Jim Roberts is executive director of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at UNC Wilmington. He graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor of science degree in advertising.

Before coming to UNCW, Roberts started an entrepreneur council in Charlotte called FirstRound during the technology boom in 2000. He was then recruited to the Asheville region to start the Blue Ridge Entrepreneurial Council (BREC) and Blue Ridge Angel Investor Network (BRAIN) where he hosted the annual Carolina Connect Entrepreneur and Venture Capital Conference. In other roles, Roberts served as the director of business development at the Center of Innovation for NanoBiotechnology (COIN), a program of the North Carolina Biotechnology Center, and as a business development manager for the International Trade Division of the North Carolina Department of Commerce.

Named one of the “40 Most Influential People Under 40” by the Charlotte Business Journal, Roberts' experience with business development, life sciences, information technology and governmental agencies allows UNCW to make connections throughout the southeast and beyond.