North Carolina’s Tech Triumph: Celebrating an Extraordinary Year

About the Author

Chuck Hester, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of A Purpose Partnership, possesses a wealth of expertise from a 35-year career in assisting small and medium-sized businesses. He played a key role in leading iContact’s executive team, which elevated the company’s sales to $50 million and a successful exit at $169 million.

NC Tech Awards Gala

The North Carolina Technology Association (NC TECH) hosted its annual NC Tech Awards at the Raleigh Convention Center, with over 700 technology executives in attendance. The awards celebrated the intersection of technology and human culture, the tech community leaders of present and future, and the promising future of the region.

NC TECH President and CEO, Brooks Raiford, noted the significant successes of the tech community throughout the year. The event recognised the critical role technology plays in North Carolina’s economy and the companies that are positively impacting it.

Highlighting Tech Beyond the Triangle

The awards also spotlighted the thriving tech sector outside the Triangle area. Notable winners and finalists came from not just Raleigh and Durham, but also Wilmington, Winston Salem, and Carthage.

One such success story is David Reeser, CEO and Founder of Wilmington-based OpiAID, who won the Use of Technology Award in AI + Data Analytics. His company leverages data science to make addiction treatment safer and more effective.

And the Winners Are…

Startups to Watch

The event also highlighted the top 10 Startups to Watch, which included innovative solutions like Active Defender’s school safety technology, Leantime’s AI-enhanced workflow and project management platform, and Social Cascade’s healthcare patient education platform.

Honoring Achievements and Public Leaders

Tech industry veteran Scot Wingo, CEO of Spiffy and General Partner of the Triangle Tweener Fund, was recognized with the Beacon Award for Outstanding Achievement for his extensive work in fostering entrepreneurship in the Triangle area over several decades. Wingo expressed his gratitude for the recognition, stating his ongoing commitment to nurturing the startup ecosystem.

Reflecting a different generation of leaders, the event honored NC House Representative Jake Johnson, who at 22 won his first county election in 2016. NC Tech named him Public Leader of the Year for his significant contributions to technology advancement in North Carolina.