Technology Industry News | NC TECH News | NC TECH Monthly Newsletter

May was another exciting month for NC TECH. Most notably, we hosted our inaugural TechFest NC, welcoming more than 500 attendees for two days of technology, innovation, and entertainment in Downtown Durham. The event exceeded expectations, and we're already looking forward to growing it even further next year. We also brought together industry leaders for our Q2 Cyber Security Program in Wilmington and officially opened applications for the 2026 NC TECH Awards.

As we look ahead to summer, we're excited to expand programming for the Young Tech Professionals Network with new networking and mentorship opportunities, launch our new AI Network, and prepare for the Golf Classic + Leadership Summit in Pinehurst this August. Don't forget—applications for the NC TECH Awards close June 30. Be sure to submit your application and put your company in the running for recognition on one of North Carolina's biggest technology stages.

Featured Programming

NC TECH Awards Application Banner

Now Open: NC TECH Awards Applications

Get recognized on one of NC's biggest tech stages!

Applications are now open for the 2026 NC TECH Awards. The annual program, presented by Cherry Bekaert, recognizes the companies, organizations, and leaders driving innovation, growth, and impact across North Carolina’s technology ecosystem.

The awards spotlight excellence across three main areas: Company Performance, Core Innovation, and Individual Awards. Company Performance honors tech organizations demonstrating strong growth, market expansion, job creation, and product innovation, while Core Innovation recognizes organizations leveraging technology to solve complex challenges and transform industries. Individual Awards celebrate leaders whose achievements, influence, and impact have helped shape North Carolina’s tech sector.

Applications are open to eligible companies and organizations with a significant presence in North Carolina, and submissions are accepted across multiple categories, including areas like AI, cybersecurity, fintech, public sector innovation, sustainable tech, and tech-driven business transformation.

Submit your application by June 30 to be considered for recognition at the 2026 NC TECH Awards celebration on November 16 at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel Raleigh-Durham Airport at Research Triangle Park, where finalists and winners will be honored during the annual statewide awards event.

Learn More + Apply Today!

Scholarship Award Winners

Meet the 2026 Education Foundation Scholarship Winners

Lillian van Donk | Apex High School → UNC Chapel Hill | Computer Science

Lillian has already demonstrated exceptional leadership and impact through co-founding GirlsTalkSTEM, a nonprofit expanding access to STEM education for girls that has reached more than 10,000 followers and generated over 2 million views. She also founded and led her school’s ASL Club, teaching peers and advocating for accessibility across her community. As an open-source developer intern at SAS—with a return offer—Lillian combines strong technical skills with a clear mission: to build inclusive technologies shaped by her lived experience and to expand opportunity for underserved communities.

Tracy Hu | Eastern Wayne High School → UNC Charlotte | Electrical Engineering

Tracy brings an impressive blend of research experience, technical curiosity, and community engagement. Through programs like MITES Semester, CCURE research, and advanced manufacturing initiatives, she has developed a strong foundation in engineering and systems thinking. She has also shown leadership as a math club founder and peer tutor, while contributing to real-world problem solving through the SparkNC Teamship program, where she helped develop a volunteer logging app. Her award-winning work in environmental advocacy and engineering reflects a clear focus on using her skills to tackle complex, real-world challenges.

Upcoming Events

NC TECH Awards Information Session

Join us for an informational webinar to learn more about applying for and sponsoring the 2026 NC TECH Awards, presented by Cherry Bekaert.

June 3

YTPN: Spring Networking Hour at Drive Shack (Triangle)

NC TECH’s Young Tech Professionals Network is taking networking to Drive Shack. No golf skills required—just join us for open bays, easy conversation, and a great opportunity to connect with fellow Triangle tech professionals. This event is for members of the Young Tech Professional Network - reach out to Ben Tramontana with any questions.

June 4

Get2Know Monthly (Virtual)

Get2Know NC TECH is our monthly informal virtual gathering meant for people thinking of joining NC TECH, or members who want a refresher on how to get involved in the tech community. Join us for this virtual event and meet other tech professionals and see how NC TECH plans to help advance our state’s robust tech ecosystem. This event is free and available to both members and non-members.

June 5

NC TECH Digital 101 (Virtual)

This monthly webinar is for new (and long-term) members interested in leveraging resources and plugging into our dynamic member community. Learn how to navigate Member InfoHub and engage with NC TECH Connect, our virtual community. We will showcase online resources such as the Marketing Toolkit and Member Directory. Tune in to become ‘savvy’ on how to make the most of your membership.

June 17

NC TECH Awards Information Session

Join us for an informational webinar to learn more about applying for and sponsoring the 2026 NC TECH Awards, presented by Cherry Bekaert.

June 18

YTPN: Beyond the Code: The Skills That Actually Will Get You Promoted in Tech

In today’s tech landscape, strong technical skills are expected, but they are not always what drives career growth. This session focuses on the skills that often go overlooked but make the difference between strong performers and those who move into bigger opportunities. Pulling from real-world recruiting insights and industry trends, I will walk through how tech professionals can better position themselves for growth, increase their visibility, and build long-term success within their organizations.This event is for members of the Young Tech Professional Network - reach out to Ben Tramontana with any questions.

June 25

Events Calendar

Learn More

One of the most impactful ways to get engaged is through events and activities. With 75+ offerings per year, there’s something for everyone. From peer roundtables, networking options and talent attraction activities to informative programs, online auctions and larger annual events. Viewers may search the calendar below in chronological order, sort by filters, or use key words in the search field.

View all of our scheduled events to date.

Talent + Research

Job Board

Are you or someone you know looking for the next opportunity? Check out our job board, with open positions from our member organizations included.

Learn More

IT Job Trends Square

IT Job Trends

Want to stay up to date with all the stats surrounding tech jobs in NC? Check out our latest IT Job Trends report.

Learn More

Membership

Welcome June New Members

Member Companies

Astute Talent Pathways

Avidex

Brunswick

CyberDefender365

Doculingo

Equinix

Geesesquads

HDaxis

IGEL Technology

Individual - Mark Grover

Net Friends

Obsidian Realization Initiative

Pellucid Network

RDU Labs

State Federal Strategies

Statesmen Consulting

TeKnowledge

TRB Creative

Board of Advisors

Robert Constantine | Sr. Director of Sales, U.S. | TeKnowledge

Kevin Donahue | EVP, Sales + Marketing | Avidex

Niraj Kumar | Sr. Director, Enterprise Architecture | Alliance Health

Steve Rao | Of Counsel | State Federal Strategies

Les Roach | Enterprise Relationship Manager SLED East | IGEL Technology

To view a complete list of our Board of Advisors or to learn more about joining, click here. Reach out to Ben Tramontana with any questions.

Member Directory Membership Benefits

If you're not a member, we encourage you to join our network of 600+ member companies, organizations and institutions and take advantage of all membership has to offer. View our 2026 Membership Brochure for an overview of NC TECH.

SPECIAL OFFER: A discounted registration to the upcoming NC TECH Leadership Summit (August 5-6 in Pinehurst) OR a complimentary registration to the Summit for Women in Tech (September 28-29, Asheville) OR a complimentary registration to the NC TECH Awards Celebration (November 16, Durham).

Click the member benefits button below to learn more about membership and how to join. To learn more about membership, contact our Membership Team at Membership@nctech.org or 919.856.0393.

Partner Events

From time to time, NC TECH will partner with organizations to connect members with local events and share perks such as free or discounted registration. Are you an NC TECH member with an event to share with fellow members? To submit an event, complete the form at the link below.

Submit Your Event View All Partner Events

NC TECH Blog

Member Spotlight: Build-A-Bookie

This month’s member spotlight features Build-A-Bookie, submitted by founder Vincent Durham. Headquartered in Charlotte and operating in the SportsTech sector, Build-A-Bookie is transforming everyday competition into a fun, trackable experience, allowing users to create challenges, track lifetime stats, and compete with friends, teams, and communities.

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From Vibe Coding to Spec-Driven Development

Written by: Matt Elgin, Senior Staff Consultant at Callibrity

AI can write code faster than ever, but speed alone doesn't guarantee quality. In this latest #RoadToTechFest blog, Matt Elgin of Callibrity explores why the future of AI-powered development depends on clear specifications, thoughtful planning, and turning great ideas into reliable software.

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Member + Tech News

Check out the stories coming from our state's thriving tech ecosystem:

Communications Sponsor

Meet Wireside