In Episode 18 of Ecosysteming, we are joined by Laura Smailes, Relationship Manager at Everblue and former Assistant Director of Charlotte’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEI). A longtime NC IDEA MICRO reviewer, Laura has helped shape Charlotte’s entrepreneurial landscape by supporting students, faculty, and community partners in developing ideas and sparking innovation. Her work has helped strengthen NC IDEA’s presence in the Queen City and deepen support for high growth companies in the state. Want to get more involved in your local startup ecosystem? This episode is for you.

In this episode of Ecosysteming, host Thom Ruhe speaks with Mayor Leonardo Williams of Durham, North Carolina, about leadership, economic development, entrepreneurship, and the untold story behind his viral speech at the 2024 Democratic National Convention.

Mayor Williams reflects on his journey—from music teacher to entrepreneur to public office—and shares how he and his wife, Zwelibanzi Moyo Williams, opened the first Zimbabwean restaurant in the U.S. with just $36,000 and a dream. He explains how those early entrepreneurial lessons now shape his work in public office, and what’s next for the City of Durham.

We are thrilled to welcome David Baxter, Chief Pixel and Strategist at Big Pixel, to this week’s episode of Ecosysteming. Big Pixel is a fully US-based strategic design and development firm that specializes in UX, startups, and a little bit of magic. Their mission? Helping businesses get to the core of what they truly want to achieve.

As the leader behind Big Pixel, David offers a valuable perspective on North Carolina’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, drawing from over 20 years of experience navigating its ups and downs. In this conversation, he and host Thom Ruhe trade stories (and scars) from their own entrepreneurial journeys, offering hard-earned insights and advice to help others navigate their entrepreneurial path.

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 his team are working to revitalize the region through an innovative model of venture philanthropy. Their approach — blending capital infusion with accelerator programming — is helping to rebuild a more resilient entrepreneurial ecosystem. And stick around: Thom and Jeffrey share a celebratory shot in honor of Purim, which happened to coincide with the day of the recording.

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—and why it’s capturing national attention. Discover how the UNCW CIE is fueling high-impact startups with education, connections, and incubation space, helping southeastern North Carolina thrive as a vibrant hub of innovation.

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 North Carolina’s entrepreneurial landscape—having held leadership roles at Morningstar, Disney Parks, Jive Software, and more. Tune in to hear how The Hurt Hub@Davidson is fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in Davidson and across the greater Charlotte region.

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 Southeast, including a number of NC IDEA funded startups. Today, he serves as a core reviewer for the NC IDEA #SEED ($50K) grant program. Cofounders Capital is currently investing out of Fund III, a $50M fund led by Tim McLoughlin, David Gardner, and Tobi Walter.

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 offers a must-listen perspective on supporting immigrant entrepreneurs and their impact on our state.