Wright Start: Startup weekend

Rachel Haynes is a Program Manager at the Business Sustainability Collaborative, Poole College of Management at NC State University where she is also the B Corp Clinic lead. She is a part-time Operations Director and Treasurer at the nonprofit B Academics which is a global community focused on advancing research, teaching and engagement on B Corps and benefit corporations. She also has taught the University of Florida Business For Good Lab sustainable consulting course. Her mission is to help educate the next generation of leaders through innovation in business education. She holds an MBA from the NC State Jenkins program and a BA in International Studies and Economics from the University of Wisconsin - Madison. In her free time she enjoys traveling, trying new restaurants and playing with her dog Cleo.

Karriem K. Kanston calls himself The Encourager because he inspires and motivates people in their life, career, and business. He just doesn’t talk about changing the world, he does it. A motivational speaker, consultant, author, entrepreneur, advocate for underrepresented businesses, and a valuable asset to organizations. He is the owner of Kanston Development a management consulting firm that focuses on the areas of business growth, leadership, and economic development.

He was on the startup team for the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program at CCRI. He served as the Director of Program Delivery and Lead Faculty. He was on the faculty for CVS Health Executive Learning Series for Diverse Suppliers in which he assisted businesses to become contractors with the company. He is an Army Veteran who has a vast array of experiences and has worked in education, retail, and the financial industries.

Mr. Kanston also has developed workshops and keynotes and presentations on topics of leadership & economic development.

Lauren Romer has spent over seven years building community through her work at Founded Communities, where she champions local entrepreneurs and change makers. She’s a lead organizer of Raleigh-Durham Startup Week and serves on the boards of both B Local Triangle and the Downtown Raleigh Alliance. A Raleigh native who lives and works downtown, Lauren is deeply rooted in the city she loves. Her passion lies in supporting local businesses and creating spaces where people feel connected and empowered.

With a background as a home care business owner and past corporate management experience, Ms. Williams is a Registered Nurse business professional with a vast knowledge for startup success. Over the past six (6) plus years, she has served as a SCORE Mentor to numerous budding and established entrepreneurs.

Clark Rinehart is a Miami native, dad to Beau & Zoe, husband to Laura, and currently working at the intersection of community engagement, community development, and economic development. He is committed to promoting social entrepreneurship and innovation across the Triangle. He yearns to see it become a place where all neighbors have unobstructed access to opportunities where they can fully participate in the life of our community as their whole selves.

Clark is the Founder of LOCAL Coworking, which is a design, strategy, and placemaking firm that works to create flex workspaces focused on social impact. From 2017-2021, Clark led The Loading Dock brand of coworking and collaborative workspaces in Wake County. He helped grow the community from 1 to 4 spaces during his tenure along with adding novel amenities like co-warehousing to the offerings.

Rich Gilliam is an engineering storyteller, robotics innovator, and founder of STEM PLUG. Through his STEM children’s book series and hands-on learning experiences, he has inspired thousands of students worldwide. Rich is on a mission to create 8 million innovators by 2030, helping youth discover their potential through storytelling, purpose, and real-world STEM education.

Award-Winning Entrepreneur | Author | Sales Strategist | Founder of ROAR University™

Dionne Griffin McGee is a powerhouse speaker, author, and sales strategist—and the President & CEO of DG McGee Enterprises. With over 25 years of corporate leadership—including leading multimillion-dollar sales teams—she’s now on a mission to help entrepreneurs package their brilliance and turn offers into income.

Named the 2024 NC Entrepreneur of the Year, Dionne is the visionary behind ROAR University™, the ROAR Conference™, and the transformational ROAR Business Accelerator™—an intensive program that helps founders build premium offers, price with confidence, and scale with strategic systems.

At the core of her method is the R.O.A.R. Framework™—a call to become Relentless, Optimistic, Ambitious, and Results-Driven in business and in life.

Her signature ROAR Reverse RFP™ Method has helped small business owners win contracts and create recurring revenue by turning the traditional sales process upside down.

Whether she’s coaching, keynoting, or closing deals—Dionne shows up with power, purpose, and proof.

She’s here to help you find your R.O.A.R. — and make sure the world hears it.

Tu Tu provides high-touch, concierge-style support to families navigating complex care situations, especially during those critical moments like hospital or rehab discharges. She’s known for stepping in quickly and compassionately, helping families sort through Medicaid planning, consumer-directed care, and pulling together the right care team, fast.

She regularly hosts panels and community conversations where caregivers and adult children come looking for clear guidance on things like trusts, wills, and powers of attorney. With a growing community behind her, Korene’s mission is simple: make legal and care planning less overwhelming and more human, so families feel empowered and supported every step of the way.

Lebone C. Moses is a strategic business executive, investor and advisor, who is passionate about empowering leaders to build stronger, more sustainable businesses. She has 20+ years of experience advising boards and c-suite leaders on strategic, sustainable business growth, including ten years in Big 4 public accounting and seven years with global financial services firms with a focus on risk, internal controls, compliance, cybersecurity, data privacy and data governance. Her career spans highly regulated industries, such as financial services, technology and healthcare, with companies ranging from Fortune 100 to startups. As the Founder and CEO of Chisara Ventures, Inc., she helps her clients strengthen their businesses through advising on organizational strategy, risk management and internal control advisory services. With over a decade of experience in angel investing and venture capital, Lebone has a track record of identifying, advising and investing high-performing startups led by founders, and is the founding GP of GIV Capital.

T’Farri Solutions is a dynamic mindset coach dedicated to empowering individuals and organizations to achieve their fullest potential. Founded with a vision of fostering sustainable growth and personal alignment, T’Farri Solutions specializes in offering tailored coaching services that address the mind, body, and spirit, creating pathways to success that honor each client’s unique journey.

Rachel Cash is a Durham-based privacy attorney turned entrepreneur, and the Founder & CEO of Elroi—a platform that empowers consumers with greater control and ownership over their personal data. With a deep commitment to technology innovation and data governance, Rachel brings a privacy-first approach to product development and enterprise partnerships.

She earned her J.D. from North Carolina Central University School of Law, where she focused on the intersection of law and technology. Passionate about mentorship and equity, Rachel actively works to empower young attorneys and professionals navigating careers in the tech and privacy space.