The NC TECH Association kicks off its two-day State of Tech event today at the Raleigh Convention Center. Attendees will gather this afternoon beginning at 4:30 pm for the celebration of the inaugural NEXT TECH Awards which showcase the area’s rising stars of tech. NEXT TECH Awards are granted in three categories: Tech + Innovation, Tech Professional, and Sales + Marketing. This award was developed in partnership with Business North Carolina, and this year’s winners are showcased in the June edition of the magazine.