For Carla Payne, Wake Forest is more than the place where she built her business. It's where, after a lifetime of moving, she finally found home.

Next 2 Native founder and Wake Forest Founders Program alum Monique Lewis was recently awarded the Community Impact Award by the Carolinas Associated General Contractors (CAGC) for her work in reducing language-related safety risk on commercial construction sites.

For Rebekah Werner, growing her business is never only about gaining clients. It’s about building trust, creating meaningful relationships, and helping other small businesses succeed.

For Alejandro Morales Goncalves, founder and COO of STOA, the heart of the business is simple: helping growing companies bring chaos into order.

Wake Forest Founders celebrated another successful accelerator cohort during its Spring 2026 Pitch Competition, where local entrepreneurs showcased innovative business ideas and competed for $10,000 in prize funding. Discover how the program continues to strengthen Wake Forest's entrepreneurial ecosystem by connecting founders with the mentorship, resources, and community they need to grow.

From employee to owner, Pam Anastasi is leading SignCraft Solutions into its next chapter. The woman-owned Wake Forest business is celebrating 17 years of growth, community impact, and creative signage projects across the Southeast.

From Wake Forest Founders alum to Town partner, Karen Lindquist’s journey highlights the power of local innovation and community support. Discover how Green Stream Technologies is bringing real-time flood monitoring to Wake Forest while turning entrepreneurial growth into meaningful local impact.