2025 Applications Are Now Open!
Apply now to be a part of the 2025 Kinetic cohort. The deadline to apply in January 21, 2025.
Validate and refine creative ideas. Assess demand, identify audiences, and evaluate feasibility.
Explore business models for creative ventures. Create value, generate revenue, gain advantage.
Acquire customer strategies for creative businesses. Identify targets, research, communicate value.
Understand financials of creative businesses. Budget, manage expenses, allocate resources. Plan for growth.
Unlock the true potential of your creative abilities with Kinetic. Discover how your unique talents can fuel entrepreneurial success. Dive into a world where innovation and imagination collide, empowering you to reach new heights. Embrace the kinetic energy within you and embark on a transformative journey towards creative excellence.
Kinetic is for:
Creatives working on a business idea
Creatives who are ready to test their idea but don’t know where to start
Creatives who are ready to turn their hobby into a money-maker
Creatives who need help building a foundation of business skills and knowledge
Interested in learning more about the Kinetic program and application process? Join us online for a virtual information and help desk session on Friday, January 17, 2025 (12:00-1:00 EST). Click the button to register free.
Take your business idea to the next level!
Kinetic is a 6-week, cohort-based program that helps aspiring entrepreneurs workshop their early-stage creative business ideas and explore their customer base. Weekly curriculum is taught by a team of subject matter experts who mentor and counsel founders. Kinetic graduates have successfully launched their startups, earned spots in business accelerators, and secured grants. Cohort members will participate in a pitch competition for a chance to win a $1,000 seed grant!
The cost of Kinetic is $425 for those who are selected and confirm their participation.
Workshops will take place online and in Winston-Salem, NC.
Seize the opportunity to win the $1,000 Kinetic Potential Award. Join our immersive 6-week bootcamp, unleash your entrepreneurial skills, and showcase your idea’s immense potential. Be recognized for your innovation and take your business dreams to new heights with Kinetic.
Each week will provide valuable insights, hands-on activities, and expert guidance to help you navigate the journey from creative concept to launching your startup.
Define and embrace your purpose through a creative mindset.
Identify problems, analyze competition, and position your brand.
Explore finances, operations, and legal components.
Bring it all together through presentation and pitch.
Inara MacKay
Winston-Salem, NC
Nikita Wallace
Winston-Salem, NC
Tamika Wells
Winston-Salem, NC
Gabrielle Erwin
Winston-Salem, NC
Kristye Dudley
Sterling, VA
Candace Parrish
Elizabeth City, NC
Marsha Twiggs
Winston-Salem, NC
Bibi Coyne
Winston-Salem, NC
Gabrielle Befort
Winston-Salem, NC
Our 2024 mentors and facilitators are a diverse group of industry leaders, experienced entrepreneurs, and subject matter experts dedicated to helping you turn your innovative ideas into thriving businesses. With their wealth of knowledge and practical insights, our mentors provide invaluable support throughout your journey in the Kinetic Boot Camp.
Mike Buckovich
Vision to Venture
Mike brings over 30 years of expertise in advertising, marketing, customer experience design, and digital product development, having worked with Fortune 500 firms, startups, and enterprises across industries. His passion lies in helping clients understand their audiences, craft standout user experiences, and translate them into actionable strategies and technical solutions. Based in North Carolina, Mike continues to assist founders, accelerators, and private equity groups in building unique value propositions that drive success.
Phil Barnhill
East Market Street
Roberts Bass
Financial Consultant
Valerie Bleza
Knot Standard
Dawn Booker
Pack Light Global
Ray Collins
True Voice
Henry de Noble
Stephens
David Evans
Business Consultant
Michael Fulks
Akerman, LLP
Tory Gillett
Wildfire
Josh Hanes
Bank OZK
Rick Leander
LFB Holdings
Chad Leslie
UNCSA
Maura Marziano
Common Giant
Dawn McGee
Coach Pro 4U
Jackie Morgan
JP Morgan Design & Consultant
Ben Noland
We Impact Brands
Phillip Oakley
PO & Co.
Trudi B. Parson
Trudi B. Parson
Sarah Pinnix
Wildfire
Girish Raj
Entertainment Consultant
Lee Thompson
LNT Consulting
Dick Vann
Entrepreneur Consultant
Matt Waterman
LongRun Solutions
Jeff Wolfe
SchellBray
Take your business idea to the next level!
Kinetic is a 6-week, cohort-based program that helps aspiring entrepreneurs workshop their early-stage creative business ideas and explore their customer base. Weekly curriculum is taught by a team of subject matter experts who mentor and counsel founders. Kinetic graduates have successfully launched their startups, earned spots in business accelerators, and secured grants. Cohort members will participate in a pitch competition for a chance to win a $1,000 seed grant!
The cost of Kinetic is $375 for those who are selected and confirm their participation.
Workshops will take place online and in Winston-Salem, NC.
Kinetic serves creative entrepreneurs that are using their design, art, music, theatre, film, writing, culinary, interactive digital media, and an array of artisanal skills to solve a problem for their customers.
Kinetic is designed for you to take that cool idea you’ve been thinking about and create a mission, vision and value proposition for a potential customer. Do you want to bring this to life, but don’t know how? Kinetic can help you ideate and implement! The cost of Kinetic is $349 for those who are selected and confirm their participation.
Workshops will take place online and in Winston-Salem, NC. Local participants are welcome to attend the Kinetic sessions in person. North Carolina and CDC guidelines are closely followed for health and safety.
Get to know our team. These are the folks behind the Center for Creative Economy which powers the Kinetic Boot Camp. CCE’s mission is to Launch, Grow, and Accelerate creative entrepreneurs and businesses. CCE has been serving creative entrepreneurs since 2011 and has hosted a creative business accelerator annually since 2016. The four cohorts that have completed the accelerator have launched 57 startups, with 80% still in business. They have raised over $21M in investment and have earned over $14M in revenue.
With a wealth of experience in arts management and creative entrepreneurship, Margaret Collins is the driving force behind Kinetic. She launched the Center for Creative Economy (CCE) and has been serving creative entrepreneurs since 2011. Margaret's expertise lies in launching, growing, and accelerating creative businesses. Her passion for the creative economy and her leadership have played a crucial role in the success of the Kinetic Boot Camp.
Kami Leslie brings her international experience in theater, live entertainment, and education to Kinetic as the Program & Operations Manager. Her diverse background in producing, event management, and arts education helps bridge the gap between creatives, businesses, and educators. With her multilingual skills and passion for fostering creative connections, Kami plays a vital role in the success of the Kinetic Boot Camp.
Jody Cauthen's extensive background in nonprofit management and arts administration adds valuable insights to the Kinetic team. With her expertise in marketing, development, and academic entrepreneurship, Jody has made significant contributions to various local nonprofit organizations and educational institutions. Her experience as a grant writer and her passion for supporting creative ventures make her an indispensable asset to the Kinetic Boot Camp.
I am incredibly grateful for the Kinetic program. It helped me validate my creative idea and provided me with a solid business model. The curriculum guided me through the process of identifying and talking to my target customers, which was invaluable. Building and using a budget was a game-changer for the financial aspect of my business. Thanks to Kinetic, I successfully launched my startup and secured a grant to fuel its growth.
As a musician, I always struggled with the business side of my craft. Kinetic taught me how to develop a business model tailored to creative ventures. The program empowered me to create value, generate revenue, and establish a competitive advantage in the music industry. Through customer discovery strategies, I found my target audience and learned effective methods to communicate my unique value proposition. Kinetic provided the financial knowledge I needed to build a budget and allocate resources wisely. It's been a transformative journey that has taken my music career to new heights.
Kinetic has been a game-changer for my filmmaking journey. The program helped me validate my creative ideas and refine them for success. The curriculum equipped me with the skills to develop a solid business model specific to the film industry. Learning how to identify and engage with my target customers has been invaluable in expanding my network. The budgeting techniques and financial planning taught in Kinetic have ensured the stability and growth of my venture. Thanks to this program, I've been able to secure grants and accelerate my path to success.
Kinetic provided me with the knowledge and tools to turn my passion for writing into a successful business. The program helped me validate my creative ideas and understand the market demand for my work. The curriculum guided me in developing a business model tailored to the publishing industry, allowing me to create value and generate revenue. Kinetic's focus on customer discovery and effective communication strategies helped me connect with my target readers and build a loyal following. Learning how to build and use a budget has given me financial stability as I continue to grow my writing business.
Our sponsors play a crucial role in propelling creative entrepreneurs forward. Their support fuels innovation, mentorship, and transformative experiences, empowering emerging ventures. Join our esteemed sponsors in shaping the future of creative entrepreneurship. Together, we can make dreams a reality.
