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Friday Fix: Fixxr, Looks AI, and RoboLeanX
Posted Friday on The GrepBeat Podcast tl;dr This podcast episode highlights three exciting startups from North Carolina's tech scene: Fixr, which helps car owners get trustworthy repair diagnoses and cost estimates; Looks AI, which lets shoppers earn money by sharing honest fashion reviews with photos; and RoboLeanX, which builds smart robots that can be added to existing factory equipment to automate manufacturing. The host also reminds listeners that applications for the 2026 "Startups to Watch" awards are open until July 31st, and announces that the celebration event will happen on September 24th at Bay 7 in Durham. Overall, the episode gives a quick, friendly update on local startup news and upcoming opportunities in the tech community. |
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Monday Mix: AI Unfiltered, PitchBreakfast, NC TECH Awards, and Much More!
Posted July 6, 2026 on The GrepBeat Podcast tl;dr This week's GrepBeat podcast highlights tech events happening across North Carolina, including a networking meetup in Raleigh, a pitch event in Charlotte, and an innovation forum in Wilmington focused on "blue tech" and maritime cybersecurity. It also reminds listeners about important deadlines, like applying for the NC Tech Awards and the Jools accelerator program by July 8th. The host encourages people to get their applications in and to subscribe to GrepBeat's newsletter for more local tech news. |
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Friday Fix: GRO11, SPRTN Technologies, ChampOS, and More!
Posted July 3, 2026 on The GrepBeat Podcast tl;dr This week's GrepBeat podcast recapped several stories: CED's Grow 11 Demo Day featuring nine startup pitches, a new waterproof earbud company called Spartan Technologies for swimmers, and Champ OS, a restaurant technology startup founded by two brothers to automate order-taking. The podcast also announced that applications are now open for GrepBeat's 2026 Startups to Watch Awards, open to small North Carolina tech companies, due by July 31st. Finally, they launched a fun "FishCam" live feed of their office pet fish and wished everyone a happy and safe 4th of July. |
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Monday Mix: NC TECH Awards, AI Lunch and Learn, One Million Cups, and More!
Posted June 29, 2026 on The GrepBeat Podcast tl;dr This week's GrepBeat podcast highlights several exciting tech events happening around North Carolina, including a Tuesday deadline for NC Tech Awards nominations and an AI Lunch and Learn event in Raleigh focused on helping managers use AI tools. Wednesday features 1 Million Cup gatherings in both Durham and Wilmington, where local companies will present their work, plus a relaxed happy hour hosted by Frontier RTP before the holiday weekend. The host wraps up by wishing listeners a happy 4th of July and encourages them to subscribe to GrepBeat's newsletter for more local tech news. |
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Friday Fix: Sensible, SenterME, RIoT's RAP XXII, and GRO11
Posted June 26, 2026 on The GrepBeat Podcast tl;dr This week's GrepBeat Friday Fix covered several exciting startup stories, including Sensible, a company creating advanced health-tracking tools using menstrual blood sensors, and CenterMe, which pivoted from personal wellness to helping healthcare companies detect and address staff burnout using AI. The podcast also featured a conversation with longtime guest Bill Sproul about the startup ecosystem, plus recaps of two demo events—Riot Accelerator's showcase in Wilson and CED's Grow Incubator event in Durham—highlighting innovative founders from across the region. The host wrapped up by wishing listeners a relaxing weekend before returning with more startup news next Friday. |
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The Side Quest: Bill Spruill of 2ndF
Posted June 25, 2026 on The GrepBeat Podcast tl;dr This podcast episode features Joe Colopy interviewing Bill Sproul, an entrepreneur who started his career by chance as a temp worker at a business support organization called CED, and later built and sold several successful data verification companies, including one for over a billion dollars. Bill now runs "Second Foundation," an organization focused on helping North Carolina's Research Triangle region turn university research in fields like biotech and material science into successful businesses, rather than just focusing on software apps. He explains that the region actually has plenty of money, but it needs to be redirected from things like real estate into science-based startups, and that promoting local "deep tech" companies more loudly can attract outside investors to keep more profits within the community. |
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Monday Mix: GRO11, RIoT Founder Showcase, Insights for Climate Innovators, and More!
Posted June 22, 2026 on The GrepBeat Podcast tl;dr This GrepBeat podcast episode shares a weekly lineup of business and startup events happening across North Carolina. Highlights include a founder pitch night in Wilson, a legal advice session for climate startups, a demo day at NC Central University with $25,000 in prizes, and a workshop on government contracts in Pittsburgh. The host also reminds listeners to check out GrepBeat's website and newsletter for more local tech news. |
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Friday Fix: FIG Conference, SteadyTrail, RDU Labs, and More!
Posted June 19, 2026 on The GrepBeat Podcast tl;dr This episode of the GrepBeat podcast recaps a busy week covering North Carolina's startup scene, including a FinTech/InsurTech conference in Charlotte and a new company called RDU Labs that's teaching people and businesses how to use AI. The podcast also featured an interview with Jeff Welch from Duke New Ventures and shared news about a Raleigh company called EquityShift acquiring another business called SteadyTrail. The host wraps up by wishing listeners a happy Juneteenth and a good weekend, reminding them to subscribe for more updates on local tech news. |
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The Side Quest: Jeff Welch of Duke New Ventures
Posted June 18, 2026 on The GrepBeat Podcast tl;dr Jeff Welsh leads Duke New Ventures, a team within Duke's tech transfer office that acts like a mini business-consulting group, helping scientists and doctors turn their research into real companies by guiding them through product development, business strategy, and leadership setup. He explains that a 1980 law called the Bayh-Dole Act changed everything by letting universities (instead of the government) own and license inventions made with government grant money, which helped launch the modern era of university startups and venture capital. Jeff also shares his own winding career path—from studying science and banking to working in medical device companies—showing how varied experiences eventually led him to help new entrepreneurs succeed today. |
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Monday Mix: Juneteenth at Code the Dream, One Million Cups, and More
Posted June 15, 2026 on The GrepBeat Podcast tl;dr This week's GrepBeat podcast is a lighter one, with David sharing a few local tech and entrepreneurship events happening in North Carolina. Wednesday morning features 1 Million Cups meetups in Durham (featuring Truth or Air Education) and Wilmington (featuring climate tech startup RCoast), while Thursday brings a Juneteenth-related "Synthesize" event hosted by Code the Dream focused on innovation and community. The episode wraps up by noting next week's schedule will be much busier as June comes to a close. |
