GrepBeat’s “Startups To Watch” recognizes early-stage startups that we believe are going to make a lot of noise over the next several years.
Thank you to everyone who joined us at Bay 7 at the American Tobacco Campus in Durham for our 2026 celebration!
OUR 2026 JUDGES
Heather McWhorter (UNCW Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship)
Preet Mankad (Center for Entrepreneurial Development)
Emil Runge (Launch Chapel Hill)
Juan Garzón (Innovate Charlotte)
Amy Bastian (NC IDEA)
2026 SPONSORS
2026 COMMUNITY PARTNERS
PAST HONOREES
Each year our honorees are revealed at our event and receive their “Startup to Watch” awards. Read about past events and honorees at the following links:
See photos from past Startups to Watch events below
Want to join them? Become a sponsor to gain exposure in front of North Carolina’s most exciting startups and media coverage before and after the event. Contact Cesar Romero of GrepBeat about sponsoring.