UNCW’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) published its annual report for fiscal year 2026 this week, highlighting achievements across the local entrepreneurial community.  According to the report, 300 entrepreneurs gained support from CIE over the year, generating around 100 jobs and obtaining $15 million in capital.  “We’re ...

Several firms headquartered in the Wilmington area have ranked on the Inc. 5000 annual list of the fastest-growing private companies in the U.S. Those that make the list are ranked according to their percentage revenue growth over three years, from 2022 to 2025, according to business publication Inc. Magazine, which publishes the list each year. To qualify, firms must b ...

Wilmington-based Green Compass, a wellness company that sells plant-based products, is switching business models while preparing to adapt to North Carolina’s potential restrictions on hemp-derived products. The company previously operated under a multi-level marketing structure, relying on independent advocates to make direct sales. Earlier this month, Green Compa ...

Koolbridge Energy took home the title of Coastal Entrepreneur of the Year on Thursday at an awards ceremony recognizing the work, success and stories of local companies and founders.  The Wrightsville Beach-based company’s flagship product, the Smart Load Center, is an energy management system designed to seamlessly navigate power sources based on times of da ...

A Wilmington-based cocktail mixer company is among the recipients of the latest round of NC IDEA grant awards.  NC IDEA announced late last month that it awarded a total of $150,000 to 15 startups in its latest NC IDEA MICRO grant cycle. Wilmington-headquartered For the Love of Margaritas was the only local grant recipient, according t ...

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 entrepre ...

Dawn McDowell knows stress. As a real estate broker, a cosmetologist and business owner, she understands how stressful life can be. But it was the pandemic that taught her how to handle stress best. McDowell’s skin care company, the Unwind Collection by Creatively Covered Co., was developed during the pandemic as a way for her to deal with the stress of worrying a ...

WHAT SERVICES DOES YOUR COMPANY PROVIDE, AND HOW DO YOU HELP CLIENTS MAINTAIN HEALTHY, WELL-FUNCTIONING PONDS? CO-OWNER GABRIEL LEGERE: “High Water Pond Management provides comprehensive pond and stormwater system management services, including algae management, erosion repair, fish stocking, aeration system installation and maintenance, invasive species control, wa ...

Eagle Guard Core Cell Company (EGCCC), a Wilmington-based protected cell captive insurance platform, recently launched. According to a news release, the company gives businesses a more streamlined, cost-effective way to control their risk and reduce reliance on traditional insurance. It does so through what’s known as segregated, or protected, captive insurance. ...

Heather McWhorter first met David Reeser in 2018, when he stood on stage at the Cucalorus Film Festival and said that he wanted to solve the opioid crisis.  McWhorter, who now leads UNCW’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, said that, as good entrepreneurs do, Reeser had noticed a trend and was willing to address it head-on.  Reeser, founder ...