News
Inside the AI Stack: How Local Startups Are Using AI to Solve Real Problems
At Winston Starts, founders are using AI to automate customer communication and organize massive datasets while others are using it as acting strategic thought partners and operational infrastructure. Our founders aren’t replacing the human touch in their business, but reducing friction so they can focus their energy on creativity and growth.
Impact-First Founders: Startups Creating Real Change in Winston-Salem
From agriculture to postpartum care to authentic culinary experiences each of the Winston Starts founders we interviewed are creating businesses that are reshaping the communities they feel called to serve.
On Holiday Selected as Spring 2026 NC IDEA $50k Seed Grant Finalist, Set to Pitch May 8th
Congratulations to the Spring 2026 NC IDEA SEED ($50K) Finalists! These companies are advancing economic development across North Carolina with ideas that spark growth, create jobs, and strengthen communities throughout our state.
Burnout Isn’t a Badge of Honor: An Interview with Jessica Bruno of MentalRest
We sat down with one of our Winston Starts Founder, Jessica Bruno, Clinical Director of Mental Rest to unpack stress patterns in entrepreneurship and how founders can better support their mental health while building something meaningful.
NC IDEA announces statewide investments by the NC Tweener Fund, Powered by NC IDEA featuring founder, David Kaszycki and the Beam Dynamics team
This is a testament to the excellence David and his team bring to building Winston-Salem’s entrepreneurial ecosystem every single day. We’ve always prided ourselves on being a hub for NC IDEA grantees, and now we’re expanding that legacy into the investment space too.
Non-Traditional Funding Options for Startup Founders
For today’s founders, the question isn’t if you need funding, it’s “which path to funding aligns with your current stage, your goals and the direction you want to grow your business?”