MCEDP

Based on feedback from attendees in previous years, Natalie Hawkins, president of the MCEDP, altered the format to create a more immersive experience.

“There were comments and feedback wishing they had a chance to talk with the speakers, ask questions, wanting to dive into things a little more, as opposed to a high-level, panel-type discussion, which is really the format we’ve done for the past two years,” said Hawkins.

So this year I said, ‘Okay, let’s figure out a way to provide more actionable information — let’s make it an interactive workshop format.’

“What I’ve stressed with all of the speakers is: I want our attendees to be able to learn from each other at the table where they’re sitting —  to be able to have that dialogue and interaction with the resource providers that we’ve assembled, the other entrepreneurs in the room, really have a full day of learning.”

This year’s summit has been extended to a day-long event, kicking off at the Fair Barn on Nov. 13 at 9 a.m. and wrapping up at 5 p.m.

Ruhe will deliver the keynote address. He has been heading entrepreneurship engine and economic development advocate NC IDEA for the past decade. The foundation has been dedicated to supporting new entrepreneurs through its SEED grant program. When Ruhe took over, the organization began to examine the types of businesses that were winning the grants. They discovered that many startups could use capital much earlier in the growth process and created the MICRO grant, a $10,000 award for companies in the early stages of development, ready to test assumptions about market readiness, revenue models and other similar aspects of growth.

“Startups create all net-new jobs in this country,” said Ruhe. “ This is the thing that keeps our economies resilient, dynamic. Right? And it’s also the right and equitable thing to do, because everybody has an opportunity to thrive financially through entrepreneurship.”

Ruhe’s time at NC IDEA has been guided by that principle and an entrepreneurial mindset honed through his early career, at the helm of a number of his own startups. His address will highlight the ecosystem of resources and generative environment for innovation in North Carolina.

For entrepreneurs, Ruhe argues, it is important to begin the journey with a firm understanding of available resources. He said that knowledge will allow a startup to plug in to the network of North Carolina businesses with products and services tailored to their specific needs.

Following the keynote address, a series of workshops will build on Ruhe’s speech. In the first, Rachael Newberry will lead attendees to “learn how to validate market demand for your business concept to reduce risk, save time and money and cultivate a clear and confident path to customers.”

The next workshop with Sarah Glova guides attendees through her single-page plan process, which was featured in her 2024 TEDx talk at Shaw University. The method is meant to distill goals and create a clear path to achieve big, audacious goals. As with Ruhe’s idea of understanding the ecosystem and resources around you, Glova’s approach reminds entrepreneurs to keep in mind what they bring to the equation.

The closing workshop will focus on AI prompt engineering from Don Shin. He will demonstrate some practical skills and tactics for entrepreneurs to leverage new tools like ChatGPT, Claude and Microsoft Copilot. For the greatest impact, it’s recommended that any attendee bring a laptop or tablet to participate in the process during the workshop.

Along with the workshops, keynote address and a lunch talk from entrepreneur Hal Atkins, who with his wife formed a pet cremation service business, the event will feature Building Block Breakouts, a reimagined resource expo hosting more than a dozen organizations offering free on-site business coaching and financial services.

“The building block breakout sessions were based on feedback we got from last year, too,” said Hawkins. “Because some of the participants said, ‘I wish I could have heard from an attorney or an accountant or a professional service provider, just to give me some advice.’ So that’s why we’ve lined up these sessions — two 20-minute breakouts that are going to occur during that one-hour period. We’re going to have  bankers, attorneys, insurance agents, retirement service providers, people like that who they can connect with and just have more intimate conversations. Eight to 10 people with a professional service provider on a specific topic.”

The day-long event is book-ended by the extended networking session that were added to last year’s event. Local entrepreneurs Tori Mueller and Tori Davis, who co-founded Birdie, a concierge and relocation services business, after meeting at the initial entrepreneurial summit vouch for the effectiveness of those sessions to build that network of relationships and resources in the community.

“I was just really excited to go,” said Davis. “I felt like the price point of the event was really obtainable and amazing and was just so pleasantly surprised.

“So you never know who you’re going to meet.  You never know what can come out of these things — like your future million-dollar idea.”

For more information about the 2025 Sandhills Entrepreneur Summit and to register, click here.