Ecosysteming

What do you do after building and selling a hugely successful software company? If you’re David Cummings , you put the vast majority of your wealth back into helping build the next generation of entrepreneurs. On this episode of Ecosysteming , Thom Ruhe sits down with David, Founder and CEO of Atlanta Ventures , Founder of Atlanta Tech Village , and Co-founder and Chairman of SoDo Atlanta . His en...

What happens to a successful business when its owner is ready to retire, but there is no one prepared to take over? On this episode of Ecosysteming , host Thom Ruhe sits down with Darryl Lindie , Co-Founder of New Majority Capital and President of AA Sign & Awning , an 80 year old company he acquired and now operates. Darryl makes the case for entrepreneurship through acquisition (ETA), a path...

At just 18 years old, Arnav Chauhan is already challenging the traditional path from high school to college to career. In this episode of #Ecosysteming, host Thom Ruhe talks with Arnav about leaving the traditional high school experience behind, spending time working with startups in San Francisco, using AI to build and learn faster, and preparing for his next chapter as a Meritocracy Fellow at Pa...

Episode 46 of #Ecosysteming features a very special guest as host Thom Ruhe sits down with Q. Nicole Vanderhorst , founder and CEO of WH Farms Co. , to discuss her journey from commercial real estate to building a vertically integrated botanical science company. They explore misconceptions surrounding industrial hemp, the challenges of navigating regulation and capital, and WH Farms’ strategy for...

This episode of #Ecosysteming offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at NC IDEA’s grantmaking process with Amy Bastian , Vice President of Grants and Programs. With applications for the Fall 2026 Grant Cycle now open, Amy joins host Thom Ruhe for a deep dive into NC IDEA MICRO ($10K) and SEED ($50K), two non-dilutive grant programs (free money!) supporting North Carolina founders. Which grant should...

Can we destroy PFAS forever chemicals before they reach our drinking water? Doug Speight believes we can. Doug is the CEO of AxNano , a five time technology startup founder, and an experienced innovation commercialization leader who has worked with universities, NASA , and Department of Energy research labs. He joins host Thom Ruhe to explain how AxNano is using supercritical water oxidation to de...

Franchising is often overlooked as a path to entrepreneurship, but Anna Dey is redefining what it means to build a business through the franchise model. In Episode 43 of #Ecosysteming , host Thom Ruhe sits down with top producing franchise consultant, multi-unit and multi-brand franchise owner, and founder of franSPOT , Anna Dey. With more than 15 years of experience, Anna has owned and operated f...

Episode 42 of #Ecosysteming is a real treat as host Thom Ruhe sits down with entrepreneur, investor, and community builder Talib Graves-Manns . This wide ranging conversation explores ownership, wealth creation, entrepreneurship, and the future of economic development. From launching Partners in Equity , to helping  business owners purchase commercial real estate, Talib shares why access to capita...

Once known for tobacco and textiles, Winston-Salem is now producing founders and funders that are catching the attention of the entire nation. On Episode 41 of Ecosysteming , host Thom Ruhe sits down with Stan Parker , General Partner of the Winston-Salem Partners Roundtable (WSPR) Fund and former President of Winston Starts , for a timely conversation about how Winston-Salem is producing so much...

Episode 40 of Ecosysteming welcomes Amy Dunlap , CEO and Co-founder of Stemz , a Winston-Salem based logistics and technology company connecting U.S. flower farmers with floral creatives. Host Thom Ruhe chats with Amy about the unprecedented growth Stemz has experienced over the past year, leading her team to expand beyond North Carolina and raise a new seed round. Amy shares the journey behind th...

How can a founder fully tap into North Carolina’s entrepreneurial ecosystem? Founder and CEO of Stem Plug , Rich Gilliam , shares his journey on Episode 39 of the Ecosysteming podcast with host Thom Ruhe . Rich’s path began in engineering and evolved through his Master’s in Educational Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneurship at UNC-Chapel Hill. From there, he became an NC IDEA Startup Analyst...

Episode 38 of Ecosysteming welcomes Margaret McNab , a longtime friend of the Foundation. Host Thom Ruhe sits down with the Principal and Strategic Advisor of McNab & Company to discuss her accomplished career helping people come together, strengthen communities, and expand opportunity for all. At McNab & Company, Margaret helps leaders communicate their vision with clarity and purpose, sp...

If you are a founder looking for direction on how to tap into the entrepreneurial ecosystem, this episode is for you. Runbin Dong , Founder and CEO of Scale Social AI , knows how to make the most of the resources available to founders across the state. A biomedical engineer turned Serial Entrepreneur, Runbin has built Scale Social AI to help brands capture authentic customer experiences in real ti...

Episode 36 of Ecosysteming welcomes a good friend of the Foundation, Michelle Bolas , President and CEO of NCInnovation . What does it take to turn university research into real economic opportunity for North Carolina? In this episode, host Thom Ruhe sits down with Michelle to unpack NCInnovation's model for moving breakthrough technologies out of public universities and into the market faste...

2026 has already been a BIG year for NC IDEA and an even bigger one for North Carolina’s startup ecosystem. On this episode of 𝘌𝘤𝘰𝘴𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨, host Thom Ruhe sits down with Scot Wingo and Robbie Allen , General Partners of the newly rebranded NC Tweener Fund, Powered by NC IDEA . The conversation explores the strategic investor relationship between NC IDEA and the Triangle Tweener Fund, and what it...

Episode 34 of Ecosysteming is a must listen as host Thom Ruhe sits down with Raleigh Mayor Janet Cowell . Together, they explore what is driving Raleigh and the Triangle’s momentum and why the region continues to attract entrepreneurs and funders from outside of North Carolina. Mayor Cowell shares her path to public service and explains why entrepreneurship and small business growth are central to...

Episode 33 of 𝘌𝘤𝘰𝘴𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 welcomes a familiar face and NC IDEA’s newest team member, Tom Snyder , Vice President of Programs at the Foundation. Host Thom Ruhe joins Tom for a wide-ranging conversation highlighting NC IDEA’s recent joint venture with The Wireless Research Center , and how this collaboration expands NC IDEA’s acceleration services for entrepreneurs across North Carolina and strengt...

Episode 32 of Ecosysteming is here, now in VIDEO format! Host Thom Ruhe sits down with Carlo Diy , NC IDEA Program Manager, for a conversation that traces Carlo’s path from mission driven work to entrepreneurship education, and how those experiences shaped the way he supports founders today. Together, Thom and Carlo break down NC IDEA MINDSET and how it is bringing entrepreneurial thinking to Nort...

We kick off the new year with a new episode of Ecosysteming featuring host Thom Ruhe and Mitch Smith , Senior Investment Manager at the South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA) . They discuss the similarities and differences between NC’s and SC’s entrepreneurial ecosystems and what’s helping SC emerge as a standout state for founders. Mitch breaks down how SC’s startup landscape is evolving and ho...

We welcome Jenn Summe to the 30th episode of Ecosysteming ! As General Partner at Primordial Ventures , Co-Founder of LiLa , and a longtime NC IDEA SEED ($50K) Core Reviewer, Jenn brings deep insight into what makes North Carolina founders stand out and why the state’s startup ecosystem is gaining national attention. Did you know 57% of Primordial’s portfolio is made up of NC IDEA–funded companies...

Charlotte’s entrepreneurial energy is rising thanks to ecosystem champions like Keith Luedeman . He brings an impressive track record and deep experience in ecosystem building and supporting the Queen City’s startup community. Keith is a successful exited founder, an investor with the Charlotte Angel Fund , an Operating Partner and LP at IDEA Fund Partners , Board Chair at Innovate Charlotte , and...

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 journe...

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 f...

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...

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 entreprene...