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	Windlift’s Rob Creighton On Tethered Drones, Electronic Warfare, Kiteboarding, and Government Funding Posted Yesterday tl;dr Windlift is a company in Durham that makes tethered drones used for carrying sensors, cameras, and radios, and can also generate power. The company has shifted focus towards defense and sensing technologies due to changes in government priorities, and they have demonstrated impressive drone capabilities in Finland. Founder Rob Creighton emphasizes the importance of building strong relationships and is actively seeking funding to grow Windlift's defense business.
	In The Soup: What Does it Really Mean to be Investor Ready? Posted Yesterday tl;dr In this week's episode of "Happy In The Soup," hosts Jenn Summe and Melissa Crosby talk with Juan Garzón and Charlotte Ketelaar, who help people improve their business pitches to attract investors. They share their tips and advice for anyone wanting to be ready to meet investors. This episode is sponsored by Curious Ant, and you can listen to it on The GrepBeat Podcast.
	Durham’s “Founder Readiness Institute” Innovates Through People Analytics Posted Tuesday tl;dr Logan Yonavjak realized that many companies fail due to "people problems," which inspired the creation of the Founder Readiness Institute (FRI) in 2025. FRI uses an AI-enabled tool called The Founder Readiness Level to assess how founders think and communicate, focusing on traits like coachability and resilience. The goal is to help leaders grow and succeed by providing unbiased assessments and development plans, while also reducing risk and improving performance in organizations.
	Monday Mix: Deadlines, One Million Cups, and the Triangle Startup Collective Posted Monday tl;dr Start your week with the Monday Mix, a part of The GrepBeat Podcast, to learn about tech news and events in North Carolina. Due to winter weather, some events might change, so check with organizers before attending. Upcoming events include talks and deadlines in Raleigh, Durham, and Wilmington, plus a special Rising Stars event on February 5th in Durham.
	Friday Fix: Ariso, Bull City Venture Partners, and Podcast Pandemonium! Posted January 23, 2026 tl;dr GrepBeat.com shares lots of news about startups and tech, and every Friday, David Schwartz gives a quick update on the week's stories and events. This week, he talked about a new startup by Erkang Zheng, a podcast about how social media can boost startups, and news about Bull City Venture Partners expanding their team. There was also a new podcast episode called "The Side Quest" featuring guests from Complete Breakfast.
	The Side Quest: Building Your Brand and Boosting Small Businesses with Complete Breakfast Posted January 22, 2026 tl;dr Welcome to "The Side Quest," a series where hosts Joe Colopy and Sonali Sanjay talk about North Carolina tech and feature guests with unique side projects. This week's episode includes Andy Ives and Cayley Peter from Complete Breakfast, who discuss topics like the Pacific Northwest and running a successful e-commerce agency. They started Complete Breakfast to help small businesses with branding after their work with Made Trade, a company focused on sustainable goods.
	Bull City Venture Partners’ Jason Caplain Talks Expanded Team & New Office Posted January 21, 2026 tl;dr Bull City Venture Partners is adding two new team members, Carly Connell and Joseph Dougherty, to help support more startups and expand their efforts. They are also moving to a new office in Durham, which is bigger and better for meeting with founders. Despite these changes, their approach to helping early-stage companies will stay the same, focusing on supporting founders and their growth.
	In The Soup: Going Viral! How Social Media Can Help Your Startup Posted January 21, 2026 tl;dr This week, Jenn Summe and Melissa Crosby talk with Ashlyn Greer and Kyle Mayers about their experiences with viral content on Instagram and TikTok. They discuss how to use viral moments to connect with customers. The episode is sponsored by Curious Ant, and you can listen to it and subscribe to The GrepBeat Podcast to stay updated.
	JupiterOne Founder’s Ariso Provides AI Assistant and Coach for Employees Posted January 20, 2026 tl;dr Erkang Zheng started a new company called Ariso, which uses AI to help employees with their daily tasks and career goals by acting like a supportive work partner. Ariso's AI agents, like Ari, assist with things like writing emails and managing calendars, while also providing coaching and guidance tailored to each employee. The AI is designed to be proactive, helping users by suggesting ways to make their work easier, and ensuring that personal data is secure and private.
	Monday Mix: One Million Cups x2, LiLa, and NC IDEA Grant Info Sessions Posted January 19, 2026 tl;dr Start your week with the Monday Mix from GrepBeat, where you can hear about the latest news and events in North Carolina's tech communities. Don't forget, the Rising Stars event is on Thursday, February 5th, at the 21c Hotel in Durham. There are also various events happening throughout the week, and you can check the community calendar for more details.

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