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Entrepreneur Day

"What's the day in the life of an entrepreneur like?"
"Why did you choose entrepreneurship as your career path?"
"If you could do anything different on your path to being a successful entrepreneur, what would you do?"
"Do you consider yourself more of a technical expert or a business expert?"
"How is artificial intelligence (AI) disrupting your business?"

There's a lot of curiosity about entrepreneurs, startups, and entrepreneurship. After all, Wilmington, NC consistently ranks nationally and internationally in the top communities to build and grow a business. What's all the buzz about?

On Entrepreneur Day - Tuesday, November 10, 2026, UNCW students and New Hanover County high school students have an opportunity to meet entrepreneurs and ask their questions!

 

Teachers and Faculty Request an Entrepreneur

Entrepreneur Volunteer Application

How it works

Global Entrepreneurship Week is about removing barriers and inviting all to the entrepreneurial community. Entrepreneur Day is a critical component of introducing entrepreneurship as a career path to high school and college students. 

On this day, entrepreneurs visit UNCW and high school classrooms to inspire young people to take steps to build their dreams through entrepreneurship.

Timeline:

October 23, 2026: Applications due

Faculty and Teacher requests are due. 

By November 3, 2026: Virtual introductions

Each Faculty/Teacher and the selected Entrepreneur will be introduced via email by CIE for finalizing classroom details.

November 2, 2026 from 4-5 p.m.: 

Volunteer Entrepreneurs Information Meeting

November 10, 2026: Entrepreneurs visit classes

Each entrepreneur will visit their assigned classroom. They will talk about their business, why they chose entrepreneurship, and what it's like to be an entrepreneur (students should be prepared with additional questions).

Questions? Email cie@uncw.edu.

Previous Year Highlights

CIE’s first annual Entrepreneur Day was held in 2022 during Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) Wilmington. 

  • In four years, CIE has engaged faculty and teachers from numerous schools in Entrepreneur Day. These schools include:
    • UNCW
    • Ashley High School 
    • Career Readiness Academy at Mosley
    • Eugene Ashley High School
    • Hoggard High School
    • Holly Shelter Middle School
    • Isaac Bear Early College High School
    • Laney High School
    • Myrtle Grove Middle School
    • SEA-Tech High School
    • Trask Middle School
  • Since 2022, over 2990 students have met an entrepreneur in their classrooms during Entrepreneur Day.
  • The following companies have been matched to classrooms:
    • Active Defender
    • Allie Weaver Productions
    • Bixli
    • Boombalatti's
    • Bristol Group Business Brokers
    • BVG Bioenergy
    • Campy.AI
    • Capone and Associates
    • Carehome Health
    • CoastalCCS
    • Creatively Covered
    • Custom Discoveries
    • DesignLoud
    • Eagle Eye Marketing
    • Eurofly
    • F3TCH, Inc.
    • Global ETF Advisors
    • Grafton Funding
    • Hands in the Sands Massage Therapy
    • Humanity Hub
    • OpiAid
    • Lapetus Solutions, Inc.
    • McKee Homes
    • Ouro Labs
    • Peak Athletics
    • Predicate
    • PS Solutions
    • PTW Solutions
    • Sandbar Oyster Co.
    • SmartFox Technologies
    • Smoovtherly
    • Socialry Marketing and Pharyz
    • Stax Ice Cream - An Ice Cream Kitchen
    • Telios
    • That Power Game
    • The Barrett Group
    • The Busy Bloom
    • The Wall Printer
    • WeWa.life
    • WNY People Development
    • Wisely
    • YOUnified
  • NC IDEA sponsored Entrepreneur Day in 2022 and 2023.
We are extremely excited for the opportunity to continue engaging students and entrepreneurs in 2026!
Contact CIE to find out how you can take part in Entrepreneur Day!

Sponsor

Event Sponsorships for 2026 are available!
GEW Website
“ I believe programs like this have a lasting impact because they expose students to possibilities they may not have considered before. Entrepreneurship can be a full-time career, a side business, or simply a mindset that helps people solve problems and create opportunities. It reminds students that there is no age requirement to start pursuing an idea. ”
Amanda Parish Marketing Teacher, Career & Technical Education Department, John T. Hoggard High School

Contact The CIE

Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Phone: 910.962.2206

cie@uncw.edu

803 South College Road
Wilmington, NC 28403-5676

Hours 

  • Monday to Friday - 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

  • Saturday and Sunday - Closed