Wilson’s business incubator program is growing with a new full-time employee coming soon and the second cohort of entrepreneurs starting on Feb. 17.

“We believe that Wilson is well positioned to be a hub of entrepreneurship for eastern N.C.,” said RIoT Executive Director Tom Snyder. “In recognizing these resources that Wilson has, RIoT is excited to build on the foundation that is set by the Gig East Exchange and Greenlight by continuing to work closely with both companies.”

RIoT — the tech startup incubator whose name started as a shortened form of Raleigh Internet of Things —recently announced the seven participants in the upcoming 12-week business accelerator program. The first cohort quickly had to transition to an online version last spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but organizers said the second class will have a hybrid curriculum with virtual and in-person programs at the Gig East Exchange at 127 Goldsboro St. S.

The participants include: the DIY natural hair care parlor Afrospace in Miami; Raleigh-based Coach Next Door, which offers youth soccer players training sessions with pro players; FastQSR in Warrenton, which helps restaurants minimize customer lines while maximizing revenue; a personalized children’s book company called Keepsake Tales in Raleigh; a cloud-based application called Off Duty Blue in Raleigh to help organizations manage overtime and staffing; a Surf City startup called Pass the Coach that credentials youth sports coaches; and Rownd, a personal data tool company based in Durham.

“Organizations like RIoT  are helping rural entrepreneurs thrive in eastern North Carolina,” said Ben Redding, N.C. Idea’s chief financial officer. “Through their accelerator program, RIoT connects founders in rural communities like Wilson with the right connections and resources to get the recognition they deserve. As a recent N.C. Idea ecosystem grant recipient, we are proud to partner with RIoT in their commitment to strengthen the infrastructure for N.C.’s underrepresented entrepreneurs.”

RIoT is working to hire a full-time employee who will be based in the Gig East Exchange and lead efforts locally, including the business accelerator program. Visit https://riot.org/ for more information about the organization.