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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 Yesterday
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 Friday
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 Thursday
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 Thursday
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.
NEW’s 2026 Investor Buzz In Shines Spotlight on Wilmington Ecosystem NEW’s 2026 Investor Buzz In Shines Spotlight on Wilmington Ecosystem
Posted September 14, 2026
tl;dr Wilmington held its fourth annual "Investor Buzz In," a free one-day conference that brought together 322 investors, entrepreneurs, and business leaders to discuss growing the region's startup scene through panels, pitches, and networking. Speakers shared advice on building strong company culture, focusing on solving real problems rather than just pushing solutions, and using AI to improve processes without threatening jobs, while also highlighting Wilmington's unique appeal for tech and life-science founders. The event also featured presentations from six local startups—covering everything from coastal erosion tracking to AI-powered workforce training—showcasing the momentum and future potential of Wilmington's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Monday Mix: Walking Masterminds, FFVC’s Itineraries, a Venture135 Deadline, and More! Monday Mix: Walking Masterminds, FFVC’s Itineraries, a Venture135 Deadline, and More!
Posted September 14, 2026
tl;dr This week's Monday Mix highlights several networking and learning events happening across the Triangle and Wilmington areas of North Carolina, including walking meetups, startup lunches, and One Million Cups gatherings that connect entrepreneurs and community members. There's also a special session on healthy AI use happening in Pittsboro on Thursday. If you're interested in presenting at the Venture135 fintech conference in Charlotte this November, don't wait too long—the early decision application deadline is tonight at midnight!
GrepBeat Hosts Wilmington Happy Hour to Cap Off NEW’s Investor Buzz In GrepBeat Hosts Wilmington Happy Hour to Cap Off NEW’s Investor Buzz In
Posted September 11, 2026
tl;dr GrepBeat quickly organized a Happy Hour at Flytrap Brewing in Wilmington right after a successful Investor Buzz In event, even though they only had about 10 days to plan it. Despite rainy, humid weather, nearly 100 people walked over to join, making it one of the best-attended Happy Hours in years. The event was made possible by teamwork, sponsors like Aprio, the welcoming staff at Flytrap, and the Wilmington crew who organized the whole day’s activities.

 

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