WRAL TechWire keeps tabs on the latest and greatest meetups, panels, workshops, conferences and all things happening in the North Carolina startup world.
“The Headliners” is a multi-part weekly roundup of upcoming events to add to your calendar. To find out what’s happening in cities outside of the Triangle, check out part two of the “Headliners” column.
Another post highlights events in June. Meetups that occur on a regular basis are listed here.
Check out a full range of events on TechWire’s interactive calendar for more. If you’d like your event to be added to the calendar and weekly roundup, feel free to send me an email.
Here’s our lineup of Triangle events through the end of May. The roundup also includes application deadlines for accelerators, competitions and other programs.
Velocity 2019 Conference
May 5-7 @The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
MercuryGate International, Inc., a Cary-based provider of SaaS-based transportation management system solutions, will be hosting its Velocity Conference in Las Vegas, featuring over 40 informative sessions on topics affecting the transportation management industry.
Raleigh Chamber Business After Hours
May 6, 5:30-7 p.m. @South State Bank
Raleigh Chamber is hosting its next Business After Hours event at South State Bank, which is continuing to expand its footprint in North Carolina. Join for an evening networking social.
After Hours with Wake County Leadership
May 6, 5:30-7 p.m. @Umstead Hotel & Spa
Join the Cary Chamber of Commerce for networking and celebrating local elected officials.
Triangle Small Business Week
May 6-11
Raleigh Chamber and Wake County Economic Development are celebrating Small Business Week by offering a number of events and resources to support local businesses and organizations. View the week’s events here.
Triangle Global Health Award Celebration
May 7 @Top of the Hill
The Triangle Global Health Award Celebration recognizes local leaders who are working to improve lives through healthcare.
Coffee with Ward Nye
May 7, 7:30-9 a.m. @McKimmon Conference and Training Center
Join Raleigh Chamber of Commerce for a casual event with Ward Nye, president and CEO of Martin Marietta Materials.
Raleigh Small Business Connect
May 7, 8:30 p.m. – 2 p.m. @NC State McKimmon Center
The second annual Raleigh Small Business Connect features helpful resources, workshops and networking for local startups and small businesses. The event is presented by the City of Raleigh, the Carolina Small Business Development Fund, Women’s Business Center of NC, Raleigh Chamber of Commerce and Wake Tech Community College.
Bunker Labs RDU CEO Circle
May 7, 9:30-11:30 a.m. @Loading Dock Raleigh
CEO Circle, an event hosted by Bunker Labs RDU, features tips for overcoming marketing challenges with strategic planning.
WakeEd-WCPSS STEMposium
May 7, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. @PNC Arena Club East
At this event, K-12 educators will present innovative educational practices developed through partnerships with Triangle-area STEM organizations. Tickets are free.
Velocity Creative Accelerator Info Session (Raleigh)
May 7, 12:30-1:30 p.m. @HQ Raleigh
Velocity, a new nine-week accelerator from the Center for Creative Economy in Winston-Salem, delivers one-on-one online and in-person programming with mentors. Join this brief info session to learn more about the program and how to apply. Applications are due June 2.
Meet the Purchasers
May 8, 7:30-9 a.m. @HQ Raleigh Capital Club
At this Raleigh Chamber-hosted event, professionals and businesses have the opportunity to meet directly with purchasing agents from large companies and government agencies.
Leadership Raleigh Info Session
May 8, 8:30-10 a.m. @Raleigh Chamber of Commerce
Join this info session to learn about Raleigh Chamber’s Leadership Raleigh program, the opportunities it offers and how to apply. Applications are due June 14.
1 Million Cups RTP
May 8, 9-10 a.m. @American Underground (@Blackwell/ATC)
1 Million Cups, presented by Kauffman, is a weekly informal pitch event for the startup community. Join for free coffee and entrepreneurial support as local startups deliver their presentations.
Cary Chamber Education Committee Meeting
May 8, 12-1 p.m. @Cary Chamber of Commerce
Join Cary Chamber to hear insights on measuring student success with Dr. Bradley McMillen, head of WCPSS’s Office of Data and Accountability.
Tech Talk at Wake Tech RTP Auditorium
May 8, 3-5 p.m. @Wake Technical Community College – RTP Campus
Morrisville Council Member Steve Rao will host Tanjo Co-founder and CEO Richard Boyd for a talk on how cities can leverage AI to improve their services.
Pints & Pitches Chapel Hill
May 8, 5:30-7 p.m. @Top of the Hill Restaurant & Brewery
Join Chapel Hill Economic Development for appetizers and networking with local entrepreneurs, startup teams, freelancers and professionals. Attendees can also pitch their business ideas.
Intro to Python
May 8, 6-8 p.m. @Momentum Learning (Durham)
In this free-of-charge workshop, students will learn the basics of Python coding using Mu.
Create Good Conference 2019
May 9-10 @Durham Arts Council
This two-day conference is an opportunity for nonprofit communicators to hear insights from leaders, try new ideas and network with peers.
Raleigh Digital Marketing Conference
May 9-10
This online event provides insights, industry data, presentations from thought leaders and other content for the local marketing community. Details and agenda here.
7th Annual Small Business Week Awards Luncheon
May 9, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. @Raleigh Hilton North Hills
The Carolina Small Business Development Fund’s 7th annual Small Business Week Awards Luncheon will bring together more than 250 entrepreneurs, business leaders, partners and organizations to celebrate the impact of North Carolina’s small businesses. The theme of this year’s event is “Entrepreneurs Rising Together: Shared Prosperity Through the Success of Main Street Businesses.”
Lunch & Learn: Architecting Scalable & Secure IoT Solutions
May 9, 12-1 p.m. @HQ Raleigh
At this lunch and learn, Gordon Blackwell, cloud solution architect for Microsoft, will show participants how to create IoT services that are both scalable and secure.
NC Regulatory Affairs Forum Spring Symposium
May 9, 5:30-8 p.m. @RTP HQ
This event, hosted by the North Carolina Regulatory Affairs Forum, focuses on the use of real-world data in clinical research and regulatory settings. The keynote speaker is Optum Chief of Clinical Development Dr. Kristen Buck, who will discuss EHR data in clinical research.
2019 State of Technology Conference
May 10 @Raleigh Convention Center
NC TECH’s flagship annual tech conference features a day of engaging keynotes, interactive panels, a fast-paced pitch competition from tech startups, as well as an exhibit showcase. This year’s program comes with the theme: Cyber Security.
Application Deadline: Real-Time Payments Buildathon
May 10
Carolina Fintech Hub and The Clearing House are teaming up to host a buildathon this summer in which startup teams are tasked with creating products/services to meet needs in one of four categories: B2B, consumer payments, next wave of digital native business and back-office improvement. The finalists will present their solutions at The Clearing House’s Payments Perspective Conference in New York City. Applications to the program are open until May 10.
RTCC SMART Series 2019: Achieving 100% Renewable Energy
May 10, 8-10 a.m. @RTP Headquarters
The Research Triangle Cleantech Cluster is hosting a panel of experts who will discuss the process of transitioning to renewable energy, and how communities can leverage tools and technologies to meet their 100% renewable goals.
Financial Planning for Young Professionals
May 10, 1-2 p.m. @HQ Raleigh
In this financial budgeting workshop, Michael Lewis of Tutor Financial Advisors will help participants understand destructive spending habits and figure out ways to manage them effectively.
Application Deadline: Building Up-fit Grant
May 13
The City of Raleigh’s Building Up-Fit Grant helps fund improvements, renovations and/or additions to the interior properties of local businesses. Awards span $5,000 to $25,000. More details here.
UNC IE Bagel Breakfast Social
May 14, 9:30-10:30 a.m. @UNC Institute for the Environment
UNC’s Institute for the Environment hosts a monthly breakfast inviting a guest speaker to discuss their latest research and projects.
Hangar6 Consulting at the Frontier
May 14, 10-11 a.m. @The Frontier
Join this open house-style event with Hangar6 to learn about its premiere prototyping and design consulting space.
Triangle Biotech Tuesday
May 14, 5:15-7:30 p.m. @Research Triangle Park
Triangle Biotech Tuesday, a monthly event series, connects scientific professionals throughout the Research Triangle area.
Project Shift Demo Night
May 14, 6-8 p.m. @The Rickhouse
Come check out software demos from the latest cohort of Project Shift’s immersive fellowship program.
All Things Open RTP Meetup
May 14, 6-8 p.m. @The Frontier
This month’s All Things Open meetup features two trending topics—open source cloud tools and microservices. Details and agenda here.
Open Raleigh Brigade Community Night
May 14, 6-8:30 p.m. @HQ Raleigh
The Open Raleigh Brigade is an ongoing meetup for technologists, designers, developers, data scientists, map makers and project managers to come together to collaborate on civic projects. This event is part of a series of meetings held until June.
Economic Development Forum 2019
May 15, 8-10 a.m. @Raleigh Marriott City Center
At this forum, the Raleigh Chamber of Commerce looks ahead to the Triangle’s future in 20 years through the lens of sustained economic growth. The keynote speaker is Ted Abernathy, managing partner of Economic Leadership LLC.
Thriving Organization Master Class
May 15, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. @NC Biotech Center
This one-day workshop helps entrepreneurs develop their company’s culture and organizational processes.
2019 THRiVE Leadership Summit
May 15, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. @American Tobacco Campus, Bay 7
Leadership Triangle is hosting a day-long conference featuring several keynotes, presentations and networking with peers and local leaders who are heading the growth of their industries.
You Are HUB Certified. Now What?
May 15, 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. @Wake Tech RTP Campus
This full-day training session is for businesses that are already HUB certified to learn about the return on their investment.
Digital Health Happy Hour
May 15, 5-7 p.m. @Launch Chapel Hill
DHIT’s free networking event comes to Launch Chapel Hill this month, featuring a talk with pop-up speaker Katie McMillan, associate director of Duke Mobile App Gateway. Join to connect with fellow entrepreneurs, investors and community leaders over craft beers.
Diverse Leaders in Tech: Our Career Stories
May 15, 6-8:30 p.m. @HQ Raleigh
RTP Career Services will be hosting a panel with top technologists and engineering managers at Lenovo, SAS, Redhat, Cloudbees and Spreedly as they share stories of their professional journeys and lessons learned along the way.
Building the Bridge: American Underground @Bragg
May 15, 7-8:30 p.m. @Studio 215
Join American Underground for an evening of discussion about connecting Fort Bragg’s military community to the Triangle’s tech and startup ecosystem.
Raleigh Chamber Young Professionals Network
May 16, 7:30-9:30 a.m. @PNC Arena
For the next Raleigh Chamber YP Network meeting, participants will hear from RDU VP of Communications, Government and Community Affairs Crystal Feldman and Regional Transportation Alliance Senior Marketing and Policy Manager Natalie Griffith, on the future of transportation in the Triangle.
Triangle TechBreakfast
May 16, 8-10 a.m. @RTP Headquarters
Developers, designers, startups and tech enthusiasts are invited to join this monthly meetup for free networking over breakfast, plus a series of showcase presentations.
20/20 Vision: Attracting & Hiring Duke Students
May 16, 8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. @Duke University Career Center
Local companies are invited to join Duke University’s Career Center for an event covering the best practices for recruiting Duke students.
Digital Transformation of Enterprise: Survival of the Fit
May 16, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. @Research Triangle Park
This seminar provides educational content that helps executives and business leaders understand and implement non-traditional business model approaches and other practices that offer a competitive advantage.
AMA Triangle Luncheon
May 16, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. @Brier Creek Country Club
For its next event, the Triangle chapter of the American Marketing Association is hosting a panel with select marketing experts, including Yogi Jashnani of Advance Auto Parts, Katy Jones of FoodLogiQ, Kim Kitchings of Cotton Incorporated and executive consultant Betty Noonan. Donald Thompson, CEO of Walk West, will moderate.
On the Menu: How to Grow Your Business w/ Podcasting
May 16, 11:45 a.m. – 1 p.m. @The Frontier
Adam Silver of ConciergeWP.com and KitchenSinkWP.com will lead a workshop on podcasting best-practices and monetization strategies. Lunch will be provided.
Lunch & Learn: Trends in IoT & the Importance of Sensor Selection
May 16, 12-1 p.m. @HQ Raleigh
At this RIoT-hosted lunch and learn, TE Connectivity Sensor Solutions will present a session on how to deliver business results using the right sensors.
RTP180: Women in STEM
May 16, 5-7:30 p.m. @The Frontier
This month’s RTP180 showcases the work of women STEM leaders in the Triangle. Panelists include Ruwani Biggers of Her Spark, Inc., Sarah Lasseter of Research Triangle High School, Jyotika Sharma of Biogen Inc., Karen Davis of RTI International and Liz Krewson of Women in Bio.
Bunker Brews RDU: Celebrate the Deck of 52
May 16, 5:30-7 p.m. @Carimus
For its next happy hour event, Bunker Labs RDU is heading to Good Bookey as they celebrate Deck of 52, a collector’s deck of playing cards launched by the military veteran community.
CED 35th Anniversary: Engine of Innovation
May 16, 5:30-9 p.m. @Union Station
The Council for Entrepreneurial Development (CED) is celebrating 35 years of successful entrepreneurship in North Carolina’s tech and life science ecosystem. Appetizers, drinks and entertainment provided.
Triangle Start Up Night
May 16, 7:05 p.m. @Durham Bulls Athletic Park
Join American Underground for an evening of networking at the Durham Bulls. There will also be a pregame round of discounted mini golf at Bull City Mini.
Triangle Tech Net
May 17, 7:30-10 a.m. @Family Legacy Financial Solutions
This free bimonthly event offers a space for local tech professionals to build connections and find potential job opportunities.
HQ Raleigh Community Lunch
May 17, 12-1 p.m. @HQ Raleigh Warehouse
Join HQ Raleigh for good food and interesting topics.
4th Annual Tackle the Tar Race
May 18, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. @Rocky Mount Sports Complex
Rocky Mount Rotary Club is hosting a 5k obstacle course race, mud run and social for local families and community members. More information here.
Engineering Biology for Medicine
May 19-22 @Fitzpatrick Center
This event features engaging discussions about how to best harness human biology to form strategies for probing, diagnosing and combating human disease. More details here.
2019 RTA Business Briefing: Future of RDU Airport
May 20, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. @Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority
This program features both local and national airport transportation leaders. Hear from the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority on the economic future of RDU Airport and tour RDU’s airfield.
Bee Downtown Hive Tour
May 20, 11:45 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. @Frontier 600
RTP Frontier presents an exclusive tour of its beehive network, installed in partnership with Bee Downtown. A light lunch will be provided.
NCBiotech Jobs Network: Structured Networking
May 20, 12:30-2:30 p.m. @NC Biotech Center
This event, hosted by the North Carolina Biotechnology Center, helps attendees practice and grow their networking skills and expand their professional networks.
WRAL TechWire Live: Social Impact
May 21, 7:30-10 a.m. @WRAL – Studio A
At the next WRAL TechWire Live event, Leadership Triangle’s Jes Averhart will moderate a panel on social impact, featuring Maggie Kane of A Place at the Table, Geraud Staton of The Helius Foundation and Rob Shields of ReCity. Tickets are free. (More coverage here.)
Lunch & Learn: Duke MMCi Program + Bluedoor Connect
May 21, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. @The Frontier
Join Bluedoor Connect and Duke University’s Master of Management in Clinical Informatics (MMCi) program for a lunch and learn about talent development in the digital health industry.
Cary Chamber Small Business Excellence Awards
May 21, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. @Hilton Garden Inn Cary
Every year, Cary Chamber hosts an awards program to recognize a group of select businesses and organizations that are making a significant impact in the local community. Cary Chamber will honor each winner in a variety of categories.
NC Biotech Life Science Marketing Group
May 21, 12-1 p.m. @NC Biotech Center
This event will tackle the topic, “Why Life Science Companies Need Branding,” featuring a panel with marketing experts David Chapin, CEO of Forma Life Science Marketing, and Gary Towning, executive VP of digital strategy and services at Trone Brand Energy.
State of the Industry: 2019 Healthcare Trends
May 21, 5:30-8 p.m. @Marsh & McLennan Agency
The RTP chapter of Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association will host a discussion covering the latest hot topics in healthcare, from opioids and pharmacies, to medication access and the ACA, to AI in healthcare, and more.
ImBlackInTech Monthly Mixer Series
May 21, 6-7:30 p.m. @American Underground
ImBlackInTech’s monthly mixer event convenes the local entrepreneurial community in support of the growth of founders and professionals of color in the Triangle’s tech startup ecosystem. More coverage here.
Black Business Momentum: QuickBooks Demystified
May 21, 6-8 p.m. @Rolesville Town Hall
Join Raleigh Chamber of Commerce to learn about the value of QuickBooks and how you can use it as a resource for your business. Light dinner will be served.
TechGirlz Workshop: Game Design with Kodu
May 22, 5-8 p.m. @Fidelity Investments Operation Center
In this workshop, students will learn how to create an immersive video game with Kodu, a free software program from Microsoft.
4th Annual STEMmy Awards
May 22
STEM in the Park’s annual STEMmy Awards program honors individuals and organizations within several categories who are working to advance STEM outreach and education in the Triangle.
Lunch & Learn: 5G Impact to IoT
May 23, 12-1 p.m. @HQ Raleigh
In this lunch and learn, Russ Gyurek of Cisco will explain some of the key deployments of 5G, the standards involved and the IoT verticals that will be impacted the most from 5G adoption.
UNC Celebration of Inventorship
May 23, 5-6 p.m. @Top of the Hill Restaurant & Brewery
The UNC Office of Technology Commercialization will present its Inventor of the Year Award to honor the work of students who’ve made significant strides with their inventions and patents. All inventors who received patents in the past year will also be recognized at this event.
Transportation & Infrastructure Summit
May 23 @Sheraton Imperial Hotel & Convention Center, Durham
This event focuses on transportation and infrastructure trends, public policy and changes impacting the business community.
2019 RTRP State of the Region
May 23 @Duke Energy Center for Performing Arts
Research Triangle Regional Partnership’s annual State of the Region celebrates the accomplishments of the past year and looks forward to the future. The theme of this year’s program is North Carolina’s growing agtech industry.
Open Raleigh Brigade Community Night
May 28, 6-8:30 p.m. @HQ Raleigh
The Open Raleigh Brigade is an ongoing meetup for technologists, designers, developers, data scientists, map makers and project managers to come together to collaborate on civic projects. This event is part of a series of meetings held until June.
Midtown Techies: Meet Your Neighbors in Tech
May 28, 7-9 p.m. @Fox and Hound
Bring your ideas and opinions to the next Midtown Techies meetup. Events are held on the last Tuesday of every month.
Raleigh Chamber Women’s Leadership Conference
May 29, 7:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. @Raleigh Convention Center
Raleigh Chamber’s half-day conference features keynotes, breakout sessions and panel discussions with local executives. This is an opportunity for attendees to connect and network with other women professionals. More details here.
SBTDC Marketplace 2019
May 29, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. @Sheraton Imperial, RTP
Small business owners are invited to market their products and services to more than 50 government agencies and prime contractors at this event, hosted by the Small Business and Technology Development Center.
Tech Talent South Startup Crawl
May 29, 6-9 p.m., downtown Raleigh
Join Tech Talent South Raleigh’s bi-annual Startup Crawl, an opportunity to tour the city’s tech industry up close.
Demystifying 5G
May 30, 7:30-11:30 a.m. @Embassy Suites, Cary
NC TECH is hosting an educational session covering the 5G rollout and what it means for the tech sector.
Fostering Collaboration Between Startups & Corporations in the Triangle
May 30, 2-7 p.m. @Archie K Davis Conference Center
Startup Summit and Innovate Raleigh are teaming up to host a half-day conference aimed to spark partnerships and collaboration between local startups and corporations. The event features two keynotes, two panels and a happy hour.
Triangle Tech Net
May 31, 7:30-10 a.m. @Family Legacy Financial Solutions
This free bimonthly event offers a space for local tech professionals to build connections and find potential job opportunities.
