Entrepreneurship at Wake Forest University

Wake Forest's approach to entrepreneurship is distinctive among its peer schools because it is rooted in a liberal arts tradition rather than a purely technical or business school framework. The Center for Entrepreneurship coordinates programs across the university, and the emphasis is on developing founders who combine creative thinking, ethical reasoning, and commercial skills. The Wake Forest School of Business has invested in entrepreneurship through courses, pitch competitions, and connections to Winston-Salem's growing innovation community.

Winston-Salem's Innovation Quarter is the city's anchor innovation district, built in the former R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company facilities. The transformation of these industrial buildings into research labs, co-working spaces, and startup offices is a powerful symbol of the region's economic evolution. Wake Forest School of Medicine and Wake Forest Baptist Health create healthcare startup opportunities, and the university's research in regenerative medicine and biomedical sciences provides commercializable technology.

Wake Forest's small size (about 5,400 undergraduates) creates a tight-knit entrepreneurship community where students across disciplines know each other and collaborate naturally. The liberal arts foundation means Wake Forest founders tend to be strong communicators and critical thinkers - skills that are often undervalued in startup culture but that translate directly to leadership, fundraising, and brand building.

Wake Forest student founders in 2026 benefit from the Innovation Quarter's resources and the university's growing entrepreneurship programming. The annual Elevator Competition provides funding for student ventures, and the Center for Entrepreneurship connects students with Winston-Salem's business community.

The practical advantage is the personal attention that comes with a small school - Wake Forest students have closer relationships with faculty and mentors than students at large research universities. The challenge is Winston-Salem's smaller market, but the broader Research Triangle ecosystem (about 90 minutes east) and Charlotte (about 90 minutes south) provide additional resources.

• Center for Entrepreneurship
• Wake Forest School of Business - entrepreneurship programs
• Elevator Competition - student pitch competition
• Innovation Quarter partnerships

• Innovation Quarter - Winston-Salem innovation district
• Center for Entrepreneurship - venture support
• Wake Forest Innovations - tech transfer

• Wake Forest Entrepreneurship Club
• Deacon Ventures
• Wake Forest Innovation Lab
• Social Enterprise Club

• BB&T/Truist (various leaders)
• Wrangler (Casey Jones)
• Replacements, Ltd. (Bob Page)
• Various Innovation Quarter companies

Winston-Salem's Innovation Quarter is one of the more compelling urban innovation stories in the Southeast. The conversion of former tobacco industry buildings into a 200+ acre innovation district has created a community of startups, research organizations, and educational institutions. For Wake Forest founders, this provides a local ecosystem that is intimate and supportive, with lower costs than the Research Triangle or Charlotte. The university's medical school and research capabilities add healthcare innovation opportunities. The broader North Carolina ecosystem - Research Triangle, Charlotte's financial sector, and the state's growing tech presence - provides scaling options as companies grow beyond the Winston-Salem market.

Winston-Salem has a growing innovation community centered on the Innovation Quarter. The broader North Carolina ecosystem (Research Triangle, Charlotte) provides additional resources. The cost of living is very competitive.