First Flight Venture Center

04/17/2026

Cap off on April 20 with drinks, conversations, and real connections.

After a day of workshops, pitches, and insights, this happy hour brings together founders, investors, and climate leaders to continue the conversation. Whether you’re looking for collaborators, partners, or simply want to connect with others building in the space, this is where those conversations happen.

Register: https://luma.com/recgCBY1sBMVeUzcm?lm_source=embed

First Flight is a partner in the Carolina Climate initiative and proud to support this growing community and the continued momentum of climate tech in North Carolina.

04/16/2026

is coming to Raleigh-Durham Startup Week on April 20!

This new climate track is a collaboration between Carolina Climate and Raleigh-Durham Startup Week, supported by the City of Raleigh’s Impact Partner Grant, and reflects the growing momentum around climate innovation across the Triangle.

The day will bring together founders, investors, researchers, and industry leaders for conversations focused on building and scaling climate-driven companies, strengthening connections to capital, and highlighting North Carolina’s strengths across sectors like manufacturing, biotech, agriculture, textiles, and energy.

First Flight is a partner in the Carolina Climate initiative and proud to support this growing community and the continued momentum of climate tech in North Carolina.

See full schedule and register: https://www.raleighdurhamstartupweek.com/climate-tech

Supported by the City of Raleigh, with contributions from Cotopaxi.

04/15/2026

We’re thrilled to be at with the North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership and NC Business Partnership! 🚀 Stop by the First Flight table to meet Ben, explore innovative tech, and discover how we’re supporting NC’s next generation of science and manufacturing leaders. Let’s connect and shape the future together!

04/10/2026

Thank you to our March Captain's Circle Learning Series speaker, First Flight Navigator Chris Rogers, who led a working discussion on negotiation strategies.

Check out the latest "Thoughts from the Captain’s Circle" installation from Jennifer Murray on LinkedIn for the full recap and key takeaways!

We had another impactful Captain’s Circle session last month at First Flight Venture Center. These sessions continue to stand out for the caliber of conversation and the willingness of founders to engage openly around both progress and challenge.

04/09/2026

🚀 Ready to transform your breakthrough idea into a thriving business? Join the First Flight Venture Center Cohort kicking off on May 7th, 2026 🚀

Early-stage deeptech founders in , this is your moment — don’t let it slip by! Apply by April 30, 2026: https://firstflightventurecenter.growthzoneapp.com/ap/Form/FillV2/LzjdEcjL?cid=%7B%7BHCIContactId

04/07/2026

Attention startups! We’re partnering with Siemens to offer TWO exclusive Siemens Startup Software Scholarships.

Eligible startups can win:
✨ A 12-month license to Siemens NX & Simcenter (valued at $2,500+)
✨ A Siemens media package—featuring podcast interviews, promotional videos, case studies, and global digital promotion
✨ $5,000 AWS credit for 2 years, thanks to Siemens/AWS partnership

Ready to take your innovation to the next level? Apply now for your chance to unlock these incredible resources and boost your startup’s growth! https://forms.monday.com/forms/39004fad89c3c9562916aa166698e335?r=use1

04/05/2026

🌼 Happy Easter from First Flight Venture Center!
Wishing our innovators and community a bright, refreshing spring season filled with new ideas, new energy, and new opportunities taking flight. ✨
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04/03/2026

Please join us in welcoming Nico Reinoso to the First Flight family as our LATAM Program Development Director!

Nicolás “Nico” Reinoso is a global business development executive and agronomist with 25+ years of experience scaling AgTech, AgriFoodTech, and ClimateTech innovations across international markets. Having worked with farmers in more than 27 countries, he focuses on understanding adoption behavior and turning agricultural innovation into scalable businesses. He holds an Agronomy Engineering degree from Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina, an MBA from Universidad del CEMA, and executive education from MIT Sloan, Kellogg School of Management, and Cornell University.

04/01/2026

Get ready for a fun afternoon of delicious barbecue, refreshing drinks, and live music! Join us in May for our Barbecue, Brews & Band event. It will be a great opportunity to relax, connect, and celebrate our community at First Flight Venture Center.

Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more details and registration info coming soon!

03/30/2026

What does it actually look like on the front lines of right now?

With the 7th edition of the FoodTech 500 rankings set to drop tomorrow, Forward Fooding tapped their panel of Ambassadors—including our very own Dr. Balaji Vasudevan—to share what they are seeing in the wild.

Check out the blog here:

As the FoodTech 500 2025 rankings approach, industry Ambassadors reveal a major shift: revenue is now the baseline. But what comes next for AgriFoodTech innovation, funding, and global food systems?

03/27/2026

We’re still buzzing from last week’s Itineraries: Women’s History Month Founder Panel! 🌟

Huge thanks to our powerhouse panelists for sharing their inspiring journeys.

Our attendees left energized, equipped with actionable insights and real-world advice from these trailblazing women founders. From overcoming challenges to building thriving ventures, their stories are shaping the future of entrepreneurship.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make this event unforgettable!


Photo credit: Tessefi Medical Solutions on LinkedIn