First Flight Venture Center

09/01/2026

The world’s innovation leaders are gathering in our backyard. 🌎

As the G20 Innovation Ministerial convenes September 1–2 in Chapel Hill, First Flight Venture Center is proud to see North Carolina’s Research Triangle at the center of a global conversation about artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, scientific advancement and technology-driven economic growth.

For 35 years, First Flight Venture Center has helped high-science, deep-tech founders transform bold ideas into solutions with real-world impact. This moment reinforces what we have long known: the Triangle is where groundbreaking research, entrepreneurship and collaboration come together.

Welcome to North Carolina, G20 United States. We are excited to see the future of innovation being discussed right here in our community.

UNC and the Town of Chapel Hill have warned of increased traffic and community organizations have planned protests.

08/31/2026

A new Test Flight is happening tomorrow! Would you like to test your pitch? Join us!

08/28/2026

Captain’s Circle Recap ✈️

What happens when you take networking out of the abstract and actually practice it? You get a fantastic Captain’s Circle!

A big shout-out to Neville De Lucia of Dale Carnegie Training for bringing the energy and making networking feel approachable, practical, and fun. In just 30 minutes, our Captains were out of their seats, actively participating, and strengthening their skills around listening vs. interrogating, expressing genuine interest, and shifting the focus to the other person.

The takeaway? Great business relationships begin with great conversations. And we’ll have plenty more opportunities to put those skills into practice at upcoming First Flight Venture Center events. 🚀

08/27/2026

Who are the next North Carolina startups to watch? 👀
GrepBeat's Startups to Watch returns to Durham on September 24, recognizing 10 promising early-stage startups from across the state.
Join founders, investors, and startup supporters at Bay 7 at American To***co for an evening celebrating what's next in NC entrepreneurship.

🎟️ https://donorbox.org/events/943544/steps/choose_tickets

08/26/2026

What if the work you’re doing didn’t just build a company—but changed the world?

Larry Page’s words are a powerful reminder that meaningful innovation starts with purpose. The biggest ideas often come from people who are genuinely excited to solve problems, challenge assumptions, and create something that matters.

For founders and innovators, that excitement can be the fuel that keeps you moving forward when the path isn’t always clear.

Build something important. Solve something meaningful. Change what’s possible.

08/25/2026

Our Latin American Program Developer Director, Nicolas Reinoso, recently spent time connecting with entrepreneurs, researchers, investors, and industry leaders across Argentina’s growing AgTech ecosystem.

His message is an important one: Argentina has the talent, science, agricultural expertise, and entrepreneurial drive to build solutions with global impact. The next step is connecting that innovation to the right markets, partnerships, and ecosystems.

At First Flight Venture Center, we’re excited to help build those bridges—connecting Latin American innovators with opportunities in the U.S. and beyond.

We’re proud to have Nicolas representing our global mission and helping create pathways for high-impact innovation to move from local potential to global impact.

Three stages. Ten days. One powerful conclusion: Argentina is ready to export much more than commodities. 1) At the Bolsa de Comercio de Rosario, I shared the stage with Gerardo Bartolomé (GDM) to discuss leadership and the future of agribusiness. Gerardo addressed the macroeconomic context; I focu...

08/20/2026

Here is your reminder! Join us for Happy Hour, starting at 4pm today! Click the link to register: bit.ly/FFVCHappyHour

08/19/2026

Our highly anticipated annual High Flyer Awards Luncheon is set for November 20th! Nominations are now open!

Who is helping move innovation forward?

Who is championing bold ideas, supporting entrepreneurs, opening doors, mentoring the next generation, or building something that is making a real impact?

The 2026 High Flyer Awards are now accepting nominations for individuals and companies who are making a difference across the HIGH SCIENCE. DEEP TECH. HIGH IMPACT. entrepreneurial ecosystem.

This is your opportunity to shine a light on the innovators, leaders, mentors, champions, and organizations who deserve to be recognized.

Know a High Flyer? Nominate them today.

Submit a nomination →https://bit.ly/4gF54qY

08/18/2026

Join us Thursday, August 20, for First Flight Happy Hour—a monthly gathering designed to bring innovators, entrepreneurs, founders, and ecosystem leaders together for meaningful conversations and a little time to unwind.

This month, we’re shining a spotlight on the Carolina Climate Founders Forum (CCFF) and the growing momentum behind clean and climate tech innovation across North Carolina. 🌱

Come for the happy hour. Stay for the connections, insights, and opportunities that come from being part of a community that’s building what’s next.

📅 Thursday, August 20
⏰ 4:00–5:30 PM
📍 First Flight Venture Center

Register here: https://launch.ffvcnc.org/events/Details/first-flight-happy-hour-featuring-1663606?sourceTypeId=Website

08/18/2026

Congratulations to our partners at NC State University on leading FutureTEX, a groundbreaking 10-year initiative with a potential value of $480 million focused on strengthening U.S. textile manufacturing and advancing technologies for the defense industry.

FutureTEX brings together universities, industry, government and nonprofit partners to modernize manufacturing, develop new materials and technologies, strengthen the domestic supply chain, and build the workforce needed for what’s next.

This is more than a major investment—it’s a powerful example of what happens when research, innovation, commercialization and collaboration come together.

We’re proud to see our partners helping position North Carolina—and the nation—for the future of advanced manufacturing.

Read the full story from NC State News: NC State News: FutureTEX
https://news.ncsu.edu/2026/08/futuretex-defense-manufacturing-industry/

The FutureTEX initiative will work with American manufacturing to capitalize on digital infrastructure and other emerging technologies to make the domestic supply network more robust for the defense industrial base.