Carole Moore McLeod Entrepreneur Summit

Join the SBTDC and App State students, faculty, staff, entrepreneurs, business leaders, and community members for a day of ideas, innovation, and connection.

Come ready to think differently about opportunity: how to recognize it, create value from it, and turn it into action. You’ll hear from entrepreneurs and innovators, make new connections, and leave with ideas you can put to work.

Come for one session or stay for the entire day.

Program at a Glance

10 AM – Noon
ELEVATE FOUNDRY: From Idea to Opportunity
Richard Stroupe | Cape Fear Ventures

What does it really take to turn an idea into something real? Get an entrepreneur’s and investor’s perspective on spotting opportunities, testing ideas, understanding customers, building the right team, and determining which ideas are worth pursuing.

12:30 PM – 2 PM
ENTREPRENEURSHIP LUNCHEON: From Student to Partner
Jake Aaron | Co-Founder, ACME Homes; Partner, Stonegate Developers

How do you become someone others want to invest in? Hear how an App State student’s mentorship with alum and entrepreneur Dale Tweedy grew into a professional opportunity and ultimately a business partnership, and explore how creating value, earning trust, and investing in relationships can shape a career.

2PM – 4 PM
AFTERNOON WORKSHOP: From Idea to Impact
Adam Pawlick | SVP, R&D, Quality, Innovation & Engineering, Novus Foods

Why do some ideas take off while others never get off the ground? Go behind the scenes with innovation leader Adam Pawlick to discover how companies find opportunities, understand what people really want, and turn promising ideas into products and experiences that can grow.

4 PM – 6 PM
BIG IDEA PITCH COMPETITION
Ten Big Ideas. Three Minutes. One Stage.

See App State’s emerging entrepreneurs put their ideas to the test. Ten finalists have just three minutes to convince a panel of judges and the audience that their idea has what it takes. Winners will receive cash prizes.

Location

Appalachian State University
Plemmons Student Union
263 Locust St, Boone, NC 28608