.

Lunch & Learn: Role of Software in Driving Intuitive IoT Experiences

February 26, 12-1 p.m. @HQ Raleigh

Join Lithios Apps to learn how the marriage of software and IoT leads to the best product experiences.

Make an Animated Bracelet with Micro:bit

February 26, 6-7:30 p.m. @Fidelity Imperial Center

In this workshop, students will use micro:bit’s drag and drop interface, MakeCode, to learn how to design and develop their own animated bracelet.

Application Deadline: NCBiotech Translational Research Grant (Cycle 2)

February 26

The NC Biotech Center’s Translational Research Grant program provides funding for projects exploring/developing commercial applications for university-held life science inventions. Applications for cycle 2 are due at 12 p.m. EST.

Raleigh Chamber Courageous Conversation

February 27, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. @NC State University, McKimmon Center

In this seminar, participants will hear about the strategies businesses are implementing to reduce bias and deploy artificial intelligence systems that avoid discrimination in decisions and behaviors.

Triangle Tech Net

February 28, 7-10 a.m. @Family Legacy Financial Solutions

This free bi-monthly event offers a space for local tech professionals to build connections and find potential job opportunities.

Ellevate Triangle NC Signature Lunch Event: Shift, Pivot & Bootstrap Your Career

February 28, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. @Brier Creek Country Club

Ellevate Triangle NC for its first signature event of 2020, featuring an engaging conversation with local women who have made big shifts and pivots in their careers or business. Speakers include Carrie Peele of Mako Documents, Crista Samaras of Brave Enterprises, serial entrepreneur Denise Wiggins, Kristie VanAuken of the Research Triangle Foundation and Florida DeVaul-Dudley of Shining Light in Darkness.

Dream Big…Dream STEM Student Conference 2020

February 29, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. @McKimmon Conference and Training Center

This conference is geared toward students 10-16 years old who have an interest in STEM-related fields of study and would like to understand how STEM is used in today’s workplace, leisure and other areas.