Navigating a natural disaster is no easy feat — and our friends in Western North Carolina are still grappling with the lasting effects of Hurricane Helene. In this episode, we are joined by ECOSYSTEM partner Jeffrey Kaplan, CEO of Optimist Ventures and Director of Venture Asheville. With deep experience in the entrepreneurial landscape, Jeffrey and…

In this episode of Ecosysteming, we welcome our friend and #ECOSYSTEM partner Heather McWhorter, Director of the UNCW Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Host Thom Ruhe and Heather dive into her journey to Wilmington, NC, and the incredible growth of the region’s coastal startup ecosystem. They explore the rising tide of the Blue Economy—an…

It’s not every day you get a masterclass in leadership and team building. On this week’s episode of Ecosysteming, host Thom Ruhe is joined by Liz S. Brigham for an insightful conversation on leading with purpose. As the W. Spencer Mitchem Executive Director of The Hurt Hub@Davidson and an NC IDEA #ECOSYSTEM partner, Liz brings deep experience to No…

On this week’s episode of Ecosysteming, host Thom Ruhe talks with Tim McLoughlin, Managing Partner at Cofounders Capital. Tim’s connection to NC IDEA dates back to 2015 when he served as a Young Entrepreneur in Residence—now known as a Startup Analyst Associate. Since then, he’s become an active investor and advisor to several companies across the …

Another episode of Ecosysteming with our host, Thom Ruhe, featuring Prospera USA Vice President José Alvarez . In this special episode, we explore Prospera’s expansion to North Carolina and why they chose our state as their next hub for empowering Hispanic entrepreneurs. As an NC IDEA board member, #ECOSYSTEM partner, and #SEED core reviewer, José …

To mark ten episodes of Ecosysteming, host Thom Ruhe is joined by Jim Roberts, Founder of the Network for Entrepreneurs in Wilmington, the WALE Angel Network, and NC IDEA ECOSYSTEM partner. With years of experience as an ecosystem leader and NC IDEA reviewer, Jim has contributed to several entrepreneurial ecosystems and now focuses on supporting Wi…

In this episode of Ecosysteming, host Thom Ruhe speaks with Anne Wiper, CEO of The Textile Engine: NSF Regional Innovation Engine. They discuss her accomplished career at Nike, Salomon, Pearl Izumi, Smartwool, and beyond, leading up to her work accelerating innovation in textile sustainability and circularity. Learn how rural North Carolina is uniq…

Episode 8 of Ecosysteming features host Thom Ruhe in conversation with Frank Pollock, Co-Founder of Home Lending Pal and a leader in other roles. As a former NC IDEA SEED ($50K) grant recipient and a reviewer for both MICRO ($10K) and SEED ($50K), Frank offers unique insights into the grant process. Recently named one of four regional Entrepreneurs…

In this episode of Ecosysteming, host Thom Ruhe speaks with Tromml CEO and Co-Founder Lauren McCullough. As both an NC IDEA MICRO ($10K) and SEED ($50K) grant recipient and a former Program Director at NC IDEA, Lauren brings a unique perspective to the table. Together, they dive into the current state of North Carolina’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, …

In the first episode of Ecosysteming for 2025, host Thom Ruhe sits down with his long-time friend and ELI Founder and CEO, Gary Schoeniger. Together, they explore the underlying beliefs and assumptions that drive entrepreneurial behavior. A world-renowned expert on mindset, Gary authored Who Owns the Ice House: Eight Life Lessons from an Unlikely E…

This week on Ecosysteming, host Thom Ruhe sits down with Krista Covey, President and CEO of First Flight Venture Center. A seasoned ecosystem leader, Krista serves on the NC IDEA board and is a Founding Advisory Board Member for Carry Venture Capital. With a proven track record of building and leading award-winning innovation hubs in North Carolina…

Join host Thom Ruhe for a conversation with Dr. Sonja Ebron, CEO and Co-Founder of Courtroom5, to explore AI's impact on the legal system. Courtroom5 equips self-represented litigants with the resources they need to navigate the U.S. civil court system. Dr. Ebron, an NC IDEA SEED and NC BEC GROWTH grantee and a member of the NC IDEA Board, shares i…

In Episode 3 of Ecosysteming, host Thom Ruhe sits down with Executive Director of RIoT, ECOSYSTEM partner, and long-time friend, Tom Snyder. Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation on why investing in homegrown entrepreneurs is more impactful than offering economic incentives to attract industry giants. Together, they explore strategies to str…

In this episode of Ecosysteming, host Thom Ruhe sits down with NC IDEA MICRO ($10K) and SEED ($50K) grantee Leah Wyrick, founder of Three Strands Recovery Wear. Leah shares her journey as a founder from Winston-Salem, NC, and how her mother’s battle with breast cancer inspired her to develop an innovative recovery bra that is transforming the heali…

In the debut episode of Ecosysteming, NC IDEA CEO and host Thom Ruhe sits down with long-time friend, retired colleague, and self-appointed NC IDEA historian, John Austin. Together, they explore the evolution of North Carolina’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and reflect on the nearly 20-year history of the Foundation. They also discuss today’s entrepre…

Planning on job hunting in the new year? I'll discuss what employers look for in a candidate and what YOU should look for in a prospective employer! Also, "smart toilets" - are they the "wave" of the future? Also, a coyote-chasing cat saves the family dog! The Smashing Pumpkins put out a call on Instagram for a new guitarist, and Britney Spears say…

On this holiday episode of the podcast I discuss popular Christmas traditions and how they got their start. Also, two families get some unwanted guests with their Christmas trees! Also, I'll take a look at the festive musical offerings from some of your favorite artists! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

In this episode, I'll be discussing self-checkouts and why some stores are doing away with them. Also, Saint Nick is dead, herpes tests for Family Feud contestants, and the worst Christmas songs! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Hollywood actors and writers strikes are over, so when can we expect new movies and TV shows to hit the screens? Also, Rush may be going back on tour, thanks to some encouragement from Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones plan their 2024 North American tour, a major newspaper chain hires a full-time Taylor Swift reporter, also, U.S. customers say…

October was a lousy month for celebrity deaths. We're going to talk about how it's okay to mourn famous people, even if we didn't know them personally. Also, is tipping getting out of control? We're going to talk about how tipping culture has become a lot more prevalent these days. Also, The Guess Who and a lawsuit that is dividing the group member…

Boo! It's me again, Paul Jeffries! During this spooky time of year we're going to take a look at superstitions and how they came to be. Also, "comfort alligators", RCMP safety videos and Halloween Top 10's! #halloween #superstitions #comfortanimals #genesis #petergabriel #vanhalen #julianlennon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more inform…

Hi everybody, I'm Paul Jeffries and Yes, this is my podcast! In this introductory episode I'm going to talk about the soaring popularity of podcasts and how radio has fallen short in connecting with audiences. #podcasts #radio #personality #corporatesaturation wCQAxC30hVsoI4zL7Y6M Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…