Ecosysteming

We welcome Justin Rothwell to the Ecosysteming Podcast. Justin is the former Co-founder and CEO of ProAxion, a 2016 NC IDEA SEED grantee. Earlier this year, ProAxion was acquired by Decide4Action, where Justin now serves as CPO of the ProAxion System.

In this episode, host Thom Ruhe and Justin take a stroll down memory lane, reflecting on the early days of the Triangle ecosystem, Justin’s journey to acquisition, and how betting on h...

We are excited to welcome Dr. Nathan Goldschlag, Director of Research at the Economic Innovation Group, to the Ecosysteming Podcast. His work sheds light on the forces shaping business dynamism, innovation, and economic opportunity in communities nationwide.

Host Thom Ruhe and Dr. Goldschlag dive into Opportunity Zones, economic divides between neighboring places, the renewed surge in new firm formation, and the growing role of AI i...

Each year, state and local governments award nearly $90 billion in economic development subsidies to corporations. Greg LeRoy, Executive Director of Good Jobs First (GJF), knows this issue better than anyone.

Dubbed “the leading national watchdog of state and local economic development subsidies,” Greg founded GJF in 1998. GJF is a full-service policy resource center for anyone seeking to reform economic development incentives. He h...

Episode 25 of Ecosysteming features Representative Dante Pittman of Wilson, North Carolina. Representing House District 24, which includes Wilson and parts of Nash Counties, Rep. Pittman is a lifelong Wilson resident with family roots that go back generations.

In this episode, host Thom Ruhe and Rep. Pittman discuss the strengths of Wilson County, how legislative priorities are set, why entrepreneurship should be nurtured in our com...

We are joined by Scot Wingo, General Partner of the Triangle Tweener Fund, Co-Founder and CEO of ReFiBuy.ai, and longtime Podcaster. Having successfully started and exited multiple companies, he has become a champion of the Triangle’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, supporting founders and fueling growth in countless ways.

In 2015, Scot created the Triangle Tweener List to highlight local companies with over 10 people or $1M in...

If you’re an aspiring founder eager to understand how to leverage your local ecosystem, this episode is for you. Episode 23 of Ecosysteming features Bernard Worthy, Co-Founder and CEO of LoanWell. As both an NC IDEA SEED ($50K) and NC BEC Growth ($75K) grantee, Bernard offers a powerful perspective on how local resources and networks can shape entrepreneurial success.

Host Thom Ruhe talks with Bernard about the origins of LoanWell, ...

Episode 22 of Ecosysteming is here! This week, host Thom Ruhe sits down with Victor W. Hwang, Founder & CEO of Right to Start, for a powerful conversation on entrepreneurship as a fundamental right and what it will take to level the playing field for everyone.

Victor is a seasoned entrepreneur who has launched multiple companies, organizations, and initiatives aimed at breaking down barriers for aspiring founders. His ...

On this episode of Ecosysteming, we are thrilled to feature Nicola Corzine, CEO and Executive Director of the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center. As the founding leader of this nonprofit dedicated to expanding access and knowledge in entrepreneurship, Nicola brings over 18 years of experience in venture investment, entrepreneurship, and nonprofit leadership. She is a recognized thought leader in capital access, innovation, and ecosystem...

Our 20th episode of Ecosysteming is here! Join host Thom Ruhe for a thoughtful conversation with Farad Ali—business leader, executive consultant, community builder, and passionate advocate for equity. Farad has spent his career advancing the economic empowerment of underrepresented communities and currently serves on several influential boards.

In this episode, Thom and Farad explore timely issues around economic development, politi...

This week on Ecosysteming we are joined by Paul Corson. With nearly three decades of experience pursuing entrepreneurial initiatives across the U.S., Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia, Paul’s work spans the public and private sectors, NGOs, and higher education. His journey has taken him from startups to shaping public policy at the federal level for the Secretary of Commerce, NASA, and the White House. 

He now serves...

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 presen...

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 Zi...

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 va...

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...

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-im...

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,...

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 ...

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 impa...

To mark ten episodes of Ecosysteming, host Thom Ruhe is joined by Jim Roberts, Founder of the Network for Entrepreneurs in Wilmington, the WALE Angel Network, and NC IDEA ECOSYSTEM partner. With years of experience as an ecosystem leader and NC IDEA reviewer, Jim has contributed to several entrepreneurial ecosystems and now focuses on supporting Wilmington’s rapidly growing startup scene. Tune in to discover what it takes to build ...