Here’s our exclusive wrapup of upcoming conferences, contests, workshops, application deadlines and socials happening across North Carolina in April.
Included are upcoming meetups, conferences, workshops, socials and networking events happening in Asheville, Charlotte, the Triad, Wilmington and other areas across North Carolina.
This post is part of our weekly column of upcoming events. To find out what’s happening this month in the Triangle specifically, check out part one of this week’s column.
Another post previews events coming in May. Recurring monthly meetups in the Triangle are listed here.
These columns are an extension of our interactive calendar of tech and startup events. If you’d like to suggest an event to be added to the calendar, feel free to send me an email.
Climate City Expo
March 29 – April 7
Climate City Expo (or CCx) is a multi-part, 10-day celebration of Asheville’s creativity, innovation and dedication to climate change awareness. (More coverage here.)
CCx: NextGen
April 1, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. @The Collider
An opportunity for two- and four-year undergraduate students to connect with climate science professionals and learn more about the field. They can also present their own solutions at a business case competition. CCx: NextGen is the student conference track of Climate City Expo.
Future of Real Estate Development in Charlotte
April 1, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. @Crowne Plaza Charlotte
Join the South Chapter of the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance for a discussion on local real estate developments, featuring LoSo Station project at Scaleybark station, the River District, SouthPark and more.
A Conversation with Bill Nye: EXTREME Weather
April 1, 7-9 p.m. @Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, Asheville
This track of Asheville’s 10-day Climate City Expo is headlined by famous science communicator Bill Nye. He and WBEZ Chicago NERDette podcast host Greta Johnsen will discuss the climate science implications of extreme weather. This talk is intended for middle schoolers and beyond.
Application Deadline: Asheville Impact Micro-Grant
April 1
Venture Asheville’s new Asheville Impact Micro-Grant program offers $5,000 to early-stage startups through a community-sourced donations process. More details here.
Net Inclusion 2019
April 1-3 @Harris Conference Center
This event welcomes digital inclusion practitioners, advocates, academics, internet service providers and policymakers to discuss policies impacting digital equity, support of digital inclusion programs, best practices and more.
CCx: Business
April 2-3 @The Collider
This two-day conference brings together professionals, climate scientists, entrepreneurs, investors and business executives for networking, presentations, panels and a pitch showcase featuring local startups. CCx: Business is the business conference track of Climate City Expo.
Rural IT Sourcing & Innovative Job Creating Initiatives
April 2, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. @Packard Place
Join NC TECH to learn about RadixBay and its initiatives and programs in North Carolina.
Greensboro Chamber Small Business Awards
April 2, 11:45 a.m. – 1 p.m. @Proximity Hotel
At this event, the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce will celebrate small businesses and startups that contribute to the local community and economy.
Why a Native Mobile App Should Be Part of Your IoT Roadmap
April 2, 12-1 p.m. @Launch Factory
In this lunch and learn, Lithios Apps will explain how companies can benefit from having a native mobile app for their IoT solutions.
Venture Café at HQ Greensboro: College Night
April 2, 5-8 p.m. @HQ Greensboro
This is the second in a series of free events created by a new partnership between HQ Greensboro and Venture Cafe Winston-Salem. This session will focus on students, faculty and alumni from Greensboro-based universities with backgrounds in technology, innovation and entrepreneurship.
Startup 101: Business Model Canvas
April 2, 5-8 p.m. @Garage at Packard Place
Hosted by StartCharlotte, this three-hour introductory workshop covers everything founders need to know about Lean Startup Methodology and the Business Model Canvas. Topics to be covered include opportunity assessment, value proposition, customer discovery and more.
Decentralizing IoT & Disrupting the Telcos
April 2, 6-8 p.m. @SnapAV Corp Office
This event features a talk from Helium about blockchain-based decentralized wireless networks and the future of affordable connectivity.
Asheville Chamber Smart Series: Wellness in the Workplace
April 3, 8-9 a.m. @Asheville Chamber of Commerce
Join Asheville Chamber of Commerce and Dr. Gus Vickery, director of Vickery Family Medicine and author of Authentic Health, as he presents effective ways to integrate wellness practices like mindfulness, movement and hydration into your work schedule.
1 Million Cups CLT
April 3, 8:30-10 a.m.
Held every month, 1 Million Cups Charlotte features a presentation from a local startup followed by a Q&A from the community. Free coffee is included.
Becoming an Investor Ready Entrepreneur
April 3, 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. @Center for Engineering Technologies, Hickory
In this full-day educational event, entrepreneurs will learn how to understand the investment process and find out what investors are looking for. These insights will help participants prep for raising capital with an insider’s perspective in mind.
Bunker Brews Wilmington: What It’s Like to Own a Brewery/Bar
April 3, 5-7 p.m. @Waterman’s Brewing
Bunker Labs Wilmington is hosting a panel of brewery and bar owners who will share their stories of starting and running a business. Speakers include Dan Callender from Salty Turtle, Craig Gee of Waterman’s Brewing and Joe Apkarian from The Pour House.
British Consul General Awards Dinner
April 3, 6-9 p.m. @Quail Hollow Club
Join for an evening reception with special guests, entertainment, dinner and awards as BABCNC celebrates U.S. and U.K. investment in the Carolinas.
Application Deadline: NC Biotech Center Flash Grant
April 3
For its Flash Grant program, the North Carolina Biotech Center is on the lookout for innovative life science technology ideas with early indications of commercial potential. Applications in the second cycle of the 2019 program are due April 3 at noon.
Entrepalooza: A Celebration of Entrepreneurship
April 4-5 @Scales Fine Arts Center
Wake Forest University’s Center for Entrepreneurship is a two-day program featuring the university’s student entrepreneurs in action as they pitch their ideas and startups.
MO Summit
April 4-5 in Asheville
MO is an invitation-only event in Asheville that brings together CEOs and entrepreneurs for two days of discussion featuring a compelling lineup of business leaders.
NCEast State of the Region
April 4, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. @Greenville Convention Center
The annual NCEast State of the Region, hosted by the North Carolina Eastern Alliance, is a day of talks and sessions discussing the economic state of eastern North Carolina.
Talent Jam – Work It Watauga
April 4, 5-7 p.m. @Ransom
This event features dueling open-mic pitches where Western NC-based companies looking for talent, and people that have talent, deliver alternating 60-second pitches. Networking will follow.
Venture Café Thursday Gathering
April 4, 5-8 p.m. @Bailey Power Plant
Held on a weekly basis, this Venture Café event series provides all sorts of programming for Piedmont Triad entrepreneurs and innovators. Every Thursday evening, the community gathers for networking, panel talks, workshops, presentations, product demos, interviews, and more.
Asheville Chamber Business After Hours
April 4, 5:30-7 p.m. @MyHealthyLife Wellness Services
This month’s Asheville Chamber After Hours networking event is hosted by Mission Health’s MyHealthyLife Wellness Services and Avenu Health. Join for networking and refreshments from The Colorful Palate, plus the opportunity to win a giveaway prize.
Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile
April 4, 6-7:30 p.m. @Packard Place
Join Tech Talent South for this workshop and review best practices to make your LinkedIn unique.
CATC Blue Diamond Awards Celebration 2019
April 4, 6-8:30 p.m. @Founders Hall
For this special celebration, the Charlotte Area Technology Collaborative brings together more than 400 members of the Charlotte’s tech and business ecosystem in recognition of the many businesses and organizations helping fuel the city’s economy.
Beyond Our Beginnings: 50 Years of Bioethics Conference
April 5, 8:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. @Graylyn International Conference Center
Wake Forest University’s Center for Bioethics, Health and Society is hosting a one-day conference surveying the past, present and future of scholarship, practice and policy in the field of bioethics.
Get2Know NC TECH Webinar
April 5, 9-9:30 a.m.
This free monthly interactive webinar provides participants with an overview of NC TECH’s activities, resources and member offerings.
TechWorks Grand Opening
April 5, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. @TechWorks
TechWorks is Belmont’s hub for entrepreneurship, innovation and talent growth in the Gaston County area. Upon opening, the facility will offer coworking, offices, conference and training rooms, plus an event space.
PercCollider Climate Coffee Hour
April 5, 4-5 p.m. @The Collider
The weekly PercCollider event convenes Collider members for networking and collaboration over drinks.
North Carolina Energy Code Training
April 5 @Appalachian State Reich College of Education
This workshop, held at Appalachian State University, provides an in-depth look at the 2018 North Carolina Commercial and Residential Energy Code that went into effect January 1.
Asheville Mini Maker Faire
April 6 @UNC Asheville
Maker Faire is a place where engineers, artists, scientists and crafters can share their ideas and projects with the community.
Application Deadline: MetLife Digital Accelerator, Powered by Techstars
April 7
This Cary-based accelerator program, co-presented by MetLife and Techstars, is for startups and innovators interested in reinventing the insurance industry from any angle possible. The 2019 program starts July 15 and ends on Oct 10. (More coverage here.)
10th Annual Energy Day
April 9, 8 a.m. – April 10, 5:30 p.m. @BB&T Stadium, Greensboro
NC A&T State University’s Center for Energy Research and Technology presents its tenth annual Energy Day, featuring Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Traveling Science Fair and discussions covering renewable energy, energy efficiency, sustainability, transportation and more.
How Google Can Drive Customer Acquisition & Growth
April 9, 8:15-11:45 a.m. @TechWorks
This free training event will cover the latest free tools offered by Google for marketing and branding, revenue growth and boosting customer engagement. Sessions will be presented by Demming Bass of Grow with Google and Zach Cardais of Zeffective.
Manufacturing Summit
April 10, 7:30-11:30 a.m. @Harris Convention Center
NC Chamber’s annual Manufacturing Summit focuses on solving the needs and challenges of the state’s manufacturing community. Topics address regulatory issues, workforce solutions and other challenges impacting the industry. Breakfast is provided.
Charlotte PitchBreakfast
April 10, 8-10 a.m. @The Garage at Packard Place
Every month, a handful of Queen City-based companies headline Charlotte PitchBreakfast, pitching their products and services for a total of five minutes, after which they will answer questions from the audience and a panel of entrepreneurs and experts.
19th Annual Business Showcase
April 10, 3-7 p.m. @The Park Expo & Conference Center, Charlotte
Hosted by the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance’s Central Chapter, Greater Hospitality and Tourism Alliance and CRVA Partners in Tourism, this event is one of the Queen City’s largest B2B trade shows, with more than 150 exhibitors.
WNC Career Expo
April 11, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. @WNC Ag Center
Jobseekers and employers in the Western North Carolina region are invited to join this recruiting event hosted by the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Mountain Area Workforce Development Board.
Venture Café Thursday Gathering
April 11, 5-8 p.m. @Bailey Power Plant
Held on a weekly basis, this Venture Café event series provides all sorts of programming for Piedmont Triad entrepreneurs and innovators. Every Thursday evening, the community gathers for networking, panel talks, workshops, presentations, product demos, interviews, and more.
UNCW AI Meetup
April 11, 5:30-7:30 p.m. @UNCW Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Every month this meetup group joins to discuss a hot topic in the artificial intelligence space. Join to hear insights and meet others in the Wilmington AI community.
Flywheel Idea Tap @Venture Cafe
April 11, 6-7 p.m. @Venture Cafe
Flywheel is partnering with Venture Cafe this year to expand its monthly pitch event to Winston-Salem. Participating founders have seven minutes to pitch a panel of investors and get constructive feedback on their presentation.
Idea Tap Davidson
April 11, 5:30-8 p.m. @Flywheel Coworking – Davidson
Held by Flywheel at the HurtHub@Davidson once a month, the Idea Tap Davidson event series offers local entrepreneurs the opportunity to share their ideas through short pitch sessions and network with like-minded innovators in the community.
NC BREATHE Conference
April 11 @Cape Fear Community College Union Station
Clean Air Carolina’s annual NC BREATHE Conference includes the latest research addressing the challenges related to air pollution and its impacts on human health, the environment and the economy.
PercCollider Climate Coffee Hour
April 12, 4-5 p.m. @The Collider
The weekly PercCollider event convenes Collider members for networking and collaboration over drinks.
CODEHQ: Tableau
April 13 @HQ Greensboro
During this two-hour course, participants will learn how to use Tableau’s visual analytics software platform.
Asheville Chamber Business Before Hours
April 16, 8-9 a.m. @Green Opportunities
This month’s Asheville Chamber Business Before Hours will be hosted by Green Opportunities, a local organization that trains, supports and connects people from marginalized communities to sustainable employment opportunities.
Lunch & Learn: Industry 4.0 Readiness Assessment
April 16, 12-1 p.m. @Launch Factory
Join this lunch and learn to hear from Craig Casillas about Industry 4.0, its global scale, how companies can translate Industry 4.0 concepts to actionable projects and practical use cases.
Matching First Time Entrepreneurs w/ Experienced Business Leaders & Mentors in Wilmington
April 16, 4-6:30 p.m. @Ironclad Brewery
The next Network for Entrepreneurs in Wilmington (NEW) event will feature a panel with CharGrow Co-Founder Dominic Taverniti, UNCW Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Executive Director Diane Durance and AI Bridge President Kevin Carlson.
Charlotte Regional Business Alliance Young Professionals Luncheon
April 17, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. @Sheraton Charlotte Uptown
Join the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance for a conversation on Charlotte’s food and beverage scene, and how the hospitality industry is impacting the advancement of the community.
Packard Place Public House
April 17, 5:30-7:30 p.m. @Packard Place
On the third Wednesday of every month, the Queen City’s entrepreneurial community joins together for an evening of networking and connections over drinks.
Local Leaders. Global Impact: Innovation & Business Transformation
April 18, 8-9:30 p.m. @Northeastern University-Charlotte
This event features an in-depth discussion with leaders in entrepreneurship and strategic innovation. Speakers include Northeastern University School of Business Dunton Family Dean Dr. Raj Echambadi and Duke Energy Senior VP of Business Transformation Brian Savoy.
Center for Creative Economy ‘Swerve’
April 18, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. @Center for Design Innovation
This monthly lunch and learn event is an opportunity for Winston-Salem’s creative community to hear insights from guest speakers, enjoy catered lunch and network with peers.
Venture Café Thursday Gathering
April 18, 5-8 p.m. @Bailey Power Plant
Held on a weekly basis, this Venture Café event series provides all sorts of programming for Piedmont Triad entrepreneurs and innovators. Every Thursday evening, the community gathers for networking, panel talks, workshops, presentations, product demos, interviews, and more.
PercCollider Climate Coffee Hour
April 19, 4-5 p.m. @The Collider
The weekly PercCollider event convenes Collider members for networking and collaboration over drinks.
Fish 2.0 South Atlantic Fisheries & Aquaculture Innovation Workshop & Pitch Session
April 23-24 @Wilmington, NC
Businesses in the fishery and aquaculture industries are invited to attend this free and informative event, in which they can participate in community-building sessions with both peers and experts.
Asheville Chamber Sky High Growth Awards
April 24
In this annual program, the Asheville Chamber of Commerce honors the accomplishments of Chamber members who are leading growth in the local business community.
DIG SOUTH Tech Summit
April 24-26 @Charleston Gaillard Center
A must-attend for entrepreneurs and technology industry representatives in the South, the DIG SOUTH Tech Summit in Charleston connects leading global brands like Oracle, IBM and Salesforce to the top scalable startups in the region. (More coverage here.)
Digital Health Happy Hour: Charlotte
April 24, 5-7 p.m. @Packard Place
DHIT’s free Digital Health Happy Hour series is expanding to Charlotte starting this month. The featured popup speaker is Michael Levy, president of DHIT, who will share more about how to get involved with the digital health community. Join to connect with fellow entrepreneurs, investors and community leaders over craft beers.
Health Care Summit
April 25, 7:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. @Sheraton Charlotte Hotel
The 8th annual Health Care Summit convenes hundreds of top executives, policymakers, consumers and business leaders from around the state and nation for an in-depth review into the current and future state of healthcare challenges and opportunities.
Webinar: Raising the Awareness of Career Pathways
April 25, 9-10 a.m.
This monthly webinar covers career pathways and resources for employers, jobseekers or anyone interested in the process.
Winning SBIR/STTR Grants for Science & Technology Startups
April 25, 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. @The Collider
Hosted by First Flight Venture Center, this half-day seminar will explain the basics of SBIR/STTR grant programs for entrepreneurs, covering the participating agencies involved, what goes into developing a proposal and how the award process works.
Skookum Volcano Tour
April 25, 12-1 p.m. @Skookum Charlotte
Join an open tour of the Skookum office to get an introduction to the tech and ideas powering the community. The Skookum team will be available for any questions or comments participants may have. Lunch will be provided.
8th Annual Gate City Minority Business Opportunity Fair
April 25, 4-7 p.m. @Khalif Event Center
This networking event is free and open to minority and women-owned businesses interested in pursuing contracting opportunities with local public institutions, government agencies and major private companies.
Venture Café Thursday Gathering
April 25, 5-8 p.m. @Bailey Power Plant
Held on a weekly basis, this Venture Café event series provides all sorts of programming for Piedmont Triad entrepreneurs and innovators. Every Thursday evening, the community gathers for networking, panel talks, workshops, presentations, product demos, interviews, and more.
Tech Talent South + Advocations Java Workshop
April 25, 5:30-7 p.m. @Packard Place
Tech Talent South Charlotte is hosting a Java workshop to share more about its partnership with Advocations and Autism Speaks.
Leadership Greensboro 2020 Info Session
April 26, 8:30-9:30 a.m. @Greensboro Chamber of Commerce
Join this info session to learn about the details and components involved with the Leadership Greensboro program, as well as requirements the application process.
Energy ‘Double Header’: Next Gen Nuclear + Managing Crisis Communication
April 26, 12-4:30 p.m. @Foundation for the Carolinas
At this educational event, energy professionals will be briefed on advanced next generation nuclear design and managing crisis communication,
PercCollider Climate Coffee Hour
April 26, 4-5 p.m. @The Collider
The weekly PercCollider event convenes Collider members for networking and collaboration over drinks.
Hatch Demo Day
April 27 @Hatch AVL
This event features pitches from emerging early-stage companies in the Asheville startup community. Three finalists will come away with seed capital, mentorship and other prizes. Hatch is currently taking applications from 10 startups.
2019 UNC Charlotte Science & Technology Expo
April 28, 12-4 p.m. @UNC Charlotte Student Union
UNC Charlotte’s North Carolina Science Festival is a half-day event featuring over 100 activities for people of all ages, including hands-on displays and educational presentations, engineering demos, lab tours and more.
Business & The Mompreneur Dollar
April 29, 6-8 p.m. @HQ Greensboro
This event, hosted by Piedmont Business Capital, features panelists speaking about their experiences in starting and growing their mompreneur business, and how other Triad innovators can do so as well.
Tech Talent South Wilmington: Web Development Essentials
April 29, 6-9 p.m.
Tech Talent South Wilmington is hosting a workshop on the basics of web development, covering HTML, CSS and Bootstrap.
Women > A Force in Business
April 30, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. @Charlotte Convention Center
This annual event, one of NC Chamber’s largest programs, addresses the different ways to create and harness opportunities for women in North Carolina’s workforce and business community.
