Launch Your Vision with the SAIL Program

Transform your business idea into a reality in New Hanover and Pender Counties.

The CFCC Small Business Center, in partnership with Bank OZK, presents the Startup Acceleration & Idea Launch (SAIL) Program — a 10-week entrepreneurial training cohort and pitch competition designed for first-time founders.

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The Opportunity

  • Training: 9 weeks of structured coursework followed by a final pitch.
  • Funding: Compete for startup capital.
    • 1st place: $4,000
    • 2nd place: $2,500
    • 3rd place: $1,500
  • Materials: All participants receive The Guided Small Business Planner™.

Who Should Apply?

  • Location: Residents of New Hanover or Pender County.
  • Status: First-time entrepreneurs in the early planning/startup phase.
  • Stage: Idea developed within the last 6 months; no revenue generated yet.

Startup Acceleration & Idea Launch (SAIL) Program

SAIL Timeline: Fall 2026

Week
Date
Format
Topic
Week 1Aug 20In-PersonHow Your Business Makes Money
Week 2Aug 27VirtualDesigning a Business That Fits You
Week 3Sep 3VirtualFinding Your Ideal Customer
Week 4Sep 10VirtualKnowing Your Market & Advantage
BREAKSep 17—Required One-on-One Counseling
Week 5Sep 24VirtualLegal, Taxes, & Funding Basics
Week 6Oct 1VirtualDefining Your Brand
Week 7Oct 8VirtualMarketing & Money
Week 8Oct 15VirtualManaging the Money
Week 9Oct 22VirtualPitch Workshop
Week 10Oct 29In-PersonPitch Competition Day
Cherith Roberson

Meet the Instructor: Cherith Roberson

Cherith Roberson is a small business owner, the author of The Guided Small Business Planner™, and a speaker and educator. Cherith served as the Director of the Wake Technical Community College Small Business Center from 2017 to 2022, and is now the owner of Flourish in Growth , where she helps business owners navigate and build the businesses they aspire to have.

In 2020, she was awarded the State Director of the Year by the Small Business Center Network for her support of business owners during the Covid-19 Pandemic. Cherith holds a B.S. from North Carolina State University, with a concentration in Entrepreneurship.

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