Piedmont Triad Region

Regional Overview

Community leaders engaged with us to grow this region’s broad-based cluster of biotech companies. The Piedmont Triad contributes advancements in nanobiotechnology, regenerative medicine, agricultural biotech, biopharmaceuticals and medical devices. The Center’s office here is located in one of the region’s two developing research parks.

Piedmont Triad Region Counties: Alamance, Caswell, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Guilford, Montgomery, Randolph, Rockingham, Stokes, Surry, Yadkin

Benefits

The NC BIOTECH Venture Challenge benefits for the selected finalists include the following:

A 2-month period of intense mentoring assistance and networking opportunities.
Public and private events to enhance our connected networks of entrepreneurs, investors, and others in the region and beyond, especially as they relate to biotech innovation and commercialization.
Targeted assistance from the NC Biotechnology Center Life Science Intelligence team--e.g., industry and market research.
Wildfire Marketing Solutions: Services provided with a dollar-for-dollar match (up to $10,000).
Novex Innovations: Contract development services provided for 1^st place finalist (up to $10,000).

A pitch challenge at the end of the assistance process, which will yield significant monetary awards, in addition to the invaluable mentoring and networking each venture will experience during the assistance phase.
Monetary Awards Totaling $40,000: Top Award, $20,000; Second and Third Awards, $10,000 each.
Flywheel Coworking Tenancy and Membership: For the three regional finalists, Flywheel will offer a one-year, unreserved coworking seat at Flywheel in Winston-Salem with membership benefits; access to networking events; and a Venture Mentor Network.
Promotion in the region and beyond of our impressive community of biotech innovators, entrepreneurs, and ventures.

Statewide Challenge: The winner from each of the 5 regional challenges will continue to the statewide challenge for additional mentoring assistance, NC Biotechnology Center Life Science Intelligence team support, promotion, public appearances, and monetary awards.

Mentoring, Networking, and Awards Events

Because building professional networks to strengthen our entrepreneurial ecosystem is critical to venture success, selected finalists and mentors will be expected to attend the following events:

- March 7, 2024 Kickoff Celebration – Regional (All applicants, mentors, presenters, others)
- March 2024 Notifications to Candidates and Selected Finalists

Regional Assistance Period: Mar–May 2024

- March 26, 2024 Networking and Mentoring Session #1
- April 16, 2024 Networking and Mentoring Session #2
- April 2024 Pitch Coach Individual Venture Team Sessions
- May 14, 2024 Networking and Mentoring Session #3
- May 23, 2024 Judging Phase – Regional (Private meeting with pitches to judges)
- May 23, 2024 Regional Venture Pitch Showcase and Winner Reveal (Public event)

The winner from each of the five regional challenges will continue to the statewide challenge for additional mentoring assistance, NC Biotechnology Center Life Science Intelligence team support, promotion, public appearance, and monetary awards.

Statewide Assistance Period: June 2024

- June 2024 Mentor Team Meetings and Training Sessions
- June 27, 2024 Statewide Judging Phase (private meeting with pitches to judges)
- June 27, 2024 Statewide Finals Venture Pitch Showcase and Winner Reveal at Triad BioNight

Round 1 Regional Finalists

Local entrepreneurial community leaders--such as entrepreneurs, business service providers, investors, company leaders, innovators, university partners, and others--selected the following ventures as finalists for this challenge. The winner from each of the 5 regional challenges will continue to the statewide challenge for additional mentoring assistance, NC Biotechnology Center Life Science Intelligence team support, promotion, public appearances, and monetary awards.

BRINTER, Inc.

Deep Creek Pharma LLC

Three Strands Recovery Wear

2024 Selection Committee

Jerry Barker, President and Founder, Novex Innovations
Monica P. Doss, Founder, Business of Science
Geoff Foster, M.S., MBA, CEO and President, Core Technology Molding Corp.
Gregory D. Goins, Ph.D., Professor of Crop Science and Associate Dean for Agricultural Research, College of Agriculture & Environmental Sciences (CAES), North Carolina A&T State University
Michael Kelly, MBA, Animal Health Pharmaceutical Executive (retired)
Sherine Obare, Ph.D., Dean, Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering, North Carolina A&T State University and UNC Greensboro
Notis Pagiavlas, Ph.D., Professor of Marketing, Founding Director of Center for Entrepreneurship, Winston-Salem State University
Isaac Perry, MBA, Head of Biotech and Life Science Ecosystem Development, Innovation Quarter & Greater Winston-Salem, Inc
Chris Veal, Regional Director, Triad West RSC @ WSSU, Small Business & Technology Development Center (SBTDC)