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Hello, Friends of First Flight Venture Center,
As we reflect on 2024 so far, we are overwhelmed with gratitude and excitement for the incredible milestones our ecosystem has achieved. The passion and innovation from each of you continue to inspire us every day. Here are some exciting updates that highlight the dynamic work happening at First Flight Venture Center.
First, we want to give a huge shoutout to Group 31 for their exceptional work in creating videos that beautifully showcase the stories of our 2024 High Flyer Awards finalists and recipients. These videos capture the essence of innovation and collaboration that defines First Flight Venture Center, and we are proud to announce that the video is now live on our website! You can view it here.
Speaking of the High Flyer Awards, the photos from this year’s luncheon are now available! Whether you were engaging with innovators, striking a pose, or simply soaking in the inspiration of the event, you’ll likely spot yourself in action. Relive the moments by visiting the 2024 High Flyer Awards Luncheon Gallery. We hope these memories bring as much joy to you as they bring to us.
This month, we hosted another great Test Flight Pitch Practice session, where we had the privilege of hearing from two extraordinary founders: Beatrice Riva, CEO of ChemiCare Italy, and Sheetal Shah, CEO of Cosmic Eats, Inc. Their presentations sparked thought-provoking discussions and demonstrated the innovative thinking that drives our ecosystem forward.
Last week, we were thrilled to amplify the voices of female founders at the Woman Impact Summit. Our team and mentors are making waves: Andrea Conner and I participated in a Fireside Chat, while Emil Runge and Ashley Davis lead a session. Additionally, our Navigator, Elaine Bolle, shared her expertise on an investor panel about what women investors look for in startups. Together, we are championing the next wave of women-led innovation!
Additionally, we wrapped up the end of the AgTech CRISPR Propeller Cohort, a collaboration between First Flight Venture Center and Bayer Crop Sciences. We extend our deepest gratitude to Bayer, Phil Taylor, and our dedicated Navigators for their contributions to this program’s success. Congratulations to the six companies who delivered phenomenal final presentations:
- Wusheng Liu, Liu Lab at NC State
- Shailja Singh, Helix Harvest
- Logan Skori, Ph.D., AgGene
- Hortense Dodo, IngateyGen LLC
- Bill Hamer, Cquesta
- Collin Juurakko, Ph.D., Advanced Agriscience
The future of agriculture looks bright with innovators like these leading the way.
We also attended the NC Life Sciences Organization’s Legislative Update, an event that provided key insights from policymakers, industry leaders, and experts. The discussions we participated in reaffirmed our confidence in the bright future of innovation in North Carolina.
Finally, we’d like to celebrate our incredible alumni who presented at the NC AgTech Investor Forum: Food Tech. It was inspiring to see Doug Grant of Atlantic Fish Co., Sheetal Shah of Cosmic Eats, Inc., and Hortense Dodo of IngateyGen LLC share their groundbreaking work. Their contributions are driving transformative change in the AgTech space, and we couldn’t be prouder.
On another exciting note, I represented First Flight as a speaker at the NC Advanced Mobility Symposium 2024. I shared insights on the "Sky's the Limit: Funding the Next Wave of Air Mobility" panel, adding to a robust discussion with industry leaders shaping the future of mobility.
Thank you for being part of this journey with us. Your support and collaboration make everything we achieve possible. Let’s continue to propel innovation forward—together.
Onward and upward,
Krista Covey
CEO and President
First Flight Venture Center
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