Cucalorus Connect, November 14-15, 2019

Cucalorus Connect is a 2-day business, technology and innovation conference taking place in Historic Downtown Wilmington, NC. Connect is where technology and creativity collide, including topics like artificial intelligence, Data driven patient-centricity , the role of meaning in brand, big data, and entrepreneurial resilience. Join us for an outstanding lineup of speakers organized in five dynamic tracks: Healthtech, Gigtech, Fintech, Startups, and the Community Brew. (Learn more about the Connect tracks here!) Connect examines storytelling as an essential tool for business success and focuses on promoting technology-driven, traded-sector employers as the spark for economic growth in Southeastern North Carolina and beyond.

Stay tuned for 2019 Connect Programming!

Connect Pass: $100

Grab a pass now, which includes access to all Connect events, Nov 14-15, 2019!

Buy a 2019 Connect Pass

2018 Connect events ::

(Stay tuned for 2019 Programming Updates!)

10×10 Challenge Screening

Various
10 entrepreneurs are paired with 10 filmmakers and challenged to make a 4-minute promo video in five days. See them on Sunday. The BarTrack product reduces thousands of lost dollars...

read more

Agave – The Spirit of a Nation

Nick Kovacic, Matthew Riggieri
In Mexico families have been passing down the tradition of distilling agave for generations. Discover how this once obscure Mexican drink has grown into the fastest growing spirit in the...

read more

Agave Soirée

Shelley Granger and Luke Carnavale
Join us for an Agave Soirée and sip Casamigos like a star! Experience all four agave based spirits produced by George Clooney and Rande Gerber with your tequila tour guides,...

read more

AI: It’s All About the Data

Bill Stuart, Senior Staff Data Scientist, GE
Missing data? Dirty data? Identify the major challenges and solutions facing companies using AI applications. Bill Stuart, Senior Staff Data Scientist, GE Bill joined GE in April 2018. He focuses...

read more

AI: The 3rd Generation of Computing

Dr. Curry Guinn, Dr. Julian Keith, Mike Orr (moderator)
Explore how humans learn and reason, then see where current tech stands in reproducing our biological capabilities. Dr. Curry Guinn, Ph.D., Professor and Chair, Department of Computer Science, UNCW Dr....

read more

Assessing Opportunities

Dr. Xaver Neumeyer, Assistant Professor of Management, Cameron School of Business, UNCW
Finding attractive entrepreneurial opportunities to pursue is a major challenge and requires a systematic approach. The goal of this session is to familiarize participants with approaches that can help with...

read more

Brewmaster

Douglas Tirola
SXSW Documentary Spotlight film Brewmaster artfully captures the craftsmanship, passion and innovation within the beer industry by following the stories of two struggling beer lovers: Drew, a New York lawyer and...

read more

Charlie Fink’s Metaverse

Charlie Fink, Futurist and Forbes Columnist
"The greatest entertainment, technology and business story of our time- and the company that solves it will be bigger than Google." -Charlie Fink From Lion King to Location Based-VR and...

read more

Community Brew Closeout Session

Amanda Fitzpatrick, News Anchor, WWAY and Cedric Harrison, Founder, Support the PORT
This final session features key speakers from the track with an opportunity to share insights and ideas generated during previous discussions. Everyone will have a chance to comment and contribute...

read more

Connect Doc Showcase

Various
Join us for clips from some of the most moving docs from the festival schedule and a discussion with the filmmakers. Extraordinary People  // Laura Hart McKinny, John McKinny Impact: Investing...

read more

Connect Social Hour

Hosted by the NC Biotechnology Center, Southeastern Office
Enjoy drinks and river views at this social hour hosted by the NC Biotechnology Center, Southeastern Office.

read more

Cucalorus Connect Beer Party

Edward Teach Brewery hosts the annual Cucalorus Connect Beer Party. Wind down with a cold one after two days of mind-blowing technology and talking at Cucalorus Connect.

read more

Cucalorus Kickoff Party

Kickoff Cucalorus in style at the Cucalorus Kickoff Party at tekMountain. Join us on November 6th at 5:30pm to celebrate the start of Cucalorus and the Connect Conference. Come mingle...

read more

Cuctails Late Night Party

An unexpected combo of bonfires and tastie beverages. With a few interactive installations and “Soul Sessions” - a late night open mic experience.

read more

Design Thinking for Delightful Banking Experiences

Malaika Paquiot, Master Product Manager, International Markets, nCino
Learn strategies that draw from manufacturing and the visual arts to foster creativity and innovation. Malaika Paquiot, Master Product Manager, International Markets, nCino With more than 15 years experience, Malaika...

read more

DIY AI: You Can Do It Too!

Dr. Ralph Reda, Adjunct Professor of Physics and Instructor of Business Analytics, UNCW
Machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) were once the domain of computer scientists proficient in advanced programming languages with access to high-performance supercomputers. Over the past few years, advances...

read more

Emerging Trends in FinTech

Xeth Waxman, Executive Vice President of Engineering, Apiture
Be innovative or get left behind. Learn how FinTech is disrupting traditional financial services. Xeth Waxman, Executive Vice President of Engineering, Apiture Xeth is as a seasoned engineering leader, with...

read more

Employment in the New Economy

Pat Petitti, Co-founder and CEO at Catalant
Explore how AI technology matches business expertise with enterprises to address needs efficiently and in real-time. The result? An agile workforce. Pat Petitti, Co-founder and CEO at Catalant Prior to founding...

read more

Farmsteaders

Shaena Mallett
Having abandoned a career as a food processing engineer at General Mills, Nick returns home, the prodigal son, to resurrect his late grandfather’s dairy farm. Short Before the Feature: NourishNC Short // Steven...

read more

Film Festival Alliance / VOLUNTEERS

We all know festivals wouldn’t happen without volunteers. How do you reward your volunteers, beyond the basics? How do you handle the blurred lines between volunteers who work as hard...

read more

Film Festival Alliance: Meet the Festivals

Lela Meadow-Conner
Film Festival Alliance invites attending Cucalorus and regional filmmakers to a candid Meet the Programmers discussion with film festival programmers from across the country. Attending festivals include Full Frame, RiverRun, Atlanta,...

read more

Financial Inclusion

Stephen Slattery, Vice President, Business Development Americas, Ding
Ding was founded to change billions of lives by accelerating mobile access. As the number one international mobile top-up platform in the world, Ding has been keeping people connected since...

read more

FinTech and the Digital Consumer: The Future of Banking

Thomas Cozzolino, Timur Davis, Xeth Waxman, Jonathan Rowe, Malaika Paquiot (moderator)
The digital revolution has arrived in the financial services sector. Whether a challenge or an opportunity, financial services and consumers are taking a bold step to engage with emerging innovations....

read more

Food for Thought

Frankie Roberts, Joe Conway, Beth Gaglione, Sarah Daniels (moderator)
Who has access to healthy, fresh food and grocery stores? Who doesn’t? Why does it matter? What can we do to create sustainable food systems that deliver equitable solutions to...

read more

Get Artificially Intelligent in Your Customer Experience

Wilson Raj, Global Director of Customer Intelligence, SAS
The explosion of data is fueling more algorithmic and real-time approaches to addressing different business issues, and customer experience (CX) in particular.  The nexus of big data analytics and the...

read more

GigTech: AI and the Sharing Economy

Mark Steiner, Pat Petitti, Robert Preville, Mona Badie (moderator)
Setting the stage for our investigation of artificial intelligence and the changing nature of work, this panel features industries ranging from entertainment to software. This session explores two distinct economic...

read more

Go Book Yourself – A GigSalad Workshop

Megan Price & Heather Roonan, GigSalad
Experts from the leading entertainment booking marketplace share the tools you need to turn your gig opportunities and passion into profit. Heather Roonan, Content Manager & GigSalad Veteran, GigSalad After...

read more

IGNITE! Short Talks from Industry Insiders

Dr. Jeff Bullard, David Burke, Ginny Mahaney, Dr. Luke Marshall, Nate O'Keefe
Join several speakers as they present their experiences and points of view on the "Last Mile" of patient engagement, while exploring the obstacles and opportunities for the patient and caregivers. ...

read more

Intro to Super 8 Filmmaking Workshop

Norwood Cheek
This session will focus on a quick background on the evolution of film formats and give insight into shooting super 8 today - what film stocks are available, what to...

read more

Jules of Light and Dark

Daniel Laabs
A lustrous and tender Texas tale of loneliness and uncertainty, director Daniel Laabs’ feature debut tracks the uneasy coming-of-age of Maya (Tallie Medel), whose on-again, off-again relationship with her free-spirited...

read more

Modern Architecture and FinTech: Are You Listening?

Thomas Cozzolino, Senior Director of Market Strategy at Salesforce
David Bowie once said that "tomorrow belongs to those who can hear it coming”. While talk of "digital transformation" is all the rage in financial services, how can technology tune...

read more

Opening HealthTech Symposium

Chris Hillier, PhD, Executive Director, NHRMC Innovation Center
Chris sets the stage for an engaging day of conversation that looks at how healthcare tech, big data, AI and cutting-edge user interfaces can drive patient engagement, better health outcomes...

read more

Poitín Workshop

Ollie, Great Wagon Road
Experience the real-life account of an Irish bootlegger - once caught for selling his moonshine - make a comeback in the states through his Grandson Oliver Mulligan, who left his...

read more

Race and Recovery: Post-Florence Realities

Rep. Rodney Moore, JC Lyle, Kojo Nantumbu, Cedric Harrison (moderator)
How has the community response to Hurricane Florence spread itself into our communities? How have historical racial divisions and imbalances impacted victims in African-American neighborhoods? Rodney Moore, NC House of...

read more

Rocket Pitch

Various
Fast-paced pitch competition. Watch startups go head-to-head with just 90 seconds and one slide to capture audience votes. Presented in conjunction with the All Conference Keynote, Speaking the Same Language: Connecting...

read more

SCRUM #1: How does HealthTech become fun?

Michael Katchman, Dr. Carrie Shaw, Sean Ahlum (moderator)
The promise of technology to improve the delivery, payment, and/or consumption of care also crosses paths with regulations, databases, applications, mobiles, wearables...can fun be in this mix? Michael Katchman, Founder...

read more

Scrum #2: The data SPEAKS. . . yet how can we better LISTEN?

Adrianne Overbay, Chris Skowrownek, Wilson Raj, Mike Rhoades (moderator)
How do we “anticipate” health events and, in doing so, creatively engage patients in self management of their care while informing and activating caregivers? Adrianne Overbay, AVP, National Value Based...

read more

Speaking the Same Language: Connecting with Technology Brands Today

Susan Ellis, Director of Brand and Corporate Social Innovation, SAS / with special guest, Charlie Fink, Futurist and Forbes Columnist
Our All-Conference Session includes the Rocket Pitch Competition, presentation of the Emergent Leadership Fellows, and a featured keynote by Susan Ellis. When we think of technology, words like empathy and...

read more

The Blockchain Revolution

Girard Newkirk, Breven Warren, Richard Pasquantonio (moderator)
Labeled as the next Big Thing, learn how a profound technological shift will change how the world does business. Girard Newkirk, founder and CEO, KWHCoin As the founder and CEO...

read more

The Campari Cuctails Party

The official launch of our four day cocktail journey, the Campari Cuctails party features a very special visiting bartender with a special selection of our custom recipes, as well as...

read more

The Community Brewer’s Panel: an inside look at brewing in NC

Jacqueline Crane, Gary Sholar, Aaron Skiles, Deborah Sperati, Paul Singh (special guest), Kevin Maurer (moderator)
What is it about craft beer (other than its tasty goodness and buzzy benefits) that captivates everyday people and helps to shape and define their communities? Hear from all sides...

read more

The Future of Financial Services

Timur Davis, Canapi Inc. and Christopher Roede, Poyner Spruill
Learn how disruptive innovations are reshaping the business of financial services. Timur Davis, Principal, Canapi Inc. Timur creates and executes investment and incubation strategies supporting Canapi’s mission to bring innovation...

read more

The History of Rum: A Pirate’s Journey

Scott Smith, Outer Banks Distilling
Drink your way through the history of Rum, from the Colonial Period until now, and learn about how a place on the Outer Banks of North Carolina inspired a group...

read more

The Investor Mindset

Paul Singh, Entrepreneur, Results Junkies
Whether you’re a founder, investor or community leader, my guess is that you’re interested in creating more sustainable (and, hopefully, valuable) businesses. Paul Singh, Entrepreneur, Results Junkies Paul is an...

read more

The Next Generation of Cloud-based Thinking

David Reeser, Shaun Olsen, Mike Orr (moderator)
Explore where the Cloud and its computing capability is going. Learn what new capabilities are being developed and how the current challenges will be met in the future. David Reeser,...

read more

The Saint Bernard Syndicate

Mads Brugger (Denmark)
Subversive satirist Mads Brugger’s latest is an odd-couple comedy about the pitfalls of striking out into the economic frontier; it charts two hapless Danes’ scheme to sell Saint Bernards to...

read more

Vodka: The Water of Life

Esteban McMahan
Vodka is many things, but boring isn’t one of them. Esteban McMahan, Spirit Guide at Top of the Hill Distillery, shares his passion for this versatile spirit and the many...

read more

Cucalorus Connect 2018 was presented by the UNCW Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and tekMountain and hosted at Union Station Conference Center.

PRESS:

For more information or to get involved, contact:

Connect Founding Partners