n this episode of Amplified CEO, Richard Stroupe sits down with Heather McWhorter, Director of UNCW’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and a board member at NC IDEA. Heather shares her journey from Penn State to southeastern North Carolina—and how she’s helping shape Wilmington’s growing entrepreneurial ecosystem.
They discuss:
• Building momentum at CIE and supporting high-impact startups
• The value of entrepreneurial mindset education
• Heather’s vision for Wilmington’s blue economy and future innovation hubs
• Common founder pitfalls—and how to avoid them
• What it takes to grow an inclusive and resilient startup community
Whether you’re a student, founder, or just curious about Wilmington’s rise as a startup hub, this episode is full of thoughtful insights and actionable takeaways.
Links:
Heather McWhorter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heathermcw/
UNCW CIE: https://uncw.edu/research/centers/innovation-entrepreneurship/
NC IDEA: https://ncidea.org/
⸻
Produced by: Topsail Insider and Cape Fear Ventures
Editor: Jim Mendes-Pouget | jimpouget@gmail.com
To learn more about Amplified CEO: https://www.topsailinsider.com/aceo
To learn more about Topsail Insider: https://www.topsailinsider.com
For media or inquiries: christa@topsailinsider.com | (910) 800-0111
