Growing concern over the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is prompting event organizers across North Carolina to reconsider hosting mass gatherings. Governor Roy Cooper issued a ban on all events of more than 100 people, in addition to closing restaurants and bars for dine-in customers. Out of precaution, organizers of smaller gatherings and meetups are also electing to cancel or postpone their events. Here’s the latest.
As WRAL TechWire works to stay on top of these changes and keep our readers informed, we’re running a live blog with events that have been canceled, postponed or rescheduled across North Carolina. We included links to the event websites so you can get the latest information from organizers directly.
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NOTE: We will be updating this post and removing events from our calendar as new cancellations are announced. If you have an update you’d like to share, please send me an email, tweet me or use this contact form.
LATEST UPDATES:
The Ladies that UX Durham meetup is going virtual, starting with a video chat on March 24 from 12-1 p.m. Members can tune in to network and discuss UX topics.
The Outsourcing in Clinical Trials Southeast 2020 conference, planned for March 31 to April 1 in Raleigh, has been postponed. Organizers wrote on the event website, “We would like to be clear that this is a postponement, and not a cancellation, and we look forward to hosting Outsourcing in Clinical Trials Southeast later in 2020. We will be announcing our new dates within the next four weeks.”
The North Carolina Military Business Center is canceling its Medical, Biomedical & Biodefense: Support to the Warfighter Symposium, originally scheduled for June 17-18 in Chapel Hill. In an email announcement, the NCMBC stated, “After having discussions with several government agencies, it is difficult at this time to guarantee a quality event with a defined rescheduled date. Given our goal of offering a valuable and informative event for all business, government and military attendees, we have decided it is best to cancel. We are considering a later date for the Symposium and are also considering a change in format (possibly several smaller Roundtables/Conferences to remain on cycle for a June 2021 Symposium).”
Due to the #NC declaration of a public health emergency, the @CDCgov Guidance for #COVID19, travel restrictions and social distancing measures in place, we have decided to cancel our Medical, Biomedical and Biodefense: Support to the Warfighter Symposium. https://t.co/8lLzjd3GoH pic.twitter.com/u7UwG1rhlM
— North Carolina Military Business Center (@NCMBC) March 19, 2020
Triangle Biotech Tuesday events are canceled until further notice. Read the statement on TBT’s website.
Skookum Charlotte’s Tech Talk: Intersection of Consumerism & Healthcare will now be held online on March 27. Check the meetup.com page for more.
The GDG Cloud RTP meetup, which meets weekly at the Wireless Research Center, is now holding events online. See the meetup.com page for more.
1 Million Cups Wilmington is extending its cancellation of Wednesday meetings through April 8.
1 Million Cups RTP, held every Wednesday at American Underground in Durham, is moving its meetings online via Zoom starting next Wednesday, March 25.
*Virtual* 1 Million Cups meeting -9:00 AM, Wed., Mar 25th, Virtual @ Zoom – https://t.co/7fRc6Ry8V0
— 1MillionCupsRTP (@1MillionCupsRTP) March 18, 2020
The organizers of Playthrough 2020, which was canceled earlier this month, announced a date for the 2021 iteration of the gaming convention: March 19-21, 2021. Read the full statement on the event website.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18 UPDATES:
+ Automotive Intelligence Summit moved to August
+ SBIR Road Tour postponed
+ LaunchBio goes virtual
+ More events canceled or postponed statewide
The Regional Transportation Alliance’s Innovations & Solutions Forum, planned for April 16, will now be held online. More details here.
North Carolina Chamber’s Women > A Force in Business conference, planned for April 21 at the Charlotte Convention Center, has been postponed. On the event webpage, organizers write, “Our team remains in close contact with state officials and we feel that this decision is in the best interest of the health and welfare of our community. We will continue to monitor the situation and plan to announce the new date for the event as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience and understanding.”
The SBIR Road Tour, scheduled for April 15 in RTP, has been postponed. Hosted by First Flight Venture Center and the U.S. Small Business Administration, the event allows local business owners to meet one-on-one with SBIR and STTR program managers. A reschedule date is to-be-determined.
The Automotive Intelligence Summit in Raleigh, originally scheduled for April 14-16, has been moved to August 17-19. Read the full statement from Cherokee Media Group President Bill Zadeits here.
Organizers of the North Carolina State Energy Conference (April 28-29 at NC State) are working to reschedule the event to a date later this year. Check the event website for updates.
UNC’s Gillings School of Global Public Health is unable to hold GillingsX 2020 in person this year. The event, originally scheduled for April 2 on UNC Chapel Hill’s campus, planned to feature TEDx-style presentations from students. On the event webpage, organizers stated, “This is disappointing for everyone, but Student Global Health Committee is working with our wonderful speakers to create an alternative plan. We will be posting an update on our revised format soon.”
Code for Durham’s Civic Hacking Session, planned for March 31, has been postponed. Code for Chapel Hill‘s March 24 and April 7 meetups will be held virtually.
LaunchBio is going fully virtual. Life science and biotech entrepreneurs from anywhere in the world can now tune in to LaunchBio’s Larger Than Life Science series. LaunchBio CEO Joan Siefert Rose wrote in an email newsletter on Wednesday morning, “When its been deemed safe to do so, we will return to our in-person Larger Than Life Science events. In the meantime we’ll make sure you have uninterrupted access to the best minds in life science entrepreneurship.” The first event in webinar format will be held next Thursday, March 26: Larger Than Life Science: Thinking Ahead.
Joan Siefert Rose: LaunchBio taking Larger Than Life Science events virtual
We’re going virtual on March 26th! Register for ‘Thinking Ahead’ the first of our #LargerThanLifeScience webinars –> https://t.co/MY5g6niqc9 Explore #regenerative medicine & #stemcell research with @wilsonsonsini @CRiverLabs @UCSDHealth & #TempoTherapeutics #biotech #startups pic.twitter.com/dcQnN4PzTS
— LaunchBio (@LaunchBio) March 18, 2020
Silicon Hollar, a startup support organization based in Boone, announced in an email blast that it will not be hosting a Startup Social this month. Additionally, the upcoming Talent Jam and Silicon Hollar Pitch Competition, both scheduled for April, have been postponed until further notice.
RTI Innovation Advisors is hosting two free webinars to help local organizations transition to remote teams. The sessions will cover virtual workshops, collaboration sessions and project management tools. Webinars will take place March 20 from 12-1 p.m. and March 26 from 1-2 p.m.
The Charlotte Regional Business Alliance is keeping its members and the broader business community up-to-date through its new Daily Digest, which includes information about webinars, news, resources and tips on how businesses can overcome new challenges. Follow along here.
As we get settled in our new norm, the CLT Alliance is introducing a Daily Digest. A quick & easy way for updates. Yesterday we saw even more changes & uncertainty. See how the region’s corporate community and governmental leaders are stepping up. https://t.co/FX6W0jMYOP pic.twitter.com/cltDH52RYD
— Charlotte Regional Business Alliance (@clt_alliance) March 18, 2020
UNC Charlotte put out a statement notifying that all events scheduled through Conference, Reservations and Event Services are canceled through the remainder of the semester. UNCC officials also encourage the community to follow the new federal guidance to avoid gatherings of 10+ people. Additionally, all university events of 50+ people are canceled until further notice. The statement added that commencement plans are to-be-determined.
Wake Technical Community College’s Small Business Center has suspended most of its planned programming until April 7. The Small Business Center Network is assembling a resource toolkit with pre-recorded webinars, articles and templates. The network is also hosting a webinar on March 25: Webinar: Preparing Your Business for the Threat of Coronavirus.
Durham code school Momentum has transferred all of its courses and career services to a virtual format.
Extremely thankful to be adjusting to a new way of life with the help of these smiling faces ❤️ As of Friday, our course and career services have gone virtual with methods that keep us live and face-to-face. What incredible faces to see every day ???? pic.twitter.com/QREaiCMhOG
— Momentum (@MomentumRDU) March 17, 2020
The Carolina Small Business Development Fund’s 8th Annual Small Business Week Awards Luncheon, planned for May 4 in Raleigh, has been postponed until further notice. It’s also transitioning all workshops and classes held throughout North Carolina to online-only participation for the next two weeks. CSBDF’s research staff published a comprehensive blog post about COVID-19’s impact on small business owners and entrepreneurs.
TUESDAY, MARCH 17 UPDATES:
+ UNC System updates plan for campus operations
+ Changes to NC Small Business Center network events
+ Meetup groups move to online programming
Wake Tech Small Business Center’s 2020 Financial Fortitude Summit, originally set for March 28, has been postponed. A reschedule date is to-be-determined.
RIoT is hosting a coronavirus webinar on Friday, March 20: How Technology & Data Combat Pandemics. More coverage here. Note: All RIoT Lunch & Learns held in Raleigh, Durham, Charlotte and Atlanta have been postponed and will be rescheduled for a later date.
Internet of Things group RIoT plans webinar to discuss using tech, data in virus fight
The UNC System issued an updated guidance for events across all campuses, according to its COVID-19 response plan. “Each institution should cancel or postpone gatherings that assemble 50 or more individuals in a single room or space, or find alternative means of meeting, such as by video or telephone conference,” the statement says. “Any events or gatherings that meet or exceed the 50-person threshold will require the approval of the chancellor.”
UNC System Updates Guidance to Constituent Institutions | UNC System Office https://t.co/PTWkr8AtBt
— UNC System (@UNC_System) March 17, 2020
In an email newsletter on Tuesday afternoon, Forsyth Technical Community College’s Small Business Center announced that all educational events have been canceled from March 16 to March 27. Local businesses can book meetings with mentors by phone here.
In an email newsletter, All Things Open announced that it’s postponing its March 24 meetup in Durham and will be extending the submission deadline for All Things Open 2020 speakers. Technologists and community members have until April 14 to submit talks for the conference, slated for October 18-20 in Raleigh.
Winston-Salem’s New Ventures Accelerator has moved today’s 12 p.m. webinar to tomorrow, March 18. Entrepreneurs can tune in to learn more about the program and how to apply. Applications are due March 31.
On Tuesday, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper issued an executive order for restaurants and bars across the state to close to dine-in customers. Takeout and delivery will be allowed to continue. The order will take effect at 5 p.m. today.
— Governor Roy Cooper (@NC_Governor) March 17, 2020
Research Triangle Park‘s headquarters will be closed to the public, effective March 13 to March 22. RTP’s website also states, “Frontier RTP signature programs, as well as coworking, event and meeting spaces are closed through May 8, 2020. These may reopen sooner based on CDC recommendations.” As such, Frontier RTP’s upcoming On the Menu: The 5 Rules of Storytelling workshop, scheduled for April 2, has been postponed.
????(UPDATE 3/16/20): All events and programs through May 8, 2020 will be canceled. This includes food truck rodeos, #RTP180 and Out of Office. pic.twitter.com/OPAY2OipOw
— Frontier RTP (@FrontierRTP) March 16, 2020
The Charlotte Regional Business Alliance is introducing a new daily digest to keep the community updated on coronavirus resources. The organization has also created a COVID-19 resource guide.
The 2020 T-Rex Summit, planned for April 21-22 at the Carolina Theatre, has been postponed. Organizers wrote in an email announcement Tuesday morning, “We’ve been working with the Carolina Theatre to find a new date in the early Fall — seems likely that we’ll land in early September. We’ll let you know when we confirm the new date.”
The North Carolina Military Business Center is fully operational, while staff are working remotely across the organization’s statewide locations. Read the update on the NCMBC website.
The NC Military Business Center is currently fully operational, with COVID-19 mitigation processes in place. For more information, visit: https://t.co/8cnFgSaD4w pic.twitter.com/rsl22JVR82
— North Carolina Military Business Center (@NCMBC) March 16, 2020
Innovate Charlotte, which runs a Venture Mentoring Service for local entrepreneurs, has transitioned to a fully virtual format starting on March 16, the program announced in an email newsletter on Tuesday morning.
1 Million Cups RTP has canceled its event for tomorrow, March 18, at American Underground. “For the safety of our community, prudence dictates the avoidance of non-essential public gatherings at this time,” organizers wrote in an email newsletter. “We are reevaluating in the near how to proceed utilizing other means of coming together, such as virtual meetings. Let’s hope cautious actions now can mitigate the spread of this and we can all get back to our normal lives, sooner rather than later.”
*CANCELLED* 1 Million Cups, Tomorrow., Mar 18th at 9:00am at American Underground in Durham – https://t.co/qgI8EVnGkp
— 1MillionCupsRTP (@1MillionCupsRTP) March 17, 2020
Wake Forest University’s Center for Entrepreneurship canceled its upcoming Entrepalooza event, originally scheduled for April 16-17. A spokesperson for the center wrote to TechWire in an email, “In light of the heightened awareness surrounding the Coronavirus and [Wake Forest] University’s recent decision on our courses and events, we have made the hard decision to cancel Entrepalooza. As much as we would like to move forward with this marquee event, it is in the best interest of everyone that we do not… Looking forward to doing it again in 2021!”
MONDAY, MARCH 16 UPDATES:
+ Startup support orgs operating virtually
+ More university events postponed
+ Offices closed to public
This month’s PitchBreakfast Asheville has been postponed, according to the Eventbrite page. The event was originally scheduled for March 18 at Archetype Brewing.
Asheville’s Mountain BizWorks sent an email blast announcing that it is now operating virtually. All loan consultations, coaching sessions, classes, workshops and meetings are being conducted remotely. “As the Coronavirus (COVID-19) begins to have a greater impact on us all, we want you to know that we are here to support you,” reads the newsletter. “We are committed to ensuring you have the most up-to-date resources for your business and will be increasing the frequency of this email newsletter to deliver them to you.” Mountain BizWorks has small business resources here and here.
Laura Primavera, manager of UNC Wilmington’s Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (CIE), confirmed to TechWire’s Renee Wright that all March events have been postponed.
Davidson College’s Hurt Hub for Innovation & Entrepreneurship sent an email newsletter notifying the community that it will be limiting the number of visitors coming in and out of the space daily. This new rule excludes members of the Flywheel Coworking space inside The Hurt Hub. “While we always want to be an inviting, collaborative space where all feel welcome, these are unprecedented conditions, and we want to do our part to keep everyone we serve healthy,” the email added. While all March and April events will be canceled or postponed, some in-person classes are moving to a virtual format. The Hurt Hub will also offer virtual office hours with experts.
COVID-19 Update: Impacts to The Hurt Hub community -Check your inboxes for The Hubbub. Or read here and subscribe today!- https://t.co/EQ5JrLqmwP pic.twitter.com/IPexTIy5IJ
— The Hurt Hub@Davidson (@HurtHubDavidson) March 16, 2020
The North Carolina Biotechnology Center is postponing its Ag Tech Professional Forum (originally planned for April 15) and Life Science Economic Development Summit (April 21).
1 Million Cups Lake Norman meetings are canceled until further notice, according to the group’s website.
Asheville’s The Collider announced in an email blast that it will be postponing all public events through the end of March. The Collider will continue to operate during normal business hours for the foreseeable future, the email added.
In an email newsletter on Monday afternoon, LaunchLKN, an organization of entrepreneurs and investors in the Lake Norman region, announced that it’s postponing all in-person events until further notice. LaunchLKN is based in Davidson College’s Hurt Hub for Innovation & Entrepreneurship. Postponed events include: March Investor Education Classes, March 18 Mentor Meeting, March 25 Social, March 30 Book Club Meeting, April 7 Nisbet Lecture (postponed until fall), April 29 Davidson Venture Fund (postponed until fall).
Charlotte coworking space Packard Place is now fully virtual.
Events Announcement. As of Thursday March 12th, Packard Place has moved all community events to be virtual vs in person. We think it is important to continue to meet as a community and having the events we are used to having and have grown to love – just virtually.
— Packard Place (@PackardPlace_) March 14, 2020
In an email newsletter, Cary Chamber of Commerce President Howard S. Johnson said that the chamber will be postponing events throughout March and is closely monitoring the situation for April events. “At this time, we remain open and are here to support our community in any way that we can,” Johnson adds. “We encourage each of you to take precaution but continue to support local business as you are able.” Cary Chamber has put together a COVID-19 resource page for local businesses.
NC IDEA is canceling its NC IDEA LABS Information Session and Q&A, originally planned for March 31 in Durham. However, a webinar-based info session about NC IDEA LABS will proceed as planned on March 26 from 2-3 p.m.
WEEKEND UPDATES (March 14-15):
+ University-affiliated startup events canceled
+ Governor Cooper announces event ban
+ Some events switching to virtual format
NC State University’s Jenkins MBA Women’s Club is moving its Innovative Women’s Conference online on March 20 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. See the Eventbrite page for more information about the virtual program.
1 Million Cups Asheville announced on Facebook that it is canceling/rescheduling all weekly events through the end of March. Read the full statement here.
NC State University’s DiamondHacks 2020 has been canceled, according to the event website. The hackathon was originally planned for March 28-29 at Engineering Building 2.
Triangle Code for America is postponing its Civic Data Hackathon, originally planned for March 21 at UNC Chapel Hill. Visit the meetup page for more.
On Saturday, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper issued an executive order that prohibits “mass gatherings that bring together more than 100 people in a single room or space, such as an auditorium, stadium, arena, large conference room, meeting hall, theater, or other confined indoor or outdoor space, including parades, fairs and festivals.” The announcement also said that all K-12 schools across the state will close on Monday.
Today, I’m issuing an Executive Order to stop mass gatherings of more than 100 people across the state. We issued this as guidance on Thursday, however, despite this guidance, several venues continued their events, so today’s order makes it mandatory.
— Governor Roy Cooper (@NC_Governor) March 14, 2020
UNC’s Carolina Health Informatics Program is rescheduling its Machine-Learning & Informatics Research in Aging (MIRA) Symposium to September 18 at the Hamner Conference Center. The event was originally planned for April.
RESCHEDULED: #MIRA20 Symposium now on September 18, 2020!
Due to the out brake of COVID-19, CHIP has made the decision to reschedule the MIRA symposium to Sept. 18, 2020. Please visit the event website: https://t.co/For05GP6QP to learn more. pic.twitter.com/dI6Z61VwqU— CHIP UNC (@CHIP_UNC) March 13, 2020
Greensboro Chamber of Commerce is suspending public use of its offices and postponing all upcoming events until April 3. Visit the chamber’s website for the latest information.
The health and wellness of our members and all citizens of Greensboro and the Triad is of utmost importance. Based on the current recommendations by leading health organizations, all Chamber events and programs are postponed through April 3. #TheBoro #soGSO
— Greensboro Chamber (@gsochamber) March 13, 2020
This month’s Packard Place Public House on March 18 will be held virtually. More details on the meetup page.
@PackardPlace_ #PublicHouse has gone virtual! Join us online on Wed, 18 th 6pm. We have a panel of NC entrepreneurial leaders discussing how we run our business and move forward during this strange time. @ncidea @CEDNC @innoclt @PitchBreakfasthttps://t.co/bj50gudGlD
— Packard Place (@PackardPlace_) March 14, 2020
Queens University of Charlotte’s 2020 Queens Pitch Competition, planned for March 19, is being rescheduled to a later date. More here.
General Assembly, an international coding school that recently opened a location in Raleigh, is moving all of its workshops and courses online. Read the full statement here.
Your safety matters. In response to growing concerns around COVID-19, we’re offering all of our programming remotely. We’ve always been committed to providing easy access to education, so we’re equipped to handle these challenges the right way. Learn more: https://t.co/PZ1yrb1Cry pic.twitter.com/NKGaKFBwut
— General Assembly (@GA) March 13, 2020
The Research Triangle Cleantech Cluster has canceled its Cleantech Innovators Networking event, scheduled for March 31 in Cary. Registration will be refunded.
The IEEE Standards Association has postponed its Use Cases and Technical Considerations for InBody Wireless Devices Workshop, planned for March 16-17 in Raleigh. A reschedule date hasn’t been set yet. Read the full statement on the event website.
FREEDM Systems Center’s 2020 Research Symposium, scheduled for March 31 at NC State, has been postponed.
UNC’s Innovate Carolina program has canceled its upcoming events: Innovate Carolina Network Forum (March 18), What’s the Story on Carolina I&E Students? (March 26) and 2020 UNC Innovation Showcase (April 9).
The Small Business and Technology Development Center canceled its upcoming Opportunities 2020 event, scheduled for March 16. On the event website, organizers wrote, “Over the last few days we’ve learned that a number of exhibitors and speakers are unable to participate in Opportunities 2020 due to travel restrictions in response to the coronavirus. Given our goal of offering a valuable event for exhibitors and attendees alike, we have decided to cancel this year’s Opportunities Conference.” The next Opportunities conference will take place in Asheville in 2022.
Women In Tech Allies has postponed its Data Science Hype vs. Reality Panel Discussion to June 3 at Validic. The event was originally scheduled for March 19.
MEETUP POSTPONED UNTIL JUNE 3RD! We want to do our part to help slow the spread of the coronavirus. We have postponed the Data Science Hype vs. Reality – Panel Discussion until June 3rd. Please RSVP for the new date https://t.co/6wLSVUyYFg In the meantime, stay safe! pic.twitter.com/JN92ASKZAF
— Women In Tech Allies (@WomenTechAllies) March 12, 2020
AMA Triangle’s March 19 event, 10 Marketing Lessons from the Pendo Journey, has been postponed. Reschedule date to be determined.
Tech Talent South Charlotte’s Speed Dating With Recruiters event scheduled for April 2 has been postponed, according to the event webpage.
NC TECH has postponed its Triangle Tech Job Fair in Raleigh to June 11, originally scheduled for April 3
The Triangle #NCTECHJobFair scheduled for April has been postponed until Thursday, June 11 as we deal with the coronavirus and it’s possible effect on our staff, employers and job seekers. Make plans to participate as an employer or job seeker. https://t.co/26wOlsItZs pic.twitter.com/k5NmeePEfL
— NC TECH Association (@NCTA) March 12, 2020
HQ Raleigh’s March 20 Community Lunch: Crowdfunding event will be held virtually.
On its website, TechGirlz announced that it’s postponing all workshop events through the month of March. The TechGirlz RTP workshop on Python Programming was scheduled for March 26.
In an abundance of caution, we have postponed the remaining TechShopz through the end of March. Click here for more details https://t.co/TT5dhAKIHF pic.twitter.com/oLxqlLAW8S
— TechGirlz (@TechGirlzorg) March 12, 2020
UNC’s Frank Hawkins Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise postponed these upcoming events: Conscientious Capitalism: Labor Trafficking & Supply Chains (March 27), Quantum Fintech Symposium (April 15), Creating An Effective Family Business Board Forum (April 16) and UNC Technology and Business Strategy Forum (April 16).
North Carolina Chamber’s 78th Annual Meeting has been postponed to an undetermined date, according to the event webpage.
FRIDAY, MARCH 13 UPDATES:
+ East Coast Game Conference canceled
+ High Point Market tradeshow postponed
+ Community colleges transitioning to online classes
+ More events postponed state-wide
Raleigh Chamber of Commerce is moving its events online, operated through livestream or webinar. This includes a special Coronavirus: Impact on Enterprise Risk Management webinar. Other upcoming events include: Coffee with Maggie Kane (March 17), Young Professionals Network Social (March 19) and Leadership Raleigh 41 & 42 Information Session (March 24). The chamber has also put together a COVID-19 resource guide for local businesses.
The Raleigh Hardware Cup is continuing in livestream format, held April 1 from 6-8 p.m. The pitch competition brings together six startups to compete for a $50,000 grand prize. Read the statement on Eventbrite.
The Charlotte Regional Business Alliance announced it plans to digitize, postpone or cancel its events through the end of April. The organization wrote in an email newsletter, “Several ways we plan to continue programming and services in the coming weeks are: Live streaming of events, webinars, live chats, podcasts, creating LinkedIn groups for specific events and employing social media to provide critical updates or investor insights.” The alliance also has a COVID-19 resource portal on its website.
The Wake Forest Innovation Quarter announced that it’s canceling all upcoming events and encouraging member companies to communicate with their audience about operating status and procedures. Read the full statement here.
In this complex and challenging situation, community is more important than ever.
Visit our website for more information on how we’re responding to COVID-19: https://t.co/qq7rFgSaoD pic.twitter.com/PznPRr1MsA
— Innovation Quarter (@innovationqrtr) March 13, 2020
SEED20, a showcase where 20 nonprofit entrepreneurs pitch their ideas, announced in an email blast Friday evening that it’s continuing its March 31 event in virtual format (originally planned for the Knight Theater at Levine Center for the Arts in Charlotte). A celebratory reception will be held later this year. Organizers say the livestream will be complete with hosts, judges, recognition of sponsors, introductions of the 20 participants and pitches by the 10 finalists. Audience votes will be submitted virtually. “Only individuals who are essential to running the show and limited sponsor representatives will be in the auditorium to maintain social distancing and a supportive environment,” the statement added.
Urgent update about #SEED20 OnStage: We recognize the need to prioritize public health. After weighing options, we will make our March 31st event a livestream and host a celebration later this year. Full update, including notes for existing ticket holders: https://t.co/dQgLDWWWAz
— SEED20 Charlotte (@Seed20CLT) March 13, 2020
1 Million Cups Wilmington is canceling all weekly events until April. Follow the organization’s website for updates.
We regret to inform you that we will be cancelling 1 Million Cups Wilmington for March 18th and the 25th. We are currently still planning on having our meetup on April 1st, but that is of course subject to change. Stay safe and wash those hands! #1mcILM #1millioncups
— 1MC Wilmington NC (@1mcWilmington) March 13, 2020
In an email newsletter sent Friday afternoon, Wilmington’s Cape Fear Women In Tech meetup group said it will reschedule its events to May at the earliest. This includes CFWIT’s Get It Together Workshop, originally scheduled for March 24 from 5:30-7 p.m. at tekMountain.
Upcoming events sponsored by the UNCW Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) will continue as planned. Laura Primavera, manager of CIE, wrote to TechWire’s Renee Wright in an email, “Since our events are less than 100, we are still running CIE hosted events, until further notice.” These events include AI Bridge / Port City Analytics Joint Meetup (March 26, 5:30-7 p.m.) and Ocean Advocacy Workshop (March 27-28).
In a newsletter blast on Friday afternoon, Venture Asheville‘s Jeff Kaplan wrote that the organization “is going fully remote.” Though no public events were planned until mid-May, Venture Asheville’s internal meetings, mentor group meetings, founder’s luncheons and team meetings are canceled or moving to cloud-based platforms. Kaplan also encouraged Asheville’s startup ecosystem to adapt to a remote-based work environment, plan Facebook Live events and watch parties.
Triad-based synerG has postponed its 2020 Lead Your City summit, originally planned for March 19 at UNC Greensboro. Morgan Radford, Greensboro native and network correspondent for NBC News, was scheduled to keynote the event. On the Lead Your City webpage, organizers said they’ll be rescheduling the event for late summer 2020 at UNCG.
NC State’s Institute for Emerging Issues is moving its 2020 Service Year Summit online. The webinar is scheduled for April 15 from 9-10:30 a.m.
On Friday afternoon, Asheville Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Kit Cramer said in an email newsletter that all face-to-face meetings and events will be suspended through April 7. Staff will be telecommuting starting Monday. Cramer added, “We are exploring options for virtual events to keep you informed and connected even as social distancing is in place.” Asheville Chamber has also assembled a COVID-19 resource guide for local businesses.
American Tire Distributors announced it’ll be postponing its second annual data hackathon, Reinvent the Wheel 2.0. The event, focused on revolutionizing the automotive industry, was scheduled for March 20-21 at Norfolk Hall in Charlotte. Organizers said on the event website that they’re working to explore alternative options for a future hackathon.
Friday afternoon, Future Fund Greensboro announced in an email newsletter that it still plans to host its Future Fund 10 LIVE event on April 21 at Carolina Theatre Greensboro. At Future Fund 10 LIVE, 10 nonprofits will pitch innovative program ideas, competing for grants and cash prizes. As of today, the organization says no participants, partners or attendees have canceled. The email added, “To reiterate, the health and safety of our participants, partners, staff, and guests is our highest priority and we are carefully monitoring this evolving situation. We will let you know if anything changes.”
Following the UNC System’s announcement that all campuses will be moving to online instruction, community colleges across North Carolina are taking the same action. The state’s largest community colleges are extending spring break before moving classes online—including Wake Technical Community College, Central Piedmont Community College, Fayetteville Technical Community College, Cape Fear Community College and others.
Today’s 2020 Downtown Economic Series Luncheon, hosted by Wilmington Downtown, Inc. (WDI), has been postponed. WDI said on Facebook, “We will follow up with updates as soon as they become available.”
In an email newsletter on Friday afternoon, Durham coworking space Provident1898 announced that public access to the building will be suspended for non-members starting on Monday, March 16. Additionally, all events with 10 or more people will be canceled until further notice.
The 12th annual East Coast Game Conference, originally planned for April 7-9 at the Raleigh Convention Center, was canceled on Friday morning. “We are very disappointed that we are unable to hold this conference, but we know it’s the right decision based on the information we have from Governor Roy Cooper’s office,” a notice on the event website says. “Our attendees’ health, and that of their families and associates, is more important than any event.”
High Point Market is postponing its spring event to early June—the first cancellation since World War II. The semiannual furniture trade show is the largest of its kind in the world, and it’s the single-largest economic event in North Carolina with around 75,000 attendees. The spring show was originally scheduled for April 25-29. In a statement, High Point Market Authority Board Chairman Dudley Moore, Jr. said, “The decision was difficult, as any change in date could have tremendous economic repercussions on our industry and community, as well as the countless small businesses whose livelihoods rely on High Point Market, but underscores our shared concern and well-being of the citizens in our community and our industry partners.”
Spring Market 2020 has been postponed until early June. More details: https://t.co/x96UhLY0TQ #HPMKT pic.twitter.com/ri7YCxUIT5
— High Point Market (@HPMarketNews) March 12, 2020
SwitchPoint 2020, originally scheduled for April, has been postponed to September 17-18. The annual SwitchPoint conference brings together hundreds of nonprofit and development professionals, corporate execs, educators and students, policy-makers and entrepreneurs for a two-day program focused on social impact. In a statement, the organizers said, “Though we considered a virtual conference, the nature of SwitchPoint is human connection and interaction—and we can’t do the experience justice by trying to translate it online.”
THURSDAY, MARCH 12 UPDATES:
+ DIGSOUTH postponed
+ Governor Cooper issues event recommendations;
+ Events go virtual
+ More event cancellations
The biggest event to be rescheduled today is the DIG SOUTH Tech Summit, originally planned for April 22-24 at the Charleston Gaillard Center in Charleston, South Carolina. The annual program is one of the Southeast region’s largest tech conferences, bringing in thousands of attendees every year. In an email blast on Thursday afternoon, DIG SOUTH announced that the 2020 summit is being rescheduled for July 22-24 at the same venue. CEO Stanfield Gray wrote, “We are making every effort possible to ensure a smooth transition to the new date, increasing our year-round, digital membership benefits for DIG NATION for those unable to travel, and helping to sustain a vibrant and successful business community across the South.” Full statement here.
In a press conference on Thursday afternoon, NC Governor Cooper recommended canceling or rescheduling gatherings of 100+ attendees. This guidance begins on Friday, March 13, so more event changes are expected in the coming days.
STEM RTP’S Science and Math Fest will be held virtually on April 3, organizers announced on Twitter. The event is a chance for students to engage with professionals in science and math careers. More details here.
STEM RTP’S Science and Math Fest is going virtual! Stay tuned here to learn more about how you can get in on the fun on April 3rd!#RTPSTEMFest #STEMeducation # pic.twitter.com/8nJ75b1gob
— STEM RTP (@STEM_RTP) March 12, 2020
Research Triangle Park is canceling its March RTP180 event, originally scheduled for March 19 at The Frontier. The event had planned to take a look at the eSports industry and its impacts on the Triangle region. On Eventbrite, RTP organizers wrote, “Like many of you, we have been monitoring the COVID-19 virus carefully. Based on the CDC and North Carolina Department of Health’s recommendations, we have decided to cancel this event. We hope to revisit this topic in our 2021 lineup!”
Asheville-based Mountain BizWorks, a nonprofit that provides loans and services to local businesses, will be moving all classes and course sessions online starting Monday, March 16. Some of Mountain BizWork’s other upcoming events have been postponed as well. Read the latest on the organization’s website.
News publication WilmingtonBiz is postponing its 2020 WilmingtonBiz Conference & Expo, originally scheduled for March 18 at the Wilmington Convention Center. The event will now be held on September 30.
In a community email newsletter on Thursday afternoon, Winston-Salem makerspace MIXXER announced that it will be closing its doors to walk-ins/non-members “as of March 13 until the end of the month or until we feel the threat is diminished.” MIXXER is also rescheduling or canceling regular events and meetings, including its March ConnExxpo. The announcement added, “We are currently working with Womble Bond Dickinson and Venture Cafe to bring you the scheduled programming that we are involved in this month via web conferencing, please stay tuned.”
NCBiotech announced that the Precision Medicine Leaders’ Summit, originally planned for April 30, will be rescheduled to October 20.
The Network for Entrepreneurs in Wilmington is postponing its March 24 meeting at Ironclad Brewery. NEW Founder Jim Roberts said in an email to TechWire that he hasn’t set a reschedule date yet.
CompTIA AITP’s RTP chapter will be switching to a webinar format for tonight’s meeting, Internet of Things Primer: Digital Transformation 101, scheduled for 6:30-7:45 p.m. More details here.
CORRECTION: Tonight is ON at new time (6:30pm) & format! Due to flexibility of speaker and creative use of Technology, Please join us online for VIRTUAL meeting! See updated details at https://t.co/qBsmxyzuEs
Thanks to @davidmantica & @rtpAITP for quick response! pic.twitter.com/EYNqLdQicL— Social Media Director (@rtpaitp_social) March 12, 2020
Starting today, March 12, Venture Cafe Winston-Salem is going virtual, with all Thursday Gathering events held online via Zoom. Check Venture Cafe’s FAQ page for more.
In an email newsletter, DHIT (Digital Health Institute for Transformation) announced that all DHIT Happy Hours are suspended until further notice. This includes its Charlotte Happy Hour, scheduled for March 25, and its Chapel Hill Happy Hour, scheduled for March 18.
Campus-wide, Duke University is postponing or canceling all in-person events with an audience of 50 or more people until April 20. Given this mandate, Duke University’s Innovation & Entrepreneurship program announced that it will be postponing its larger events, most notably the UNC Innovation and Entrepreneurship Research Conference and Duke-UNICEF Social Innovation Symposium—both originally scheduled for early-April. Visit I&E’s events calendar for more information.
Triangle Women in STEM announced that it’s March 24 event, Triangle Women Flourish-ing, will be canceled. NCBiotech Science and Technology Development Program Manager Hannah Cole wrote in an email blast, “We hope to reschedule this event at a later date and will notify our mailing list if we are able to do so.”
The Launch Place announced on Thursday morning that it will be postponing its 7th annual IdeaFest pitch competition, scheduled for April 2, to a later date. In a statement, The Launch Place wrote, “The health and safety of our attendees, presenters, judges, and organizers are our top priorities; and we think that this is the safest decision for everyone. We will notify everybody once we have a new date selected.”
Based on the latest developments regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19), today The Launch Place and its Seed Fund Advisory Board have decided to postpone the IdeaFest business pitch competition scheduled for April 2, 2020 to a later date. Learn More – https://t.co/ZgYhk42VlV pic.twitter.com/mAyGH5wxZe
— The Launch Place (@TheLaunchPlace) March 12, 2020
The Raleigh chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners has canceled all events scheduled for March. NAWBO Greater Raleigh President Olalah Njenga made the announcement in an email newsletter on Thursday morning, stating, “Until new information about the mitigation and containment efforts of the COVID-19 virus are provided by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, we will continue to provide information about suspended chapter events and activities to you through e-blasts and and social media postings.”
In an email newsletter on Thursday morning, the Triangle Global Health Consortium announced it’ll be postponing two upcoming events: Women in Global Health Leadership Forum and Global Health Award Celebration. The organization says new dates will be announced when possible.
AS OF MARCH 11:
After NC State University announced plans to move to virtual instruction on Wednesday, the NC Space Grant announced it would be canceling its 2020 NC Space Symposium, originally scheduled for April 2-3 in Raleigh. Susan White, director of the NC Space Grant team, wrote in a statement, “We are not able to reschedule at this time because of the symposium’s heavy focus on student research. However, we are excited to host our next symposium in 2021.”
The NC Water Resources Research Institute announced it’s postponing its 2020 Annual WRRI Conference, March 18-19 in Raleigh. In a statement, NC WRRI Executive Director Susan White wrote, “While we have not yet identified a new date, we plan to host this conference at a time to be determined.”
On Wednesday afternoon, the UNC System announced that it will be transitioning to remote instruction across all campuses, beginning March 23. More coverage from WRAL here.
SEED20, a showcase where 20 nonprofit entrepreneurs pitch their ideas, announced in a newsletter on Wednesday that it’s still planning to hold the event, scheduled for March 31 at the Knight Theater at Levine Center for the Arts in Charlotte. “As of today, none of our participants, partners, or attendees have canceled,” the statement added. “We have proactively established health and safety rules for our event.”
PlaythroughGC 2020, one of the largest gaming conventions in North Carolina, has been canceled. The event was originally planned for March 21-22 at the Raleigh Convention Center. Playthrough usually brings in thousands of attendees each year, mostly local. The 2021 program is scheduled for March 19-21, 2021—more here.
Playthrough 2020 to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. pic.twitter.com/tQFm4lD121
— Playthrough (@PlaythroughGC) March 12, 2020
RIoT announced it’ll be postponing its RIoT Developer Day event, originally planned for March 27 at Wake Technical Community College’s RTP campus.
The Experience STEM-ILM showcase, set for March 12, was canceled on Wednesday. Read our coverage here.
The Raleigh chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners canceled their Get to Know NAWBO event, originally scheduled for March 12.
Analytics>Forward, originally planned for March 14 at SAS Hall, was canceled this week. The event will be rescheduled to a date later this year. Statement here.
NC TECH’s Diversity + Inclusion Summit, originally scheduled for March 13 at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel in Durham, has been postponed to June 23. Read our coverage here.
NC TECH’s Diversity + Inclusion Summit postponed due to coronavirus
Startup accelerator Launch Chapel Hill tweeted on Wednesday that it will postpone the Cohort 13 Demo Day, originally planned for March 19. The event will be rescheduled to a later date.
Our Demo Day for Cohort 13 and Annual Report Release event scheduled for March 19th, 2020 has been postponed due to coronavirus (COVID-19) concerns. A new date for event will be posted as soon as possible. The safety and well-being of our attendees is our top priority.
— Launch Chapel Hill (@launchCH) March 11, 2020
Electrification 2020, originally planned for April 6-9 at the Charlotte Convention Center, will be rescheduled for early-2021. Read the full statement here.
The UNC Technology and Business Strategy Forum, scheduled for April 16 in Chapel Hill, was canceled on Wednesday. Read our coverage here.
UPDATE: UNC postpones debate-style forum addressing emerging tech’s impact on business operations
1 Million Cups RTP events, held every Wednesday, will be canceled for the next two weeks. See the group’s website for more info.
*CANCELLED* 1 Million Cups, Tomorrow., Mar 11th at 9:00am at American Underground in Durham – https://t.co/bx0Yn6om1L
— 1MillionCupsRTP (@1MillionCupsRTP) March 10, 2020
Bunker Labs canceled its Atlantic Region Muster Across America Tour in Cary last week. The conference was originally scheduled for March 12. Read our coverage here.
Bunker Labs’ Atlantic Muster Tour is postponed due to coronavirus outbreak
We are extremely disappointed to inform you that the Atlantic Region Muster scheduled for Thursday, March 12th, has been postponed due to concerns over the Coronavirus. The safety of attendees at our events is uppermost in the minds of Bunker L… @MetLife, #MusterUSA #BunkerLabs pic.twitter.com/JPIiXejqar
— Bunker Labs (@TheBunkerLabs) March 9, 2020
The Council for Entrepreneurial Development’s Venture Connect conference, scheduled for March 17-19 at the Raleigh Convention Center, was canceled last week. Read our coverage here.
After much consideration and to keep our guests safe, we have decided to postpone #VentureConnect – Please stay tuned for updates. You will find the official press release here: https://t.co/TESaC7D5Ht pic.twitter.com/C9c2I9epPt
— CED (@CEDNC) March 5, 2020
VIRTUAL EVENTS / EVENTS CONTINUING AS PLANNED (AS OF 3/19):
- The Ladies that UX Durham meetup is going virtual, starting with a video chat on March 24 from 12-1 p.m. Members can tune in to network and discuss UX topics.
- 1 Million Cups RTP, held every Wednesday at American Underground in Durham, is moving its meetings online via Zoom starting next Wednesday, March 25.
- Skookum Charlotte’s Tech Talk: Intersection of Consumerism & Healthcare will now be held online on March 27. Check the meetup.com page for more.
- The GDG Cloud RTP meetup, which meets weekly at the Wireless Research Center, is now holding events online. See the meetup.com page for more.
- LaunchBio is going fully virtual. More TechWire coverage here.
- The Regional Transportation Alliance’s Innovations & Solutions Forum, planned for April 16, will now be held online. More details here.
- Code for Chapel Hill‘s April 7 meetup will be held virtually.
- Charlotte coworking space Packard Place is now fully virtual.
- At The Hurt Hub@Davidson College, some in-person classes are moving to a virtual format. The Hurt Hub will also offer virtual office hours with experts. See the events calendar for more.
- Asheville’s Mountain BizWorks is now operating virtually.
- NC State University’s Jenkins MBA Women’s Club is hosting its Innovative Women’s Conference online on March 20 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. See the Eventbrite page for more information.
- General Assembly, an international coding school that recently opened a location in Raleigh, is moving all of its workshops and courses online. Read the full statement here.
- This month’s Packard Place Public House on March 18 will be held virtually. More details on the meetup page.
- HQ Raleigh’s March 20 Community Lunch: Crowdfunding event will be held virtually.
- Raleigh Chamber of Commerce is moving its events online, operated through livestream or webinar. This includes a special Coronavirus: Impact on Enterprise Risk Management webinar. Other upcoming events include: Coffee with Maggie Kane (March 17), Young Professionals Network Social (March 19) and Leadership Raleigh 41 & 42 Information Session (March 24).
- SEED20, a showcase where 20 nonprofit entrepreneurs pitch their ideas, announced that it’s continuing its March 31 event in virtual format (originally planned for the Knight Theater at Levine Center for the Arts in Charlotte).
- The Raleigh Hardware Cup is continuing in livestream format, held April 1 from 6-8 p.m. The pitch competition brings together six startups to compete for a $50,000 grand prize. Read the statement on Eventbrite.
- Upcoming events sponsored by the UNCW Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) will continue as planned as of Friday, March 13. These events include: AI Bridge / Port City Analytics Joint Meetup (March 26, 5:30-7 p.m.) and Ocean Advocacy Workshop (March 27-28).
- NC State’s Institute for Emerging Issues is moving its 2020 Service Year Summit online. The webinar is scheduled for April 15 from 9-10:30 a.m.
- Future Fund Greensboro still plans to host its Future Fund 10 LIVE event on April 21 at Carolina Theatre Greensboro. At Future Fund 10 LIVE, 10 nonprofits will pitch innovative program ideas, competing for grants and cash prizes.
- STEM RTP’S Science and Math Fest will be held virtually on April 3. The event is a chance for students to engage with professionals in science and math careers. More details here.
- The NC Aquaculture Development Conference in New Bern will run as planned on March 12-14. Visit the event page here.
- CompTIA AITP’s RTP chapter will be switching to a webinar format for its March 12 meeting, Internet of Things Primer: Digital Transformation 101.
- Starting March 12, Venture Cafe Winston-Salem is going virtual, with all Thursday Gathering events held online via Zoom.