Who would you invest $1 million in?

That’s one of the pieces of advice we give our Coastal Entrepreneur Award judges each year when they’re faced with the task of making their picks. Who shows high-growth potential?

Who is making a name for themselves and cutting through the noise? Who, out of these stacks and stacks of nominations, do you see as entrepreneurial?

Our panel of outside judges deliberated and picked the 11 category winners in this year’s CEA process.

The winning companies represent fields ranging from AI workforce companies to electrical solutions designers.

The nominations, submitted to the Greater Wilmington Business Journal from company employees, directors, clients and in some cases just outside admirers, represent a cross-section of the region’s business community.

The awards are a joint effort between the University of North Carolina Wilmington’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) and the Business Journal to identify and recognize fast-growing organizations and businesses with the potential to make a significant impact on the region.

You can read more about the companies that rose to the top of their categories this year by clicking on the links below.

One of them will be named the 2026 Coastal Entrepreneur of the Year. Keep an eye out on our website (WilmingtonBiz.com) and social media channels for the announcement of this year’s nighttime event May 21 to name the overall winner.

One thing that hasn’t changed over the years in the awards program is the Stanley Cup of Southeastern North Carolina entrepreneurship – the CEA surfboard.

This year’s Coastal Entrepreneur of the Year adopts the wooden surfboard – custom-made by local nonprofit and former category winner Kids Making It – to proudly display at its office for the next year after it’s been passed down from a long line of successful companies that also have earned the title.

So jump in, find out this year’s category winners, and send them a note of congrats.

Vicky Janowski, Editor
Greater Wilmington Business Journal
[email protected]
(910) 375-7295

The judges:
Jeff Beard, Vantaca
Denise Chadurjian, SCORE
Jerry Coleman, CFCC Small Business Center
Jim DeGilio, Pleasure Island Chamber of Commerce
Josh Hallingse, Greater Wilmington Chamber of Commerce
Atiba Johnson, Wilmington Minority Chamber of Commerce
Thom Kelly, North Brunswick Chamber of Commerce
Jeana Lindbert, Burgaw Area Chamber of Commerce
David Mautz, UNCW Cameron School of Business
Heather McWhorter, UNCW CIE
John Monahan, Vistage
Gloria Monroe, UNCW SBTDC
Khalilah Olokunola, ReEngineering HR
Tammy Proctor, Greater Topsail Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism
Dar Ringling, EARNEY Accountants & Advisors
Stephanie Rogers, Capone & Associates
Tully Ryan, IQExit
Yousry Sayed, Quality Chemical Laboratories
April Scott, Brunswick Community College Small Business Center
Drew Smith, Copiers Plus
Steve Uebele, Frontier Scientific Solutions
Don Varady, Clean Eatz
Evonne Varady, Clean Eatz
Jason Wheeler, Pathfinder Wealth Consulting

Find out more about the 2026 winners by clicking the links below:

Biotechnology: Nautigen

Emerging Company: Skillmaker.AI

Healthcare: CareHome Health Solutions

Internet-Related Business: DesignLoud

Manufacturing & Distribution: Koolbridge Energy

Minority/Woman-Owned Business: Unwind Collection

Nonprofit: Caroline Beach Mural Project

Nonprofit: The Healing Place

Professional Services: Earney IT

Retail & Hospitality: Biggers Market

Technology: True Guardian