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	Monday Mix: Rising Stars 2026, Test Flight Pitch Practice, and More! Posted Yesterday tl;dr Start your week with the Monday Mix, a show from The GrepBeat Podcast, which shares news and stories about the North Carolina tech community. Due to winter weather, some events might change, so check with organizers before attending. This week, events include pitch practice, the State of the Region event, and a celebration of rising stars in the tech world.
	Friday Fix: Founder Readiness Institute, Windlift Catch-Up, and New Podcasts Posted Friday tl;dr GrepBeat.com shares news about startups and technology, and if you miss anything during the week, the Friday Fix by David Schwartz helps you catch up. This week, they talked about the Founder Readiness Institute, a podcast episode with Juan Garzón and Charlotte Ketelaar on being investor-ready, and caught up with Windlift’s Rob Creighton. They also introduced a new podcast called "The Side Quest" featuring Ryan O’Donnell of Sunlight.
	The Side Quest: Strengthening Safety Nets and Going Analog with Ryan O’Donnell of Sunlight Posted Thursday tl;dr "The Side Quest" is a series by GrepBeat featuring hosts Joe Colopy and Sonali Sanjay, where they discuss tech topics and interview guests about their personal projects. This week's episode features Ryan O’Donnell from Sunlight, who talks about analog technology, Waymo, and his work to support the foster care system. You can listen to the podcast or watch it on YouTube, and subscribing ensures you won't miss future episodes.
	Windlift’s Rob Creighton On Tethered Drones, Electronic Warfare, Kiteboarding, and Government Funding Posted Wednesday 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 January 28, 2026 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 January 27, 2026 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 January 26, 2026 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.

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