"I wanted to briefly express how fantastic the India International Agri Business Conference & Expo (IIAB Expo) in Hyderabad was. It was an incredible honor to present at the event and to tour the amazing sites in India. The vibrant culture, world-class hospitality, energetic business environment, and endless opportunities made this a truly unforgettable experience.
India's agri-business sector is booming, with significant potential for collaboration and growth, particularly in innovation and technology. Similarly, North Carolina's thriving ecosystem offers fertile ground for partnerships that can drive the future of agriculture forward.
A special highlight was being honored by Sri Thummala Nageswara Rao, who announced the launch of the First Flight Venture Center‘s India Wingspan program, in collaboration with RAY consulting, at the conference. This exciting initiative will bring 10 Indian agriculture companies looking to expand into the U.S. to First Flight Venture Center, further strengthening the bridge between our regions.
Thank you to Raj Kumar Agarwal, Delta Air Lines, Nicole Sheedy and everyone who made this event such a success. I’m looking forward to continuing these conversations and building on the momentum we’ve created together. More to come soon! 🌱" - Krista Covey, CEO and President of First Flight Venture Center
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MEET OUR NEWEST NAVIGATORS | |
First Flight Venture Center - Tom Heck | Tom Heck is an accomplished pharmaceutical executive with 30+ years of extensive experience in transforming strategic visions into tangible outcomes, excelling in operational scalability from start-up to and market leadership. His experience has been in six pharma start-ups that all exited successf | | | |
First Flight Venture Center - Kristin Engard | Kristin is an independent marketing consultant who draws on her extensive experience with some of the world's biggest brands to give a competitive edge to startups, nonprofits and other growth-focused companies by providing the strategic marketing expertise and best practice commonly used by larger | | | |
KNOW A SCIENCE OR TECHNOLOGY STARTUP LOOKING FOR OFFICE OR LAB SPACE? | |
At Hangar6, we offer comprehensive design and prototyping services to get your early-stage product ideas, concepts, and technologies off the ground.
Our team of experienced engineers and designers will collaborate with you closely to understand and fulfill your prototyping needs. From engineering feasibility analysis to 3D models to prototype fabrication, we're with you every step of the way.
Contact us to start innovating! ⬇️
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FREE ONE-HOUR
DESIGN CONSULTING
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Launching a startup is daunting, but you can solve for future success with software solutions that grow with you, your team, and business. Siemens Xcelerator for Startups is a program designed to help startups avoid growing pains with access to scalable, affordable Siemens software. Come and learn how other startups have taken advantage of these programs and tools to help achieve faster technical milestones.
For lunch, we will be enjoying a Moe’s Fajita Bar!
DATE: Thursday, September 12th
TIME: 12 - 1 pm
LOCATION: First Flight Venture Center
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SBIR grant-winning companies sharing lessons learned, insights from NC Investor, and an overview of the SBIR/STTR programs. Whether in person at First Flight or via Zoom, this complimentary event is packed with invaluable information for startups navigating the SBIR non-dilutive funding space. | |
First Flight Venture Center is delighted to host lunchtime programs, "Itineraries" that offer a chance for members of the First Flight community and broader innovation ecosystem to learn about the work of early-stage science-focused companies, network and have some fun at the same time!
On September 17th, we are pleased to host, Graham Crispin with Graham Allen Assoc.
He will present his latest work on Business and Technology Consulting Practice that brings Software Defined Antenna (Quantum Rydberg) Radio [SDAR] to: Defense, Medical Imaging, Satellite, and Telecommunications. This is a fantastic opportunity to dive into the science behind innovation and meet fellow entrepreneurs and scientists.
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Ready to launch your startup to the next level?
📅 Coming this Fall - Hangar6's Deep Tech Workshop Part B: Early Stage Accelerator Propellor Program.
This Deep Tech Propellor program is a six-week design thinking program that equips founders with tools to evaluate their ideas, identify markets, and develop investor-ready pitches.
Participants will have the opportunity to:
🔺Refine their business strategies and communication
🔺Create commercialization plans
🔺Turn tech innovations into viable business opportunities.
Benefits of participating:
✅ Mentorship
✅ Tailored workshops to sharpen your skills
✅Networking opportunities
✅ Exclusive resources to fast-track your innovation
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Thanks to our sponsor, Siemens, we are able to offer scholarships to NC Startups for our Deep Tech Workshop! | |
We are thrilled to announce that registration is now open for our highly anticipated 2024 High Flyer Awards Luncheon!
High Flyer Awards Luncheon is designated to celebrate and honor those companies and individuals who have contributed to HIGH SCIENCE, DEEP TECH, HIGH IMPACT, and our entrepreneurial ecosystem as a whole. This event promises not only a unique platform for world-class networking but also an opportunity to join First Flight Venture Center in celebrating those who are shaping the future with their innovative projects.
📅 Date: November 1, 2024
🕒 Time: 11 AM - 1 PM
📍 Location: Prestonwood Country Club, 300 Prestonwood Pkwy, Cary, NC 27513
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What’s New This Year?
This year, we're shaking things up. For the first time ever, we will be announcing the 2024 High Flyer Award recipients live at the luncheon! This means you’ll be among the first to know and celebrate the outstanding achievements of our High Flyers in real-time. Expect inspiring stories, a dynamic atmosphere, and unparalleled networking opportunities. Plus, you will see the latest innovations in the pipeline from First Flight resident companies.
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The deadline to submit a nominee is September 12th | |
Call for Sponsorship Opportunities
We are also offering unique sponsorship opportunities for businesses and organizations that want to align with the spirit of innovation and excellence. Sponsoring this event is an excellent way to gain visibility, connect with industry leaders, and support the next generation of trailblazers.
Benefits of Sponsorship:
- Brand visibility to a targeted audience of innovators and business leaders
- Networking opportunities with key stakeholders and decision-makers
- Exclusive promotional opportunities before, during, and after the event
- Contribution to the growth and success of our entrepreneurial community
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Contact Andrea Conner to learn more about sponsorship opportunities.
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Investor- Ready Entrepreneur Program (Sept 18) Sign Up | |
Mashup at the NC PSI (Oct 10) Sign Up | |
The Big Launch Challenge (Oct 17) Sign Up | |
Investor-Ready Entrepreneur Webinar (Oct 23) Sign Up | |
Generative AI in Agiculture & Life Sciences (Nov 6) Sign Up | |
Ecosystem Summit 2024 (Nov 19-20) Sign Up | |
Collegiate Awards 2024 Opportunity for Graduate and Undergraduate Innovators in North America Attend our live info session for prospective Collegiate Award Applicants on zoom! September 10th, 2024 5pm EDT. Join Here! The Ocean Exchange Collegiate Award, and the Guy Harvey Foundation Collegiate Award, of $10,000 USD each, will be awarded in 2024. | | | NC IDEA MICRO ($10k) and SEED ($50k) grant are an excellent way for high growth and early stage entrepreneurs to grow and scale their companies. To find the best candidates that would most benefit from our MICRO and SEED grant, we need your help. Here is a quick snapshot of eligibility criteria so you know who would fit our profile. |
DARPAConnect Community - DARPAConnect | | |
Flash Grant Program | North Carolina Biotechnology Center | NCBiotech's Flash Grant program aims to identify the most creative ideas that show early indications of commercial potential. For the fiscal year 2020, there will be three cycles of Flash Grants. | | | |
Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( Lock Locked padlock icon ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. | | |
Office Hours: Preparing your Phase I Proposal for America's Seed Fund at NSF | Learn more about what you need to do after the Project Pitch | | |
NEW SBIR/STTR Fast-Track Pilot | The SBIR/STTR Fast-Track program enables companies with NSF lineage (as defined below and in the solicitation) to submit a single proposal that can provide a pathway for up to $1,555,000 in non-dilutive funding, access to the full suite of NSF SBIR/STTR Phase I and Phase II funding opportunities, and enable a rapid, seamless transition from Phase I to Phase II. | | | |
Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Programs Phase I | The USDA SBIR/STTR programs focus on transforming scientific discovery into products and services with commercial potential and/or societal benefit. Unlike fundamental research, the USDA SBIR/STTR programs support small businesses in the creation of innovative, disruptive technologies and enable the application of research advancements from conception into the market. | | |
The New Orleans BioInnovation Center ("NOBIC") is a nonprofit business incubator focused on advancing life science entrepreneurship and technology commercialization in Louisiana. The mission of NOBIC is to create a successful biotech ecosystem by providing emerging companies with customized commercialization services, premier facilities, and a comprehensive support network. | | |
Research Triangle Cleantech Cluster | Cleantech Champion Recognizes an individual who exemplifies a deep commitment to advancing the cleantech industry in their local community, the Research Triangle region, or statewide. Achievements may include demonstrated dedication to cleantech innovation or adoption, business expansion or relocation, development of high-impact technology, or spearheading regional/cross-sectoral collaboration to drive innovation. | | | |
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As the trade association for North Carolina’s life sciences industry, the NC Life Sciences Organization™ advances the industry and ecosystem and enables its members to innovate and collaborate for success in a global marketplace. NCLifeSci delivers policy and advocacy leadership, future-focused workforce development programs, industry connections and mission-driven member services. | |
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