NC TECH held its annual awards gala on Tuesday night, effectively capping off a fall packed with ecosystem events. Despite a last-minute change in venue due to a (thankfully non-lethal) fire at the Raleigh Convention Center, the event drew a large and enthusiastic crowd to the Raleigh Marriott at Crabtree Valley.
Attendees had a chance to network and mingle for the first 45 minutes or so before being ushered into the ballroom, where NC TECH President and CEO Brooks Raiford kicked off the programming. After a word from title sponsor Cherry Bekaert and recognition of the Betsy Y. Justus Founders Scholarship winners (Barri Terry of North Carolina A&T and Riya Pragada of NC State), Sharon Delaney McCloud took the stage to emcee and introduce the awards.
Here’s a look back at the winners announced throughout the evening….
Biotech + Healthtech Innovation Award: Artemis Immersive (Wilmington)
Using spatial computing and extended reality, Artemis Immersive is improving patient care by “providing physicians with immersive experiences that make them more effective, better equipped, and happy and engaged with care for their patients.” The startup’s flagship “VoxScan” product equips providers with fully immersive, 3D scanning capability for CTs and MRIs. (See GrepBeat’s feature on Artemis Immersive here)
Public Sector Innovation Award: Spark NC (Raleigh)
Spark NC works to prepare students for entry into high-tech fields that are poised to dominate the near-future job market. The organization’s “Learning Labs” help learners gain traction in artificial intelligence, machine learning, software development, computer systems engineering, and cybersecurity.
Software Solutions Company of the Year: Pendo (Raleigh)
Pendo (perhaps you’ve heard of it) provides a leading product intelligence platform, enabling clients to gain comprehensive insights into their users’ software experience and then take steps to improve that experience.
IT Services Company of the Year: Rapid Strategy (Charlotte)
Rapid Strategy (which was notably not rapid in taking to the stage) provides “unmatched solutions” in the cybersecurity space, via Zero Trust Architecture, cyber analytics, and threat hunting. The company also aims to give back to underserved communities to create “a safer digital world for all.”
Sustainable Tech Innovation Award: Athian (Indianapolis)
Athian uses a cloud-based platform to validate and certify GHG reductions, carbon capture, and energy production in order to “monetize sustainability in a centralized marketplace.” By extension, the company also looks to “fund carbon projects within the livestock value chain.”
Cybersecurity Innovation Award: NetWatch.ai (Charlotte)
NetWatch.ai uses artificial intelligence to deliver “unparalleled scalability and performance monitoring for businesses.” They empower organizations to “proactively manage resources, optimize performance, and stay ahead in the ever-changing digital landscape.”
Fintech + Insurtech Innovation Award: Spreedly (Durham)
Spreedly helps customers improve and maintain online payments strategies, largely through support of “payment orchestration,” or the ability to connect to multiple payment systems. Their platform simplifies cross-border payments, provides comprehensive insights, and assists fraud prevention.
Tech-Driven Business Transformation Award (*New this year): Apparo (Charlotte)
Apparo is a nonprofit with a mission to help other nonprofits—specifically by connecting them to “technology expertise and resources that amplify their impact.”
Culture + People in Tech Award: N-able (Morrisville)
N-able supports a unified cyber resiliency platform with a scalable tech infrastructure that includes “AI-powered capabilities, market-leading third-party integrations, and the flexibility to employ technologies of choice.”
Purpose-Driven Innovation Award: Code the Dream (Durham)
Code the Dream aims to bridge the gap between modern tech innovation and the communities that are underrepresented in the industry. The company provides free, intensive coding education, paid apprenticeships, and additional opportunities for people to learn tech skills and work toward career paths in the industry.
AI, ML, + Data Innovation Award: Predicate (Wilmington)
Predicate is focused on healthcare innovation, and specifically delivering new solutions for early detection of life-threatening conditions such as sepsis. The company’s OpenDx platform is a first of its kind, combining wearable biosensors with natural language processing such that physiological symptoms and patient-reported symptoms go hand in hand.
North Carolina Tech Headquartered Company of the Year: Abrigo (Raleigh)
Abrigo provides a variety of financial solutions, including “market-leading compliance, credit risk, and lending solutions” to help customers manage risk and drive growth.
Top 10 Tech Startups to Watch
BuilderPad (Raleigh)
Serving home builders with customer-centric construction management software that addresses communication and scheduling.(Read GrepBeat’s feature here)
Fastbreak AI (Charlotte)
Using AI to help youth and professional sports organizations alike with intelligent scheduling for games and tournaments.
Nimble Energy (Carrboro)
Providing an AI-enabled platform that helps building operators streamline energy management and meet sustainability goals. (Read GrepBeat’s feature here; also a GrepBeat 2024 Startups to Watch honoree!)
Scale Social AI (Raleigh)
Using QR code content curation and AI to help businesses turn everyday customers’ experiences into influencer marketing material. (Read GrepBeat’s feature here; also a GrepBeat 2025 Startups to Watch honoree!)
Skillmaker.AI (Wilmington)
Driving “accelerated human development” through a combination of AI and extended reality that supports immersive, hands-on training solutions for auto services and other industries. (Read GrepBeat’s feature here)
Individual Honors
- Public Leader of the Year: Chief Justice Paul Newby, North Carolina Supreme Court
- Tech Difference Maker of the Year: Sara Nichols, Land-of-Sky Regional Council
- Chief Information Security Officer of the Year: Brian Wilson, SAS
- Tech Woman of the Year: Sujatha Perepa, IBM
- Public Sector CIO of the Year: Anthony Whitmore, NC Administrative Office of the Courts
- Private Sector CIO of the Year: Eban Scanlan, Deutsche Bank
- Tech CEO of the Year: Michael Praeger, AvidXchange
Beacon Award for Outstanding Achievement
This final award was presented posthumously to Doug Lebda of LendingTree and was accepted in the room by Doug’s wife, Megan.
And that wrapped up the evening. NC TECH President and CEO Brooks Raiford expressed to GrepBeat afterward that he felt this year’s event “remained true” to a legacy of honoring excellence and innovation across North Carolina that has been upheld since 1995.
He expressed thanks for the sponsors and staff that made the evening possible (all the more impressive in the aftermath of the fire-driven venue shift) and once again praised the “top-performing companies, breakthrough technologies, and visionary leaders” shaping the NC tech ecosystem.
Please enjoy more photos from the event below:
