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Friday Fix: Our 2026 Startups to Watch, Front Porch Venture’s Survey, and More! Friday Fix: Our 2026 Startups to Watch, Front Porch Venture’s Survey, and More!
Posted Yesterday
tl;dr GrepBeat.com is a website that shares news about startups and technology, and every Friday, David Schwartz gives a quick recap of everything they covered that week in case you missed it. This past week, they featured stories on four different companies—CashMap, Monthly, MicroBioCol—and shared results from a survey about startup founders in the Southeast. They also thanked everyone who attended their "Startups to Watch" event, where they celebrated 11 startups chosen for their 2026 class.
Raleigh’s MicroBioCol Is Making AI More Auditable—and More Eco-Conscious Raleigh’s MicroBioCol Is Making AI More Auditable—and More Eco-Conscious
Posted Thursday
tl;dr Patrick Steele, a Raleigh scientist with 15 years in biotech, started a company called MicroBioCol to solve a problem he saw firsthand: AI can speed up work, but strict rules about sensitive information make it hard for companies to actually use it safely. His product, CadeLume, acts like a security checkpoint that sits between a company's AI tools and creates a detailed, tamper-proof record of everything the AI does, including its costs and environmental impact. Steele hopes to expand this technology beyond biotech into other industries like finance and government, while staying true to his goal of using AI to help people rather than replace them.
Chapel Hill’s Monthly Provides SMBs With Data-Based CFO Services Chapel Hill’s Monthly Provides SMBs With Data-Based CFO Services
Posted Thursday
tl;dr Sergio Sepulveda noticed that small and medium-sized businesses often lack the advanced financial tools that big companies have, so he teamed up with two colleagues to create Monthly, a smart software platform that acts like an automated financial officer for smaller businesses. Monthly uses AI and data tools to help companies track their finances, compare themselves to others in their industry, and get automated accounting reports, all while making sure the underlying data is accurate and trustworthy. Since launching in 2026 with offices in Chapel Hill and Mexico, the self-funded company has grown to 22 employees and 60 customers, and its founders are now focused on building partnerships to expand their reach across the southern United States.
Front Porch Venture Partners Releases First-Ever “Southeast Startup Founder Pulse Survey” Front Porch Venture Partners Releases First-Ever “Southeast Startup Founder Pulse Survey”
Posted Tuesday
tl;dr A venture capital firm called Front Porch surveyed 72 startup founders across the southeastern United States to learn how they feel about building their companies, raising money, and working with investors. The survey found that founders are very confident about their business growth potential, especially when they already have investor support, but many feel frustrated by slow, unclear, or unfair fundraising processes when trying to secure new investment. Overall, founders appreciate the friendly and helpful attitude of Southeast investors, but they wish the process of pitching and raising money was faster, clearer, and easier to understand.
Triad Area’s CashMap is Empowering Local Finance Triad Area’s CashMap is Empowering Local Finance
Posted Monday
tl;dr Richard Moore created an app called CashMap that helps people in North Carolina learn about money through fun games, quizzes, and simulations, kind of like leveling up in a video game. At the same time, the app helps local banks and charities understand what financial help people need most, without ever knowing which specific person shared that information, keeping everyone's privacy protected. CashMap is currently being tested in the Piedmont Triad area and will soon be free for everyone to download, with banks paying to support the free access for regular users.
Monday Mix: Startups to Watch, FFVC’s Propeller Demo Day, Tech Leaders Forum, and More! Monday Mix: Startups to Watch, FFVC’s Propeller Demo Day, Tech Leaders Forum, and More!
Posted Monday
tl;dr This week's newsletter highlights several tech and business events, including GrepBeat's own "Startups to Watch" event happening Thursday at Bay 7 in Durham, which readers are encouraged to attend with tickets available online. Other notable events include an AI-focused discussion by Tech Leaders Forum of Charlotte on Wednesday, an "Ask Me Anything" session hosted by echo on Tuesday, and demo days from First Flight Venture Center on Thursday. Additionally, students interested in entrepreneurship should note that UNC Wilmington's Youth Entrepreneurship Application deadline is Friday at 5pm, with selected participants presenting at a summit in November.
Friday Fix: Our BUZZ IN Recap, 24HRPR, Botsi, and PulseKonnect Friday Fix: Our BUZZ IN Recap, 24HRPR, Botsi, and PulseKonnect
Posted September 18, 2026
tl;dr GrepBeat.com is a website that shares news about startups and technology, and their "Friday Fix" segment with David Schwartz helps readers catch up on stories they may have missed during the week. This week's recap included a conference in Wilmington, a feature on a Charlotte company called 24HRPR, an update on another Charlotte startup called Botsi that raised $1.5 million, and a story about a Raleigh business called PulseKonnect. You can listen to the full podcast episode and subscribe to stay updated on tech news in your area.
Raleigh-Based PulseKonnect Streamlines Home Healthcare Agency Operations Raleigh-Based PulseKonnect Streamlines Home Healthcare Agency Operations
Posted September 17, 2026
tl;dr Obi Akpuda, whose parents run a home healthcare agency, noticed that small agencies struggled with billing, compliance, and paperwork, so he created PulseKonnect, a software tool that helps manage billing, hiring, and patient care all in one place. The system has already helped its customers save time, cut hiring delays, and reduce billing errors, especially benefiting agencies that care for seniors and people with disabilities. Now with seven customers and growing through word-of-mouth referrals, Akpuda is working to raise $1 million to expand PulseKonnect and help even more home healthcare agencies run smoothly.
Botsi’s $1.5M Raise Will Improve, Expand Personalized Subscription Solutions Botsi’s $1.5M Raise Will Improve, Expand Personalized Subscription Solutions
Posted September 17, 2026
tl;dr Botsi, a startup that helps apps charge different customers different prices based on how much they use the app, recently raised $1.5 million to grow its business. The company's AI figures out the best price, trial length, or deal to show each person, and its customers have seen revenue increase by 15% to 75%. While the company started in Charlotte, one co-founder has since moved to New York and the team plans to use the new funding to help customers get results faster and eventually build a fully self-serve platform.
Charlotte’s 24HRPR Helps Startups Generate Press and Boost AEO Visibility Charlotte’s 24HRPR Helps Startups Generate Press and Boost AEO Visibility
Posted September 15, 2026
tl;dr 24HRPR is a startup created by Liz Brigham and Adrian Johnson to help small businesses share their news with the world, since hiring a professional public relations team is often too expensive for them. The platform uses guided prompts to write press releases, then matches startups with the most relevant journalists, bloggers, and podcasters—even in very specific fields like rodeo sports—so their announcements reach the right audience. Beyond writing and sending releases, 24HRPR also tracks how well the coverage performs and offers a free newsroom feature, allowing any founder to publish and share their story quickly and easily.

 

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