GRO11 Application

GRO11 Application
CED's 12-week intensive incubator program is tailored for early-stage Tech and Biotech startups seeking to fast-track their growth. This spring's cohort will feature an enhanced experience with exciting new benefits, including the chance to compete for a $20,000 first-place cash prize or $5,000 second-place cash prize at Demo Day, as well as a curated Digital Swag Bag designed to support companies throughout the program.

Designed to equip founders and operators with the tools, mentorship, and resources essential for early success, the program emphasizes refining business strategy, advancing product development, and building meaningful market traction.

Each founder is paired with an experienced coach who provides guidance on critical challenges such as customer discovery and acquisition, cash management, and achieving product-market fit. Participants also benefit from a collaborative cohort that fosters connections with peers and thought leaders in North Carolina’s dynamic startup ecosystem.

GRO is ideal for founders and operators ready to clarify their business model and accelerate their momentum toward making a lasting impact in the tech or biotech industries.

If you have any questions regarding this application, please contact Preet Mankad at pmankad@cednc.org. Applications close on February 16th and acceptance decisions will be announced by March 13th, ahead of the cohort launch on March 31st, 2026.

Who Should Apply?

CED welcomes scaling ventures in the Tech, Biotech, Agtech, Food Innovation, Cleantech and CPG sectors to submit an application for consideration. Not sure if you fit in one of those categories? Here are some (not all) of the qualifying sub-sectors:

BioTech	Technology	Food Innovation & Consumer
BioPharma	Advanced Materials	Agtech
BioTech	AI/ML	Alternative Proteins
Digital Health	AR/VR	Animal Health
Drug Delivery	Automotive & Transport	Cannabinoid
Genomics	Big Data	Consumer Products
Immunology	Business Intelligence	Health Consumer
Medical Devices	Cloud Computing	Pet Innovation
Precision Medicine	Cybersecurity	Plant Science
Therapeutics	Data Analytics	Traceability & Supply Chain
	E-Commerce	Waste & Recycling
	EdTech
	FinTech
	Gaming
	Green/Clean Energy
	IoT & Smart Devices
	Logistics
	Marketing Tech
	Nancotechnology
	Real Estate Tech
	Robotics
	Wearables

Selection Process

Each application is reviewed in detail and we will reach out to schedule a brief interview. Final decisions will be communicated by March 13th.
Applicant Name*

First NameLast Name
Email*
example@example.com
How did you hear about GRO? *
This will not impact your application or its review.
If Other, please specify

Basic Company Information
Company Name*
Company Website*
Company LinkedIn Page
Sector*
Year Founded*
Company Address

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code
Short Company Description

Team
Number of Full-Time Employees
Number of Part-Time Employees
Number of Contractors
Founder
Are you (the applicant) the founder of this company?*
Founder Name*

First NameLast Name
Founder Title
To better understand the diversity in our audience and to ensure we address the needs of our entire community, please answer the below questions. Data collected will remain confidential and be used to inform inclusive programing. It will not impact your application or its review.
Founder Gender Identity*
If Other, please describe.*
Founder Race/Ethnicity*

American Indian or Alaskan NativeAsian / Pacific IslanderBlack or African AmericanHispanicWhite / CaucasianOther
If Other, please describe.*
Founder Age Group*
Co-Founder
Co-Founder Name

First NameLast Name
Co-Founder Title
Board Members/Key Advisors

List out all members. Please include full names, email addresses, and titles.
Board Members & Key Advisors*

Revenue
What stage of development is your company currently in?*
What is your current annual revenue?*
What is your projected revenue for this calendar year?*
If no revenue, do you have pilot/beta customers? Please Explain.
Funding
Founders' Contribution*
Grants*
Loans*
Equity/Convertible Notes*
Awards/Prize Money*
Other Funding*
List of Investors (if applicable)

Application Questions
Explain your company's intellectual property. Do you have existing patents? Pending patents? Signed Lease Agreements? Any other barriers to entry against your competitors?*
What is your company's plan for generating revenue? What are the customer segments and price points?*
Who are your company's direct competitors, potential competitors, and alternative solutions? How is your product or service differentiated from the competition?*
Occasionally, CED partners sponsor full or partial need-based scholarships for companies to participate in GRO. If interested, please provide a brief explanation of why you and your company should be considered and how a scholarship may help you.
As part of the GRO program, participating companies will have access to intern support. Please outline any specific projects or areas where you could benefit from associate involvement. The more detail you can provide—including potential tasks, timelines, and desired outcomes—the better. We will discuss these needs further during the interview process

Logo*

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Executive Summary

Cancelof
Pitch Deck

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Other Supporting Materials

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Optional Submissions Video
60 seconds or less
Preet User ID
Product ID
Should be Empty:

GRO11 Application

Who Should Apply?

Selection Process

Basic Company Information

Team

Founder

Co-Founder

Board Members/Key Advisors

Revenue

Funding

Application Questions