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.
Following is a list of April 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 coming up in May.
If you’d like your event to be included, feel free to send me an email.
Also, check out a full range of events on TechWire’s interactive calendar, along with our comprehensive resource guide for startups in the Triangle.
Note: The following list is our lineup of Triangle events through the end of April—most have been switched to a virtual format due to COVID-19 social distancing requirements.
On the Menu: The Mindful Influence
April 12, 12-1 p.m. (online)
This virtual workshop will cover how mindful influence can help you improve performance and manage your workload better.
RIoT LIV: RIoT Your Reality Challenge
April 12, 2-4 p.m. (online)
The new RIoT Your Reality AR Challenge will feature a select group of entrepreneurs showcasing their creative solutions to win a spot in the RIoT Accelerator Program and a $40,000 cash prize. Winners of the first pitch will be awarded $1,000 for prototyping their idea. They’ll also have the chance to compete for the grand prize on July 27.
Talking Shop: From Napkin Sketch to Prototype
April 13, 11:30 a.m. (online)
The next Talking Shop event will feature local cleantech IoT entrepreneur and Breezi lead hardware engineer Matt Craver, who will discuss how a product concept evolves from an early-stage idea to a full prototype.
Fundamentals of Modern (Digital) Cryptography
April 13, 12-1:30 p.m. (online)
The next All Things Open RTP meetup will feature an introductory-level overview of modern (digital) cryptography.
NC State Entrepreneurship eGames 2021
April 13, 5:30 p.m. (online)
NC State’s annual eGames startup pitch competition is back this year, featuring both a student track and a track for startups that have licensed NC State intellectual property in the past three years.
Code for Durham: Civic Hacking Session
April 13, 5:30-8:30 p.m. (online)
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.
Triangle Biotech Tuesday
April 13, 6-7:30 p.m.
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.
1 Million Cups RTP
April 14, 9-10 a.m. (online)
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.
Virtual L&L: Launching Secure IoT Applications with AWS & Ubidots
April 14, 1-2 p.m. (online)
This virtual lunch and learn will cover how to securely connect IoT devices to AWS IoT and visualize data using Ubidots’ drag-n-drop dashboards.
2021 UNC Innovation Showcase
April 14, 4-6 p.m. (online)
UNC Chapel Hill’s annual Innovation Showcase celebrates the work of faculty, students, alumni and local business founders. In this year’s program, UNC Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz and other leaders will celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the Innovate Carolina roadmap.
WIB-RTP: Trends in Regenerative Medicine with WIB-Atlanta
April 14, 5-6:30 p.m. (online)
The WIB-Atlanta and WIB-RTP chapters are hosting an event with leaders in the regenerative medicine field discussing their current research.
Cary Chamber Business of Women Series
April 15, 12-1:15 p.m. (online and in-person)
Cary Chamber’s next Business of Women Series event will feature Tori Price, certified exercise physiologist of WakeMed. (This event will be held both online and in-person at a limited capacity.)
RTP180: Fighting Disease, Finding Cures
April 15, 6-7 p.m. (online)
The next RTP180 event will feature a panel of experts from local life science companies and organizations sharing their insights on the process of finding cures.
Application Deadline: 2021 Raleigh Chamber Emerging Leaders Program
April 15
Raleigh Chamber’s Emerging Leaders program connects up to 25 selected participants to the area’s most successful executives in a team-based mentoring environment.
Application Deadline: Bunker Labs Veterans in Residence (Charlotte & Raleigh)
April 15
Bunker Labs’s Veterans in Residence links veteran entrepreneurs with a community of peers, a nationwide business network, access to business resources and mentors, and WeWork membership benefits. Raleigh and Charlotte are two of many cities hosting the program across the U.S.
AMMI: Analytics & Machine-Learning for Maternal-Health Interventions
April 15-16 (online)
This virtual conference, hosted by the Carolina Health Informatics Program, brings together multi-disciplinary researchers from maternal health, machine learning, informatics and medical imaging to discuss topics surrounding prenatal health.
Raleigh-Durham Startups Clubhouse
April 16, 12-1 p.m. (online)
The first session of the newly launched Raleigh-Durham Startups Clubhouse will feature Pendo Co-Founder Eric Boduch, who will share stories about the early decisions that helped the company get off the ground. Rachael Classi of Tiny Earth Toys and Zainab Baloch of YAP! will present pitches.
RIoT Accelerator Program (RAP) Information Session
April 16, 1:30-2:30 p.m. (online)
Join this virtual info session to learn more about the 12-week RIoT Accelerator Program (or RAP). The next cohort will run June 9 to Aug. 26 in Raleigh. Applications are due on April 30.
Application Deadline: 2021 NC State Andrews Launch Accelerator
April 16
NC State’s 14-week Andrews Launch Accelerator provides equity-free seed capital, guidance and resources to help student founders take their startups to the next level.
Idea to Entrepreneur
April 16-17 (online)
In American Underground’s Idea to Entrepreneur workshop, Chris Heivly of Techstars and MapQuest will cover the mindset and initial tools needed to transform your idea into a startup.
NC Chamber Government Affairs Summit
April 19, 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (online)
NC Chamber’s virtual Government Affairs Summit will feature discussions from the state’s legislative leaders and other decision-makers.
2021 State Energy Conference of NC
April 19-22 (online)
The annual State Energy Conference is back this year with a virtual program featuring 30 sessions and six different tracks with expert speakers, Q&As, networking and a virtual exhibit hall.
First Flight ‘Itinerary’: Heidi Kay-Jericho Sciences & Liqun Zhang-ViraTree
April 20, 12 p.m. (online)
First Flight Venture Center’s next “Itinerary” series event will feature Heidi Kay of Jericho Sciences and Liqun Zhang of ViraTree.
Life Sciences Marketing: Tackling Search Engine Optimization
April 20, 12-1 p.m. (online)
This webinar will cover how to craft a great SEO strategy, make changes to your website to attract new visitors, and more.
So You Want to Launch a Product? Sending your Idea into Orbit
April 20, 1:30-4:30 p.m. (online)
In this virtual event, Touchstone3D President Allen Moore will discuss the steps you need to take to develop a competitive product and build a profitable company.
NC TECH Government Vendor Network
April 20, 3-4 p.m. (online)
NC TECH’s Government Vendor Network is a forum for member companies that are interested in doing business with state government.
RIoT LV: Billions to Trillions – Managing Connected Devices at Scale
April 20, 4-6 p.m. (online)
This virtual event will feature a panel of experts discussing how improvements in RFID technology are disrupting many industries.
Raleigh Chamber Black Business Momentum
April 20, 6:30-7:30 p.m. (online)
Raleigh Chamber’s next virtual Black Business Momentum Series event will cover how to create a strong marketing plan.
Duke MEDx Entrepreneurship Workshop Series
April 20, 7-10 p.m. (online)
Duke MEDx’s free Entrepreneurship Workshop Series features interactive talks from local experts. Events will be held on select Tuesdays and Thursdays via Zoom.
Application Deadline: UNC TraCS $2,000 Pilot Grant Program
April 20
UNC’s North Carolina Translational and Clinical Sciences Institute (NC TraCS) offers $2,000 grants to support researchers as they move forward with innovative studies and research projects. Submissions are accepted every month.
NC TECH’s Virtual Tech Job Expo
April 21, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (online)
At NC TECH’s virtual Tech Job Expo, employers can connect and network with professionals who are seeking jobs and internships in tech. Tickets are free for candidates and jobseekers.
1 Million Cups RTP
April 21, 9-10 a.m. (online)
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.
CRO Career Conversations: Clinical Research Coordinator
April 21, 5:30-7 p.m. (online)
In this virtual event, participants will hear from CRO industry professionals as they discuss the potential career pathways and responsibilities of clinical research coordinators.
BPD Cell & Gene Therapy Virtual Symposium & Vendor Show
April 22, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (online)
This virtual event will feature sessions with speakers from industry-leading companies, a vendor show, networking, follow-on discussions, and more.
Duke I&E Academy Research Translation & Commercialization Series
April 22, 12 p.m. (online)
Duke Innovation & Entrepreneurship’s multi-part Research Translation & Commercialization Workshop Series will cover strategy and business plan development, venture deals, managing a team and launching a venture.
Cary Chamber Sports Alliance
April 22, 12-1 p.m. (online)
Cary Chamber’s next Sports Alliance event will feature North Carolina Bid Committee Chairman and CEO Hill Carrow, who will discuss bringing the world’s largest student-athlete event to the Triangle in 2027.
Raleigh Creative Entrepreneurs Meetup
April 22, 12-1 p.m. (online)
Join the second virtual Creative Entrepreneurs Meetup to network with other creatives in the Raleigh Founded community and in the area at large.
NSF SBIR/STTR Program Overview
April 22, 1 p.m. (online)
Join this webinar to learn how the National Science Foundation participates in the SBIR/STTR program and how you can benefit.
Gene Therapy Thrives: 5 Years of Growth in NC
April 22, 1 p.m. (online)
In this virtual event, a group of experts will share insights on the state’s growing gene therapy industry and their future predictions.
First Flight BARDA Sepsis/Infection Severity Reverse Pitch
April 22, 1-2 p.m. (online)
First Flight Venture Center is hosting a reverse pitch session by Jennifer Isaacs of BARDA on sepsis/infection severity.
Virtual NC HUB & NC DBE Certification Info Session
April 22, 2:30-4 p.m. (online)
The City of Raleigh is hosting monthly virtual workshops on the benefits of the HUB (Historically Underutilized Business) and DBE (Disadvantaged Business Enterprise) certification programs.
Launch Chapel Hill Annual Report Release & Showcase Event
April 22, 5-6:30 p.m. (online)
In this virtual event, Launch Chapel Hill will present its 2020 annual report and feature the nine companies that just completed the 13-week accelerator program.
Frontiers of Entrepreneurship Conference 2021
April 22-23 (online)
UNC’s Entrepreneurship Center and the Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise are hosting a two-day, virtual conference bringing together academic, industry and government leaders to examine trends, issues and opportunities for the future of entrepreneurship research and policy.
Triangle Tech Net
April 23, 11:30 a.m. (online)
This free bi-monthly event offers a space for local tech professionals to build connections and find potential job opportunities.
Application Deadline: Spring 2021 Duke Incubation Fund Awards
April 23
Duke Innovation & Entrepreneurship welcomes applications for its next Duke Incubation Fund round, which provides up to $40,000 per project of seed funding for early-stage technologies and ideas with potential for commercialization.
Cyber Security Network: Evolution of Ransomware
April 27, 9 a.m. (online)
NC TECH is hosting a panel discussion with tech and cybersecurity leaders discussing recent ransomware developments and what to expect in 2021.
Raleigh Chamber Networking 101
April 27, 9-10 a.m. (online)
Beth Fite, director of retail banking at First Carolina Bank, will share ideas and tips for developing business relationships by networking at events. Registration is complimentary for this member-only event.
EDPNC Trade Webinar: ITAR Compliance for NC Exporters
April 27, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. (online)
The Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina is hosting an informative webinar for companies that export goods or services subject to International Traffic in Arms Regulations.
GRAIL Unveils New Durham Facility
April 27, 12-1 p.m. (online)
GRAIL is hosting a virtual open house to showcase its RTP facility, discuss its role in the health care industry and share hiring plans.
Code for Durham: Civic Hacking Session
April 27, 5:30-8:30 p.m. (online)
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.
Downtown Techies Happy Hours @Midtown
April 27, 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.
Red Hat Summit 2021
April 27-28 (online)
This year, Red Hat’s annual summit is a two-part virtual experience with small-scale events planned for later in the year. This month’s two-day program will present the latest news and discussions about open source innovation, Q&As with experts, customer sessions and more.
Cary Chamber Eye Opener Series
April 28, 8-9 a.m. (online)
Cary Chamber’s next Eye Opener Series event will feature Town of Cary Mayor Harold Weinbrecht and Town Clerk Virginia Johnson, who will discuss the history of Cary, upcoming celebrations and how you can participate.
1 Million Cups RTP
April 28, 9-10 a.m. (online)
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.
Better Community Planning & Economic Development Series (Part II)
April 28, 1-2 p.m. (online)
LeverageNC is hosting a four-part webinar series exploring small town economic development and quality of life, post-pandemic real estate and land use practices, asset-based economic development, and reviving suburbs and commercial corridors. This installment will cover how the pandemic is affecting real estate and land use.
Virtual L&L: IoT Regulatory Compliance 101
April 28, 1-2 p.m. (online)
This virtual lunch and learn will cover the regulatory requirements involved in legally selling IoT devices into particular countries around the world.
AMA Triangle Virtual Career Fair
April 29, 7 a.m. – 12 p.m. (online)
The Triangle chapter of the American Marketing Association is hosting an online career fair featuring local, national and global companies who are seeking marketing talent.
Program to Help NC Exporters with International Online Marketing
April 29, 10-11 a.m. (online)
The Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina and IBT Online are hosting a webinar focused on how international online marketing can help your company connect, engage and do business globally.
Application Deadline: 2021 BAND-NC Broadband Grants
April 30
The Institute for Emerging Issues is providing $5,000 mini-grants to communities that want to plan and implement digital inclusion projects or have immediate digital needs.
Application Deadline: City of Raleigh Building Up-fit Grant
April 30
The City of Raleigh’s Building Up-fit Grant helps to fund improvements, renovations and/or additions to commercial property owned by local businesses. Applications for the next round of grants are open now.
Application Deadline: RIoT Accelerator Program (Summer 2021)
April 30
RIoT is accepting applications for the summer 2021 cohort of its 12-week RIoT Accelerator Program (RAP), which runs from June 9 to Aug. 26 in Raleigh. Applications are due at 5 p.m.
