​Raising capital in the Southeast can be an advantage or a trap, depending on how you approach it. The networks are tighter, the expectations can be different from coastal markets, and the path to “credible momentum” often looks less like hype and more like execution, customer proof, and capital-efficient growth.

​This panel brings together operators and investors who have built and funded companies in the region to share what’s working right now, what’s changed in the last few years, and how founders can position themselves to win locally (and nationally) without wasting cycles.

​You’ll hear from Marc Minor, co-founder and CEO of Higharc, who has helped bring multiple hardware/software companies to market and has led Higharc from early days into a venture-backed growth story.

​You’ll also hear from Paul Jaglowski, founder of Feedtrail (now part of Relias), with firsthand experience building a Triangle-based startup and navigating the realities of scaling and outcomes in this ecosystem.

​Moderated by Carly Connell (Bull City Venture Partners), who advises and invests alongside founders across the Southeast and brings a strategic finance lens from her prior work supporting venture-backed startups.

​You’ll walk away with:

• ​How fundraising dynamics in the Southeast differ (and how to use that to your advantage)

• ​What investors are actually looking for right now: traction, narrative, and “risk removal”

• ​Practical guidance on crafting a fundable story without over-building the pitch deck

• ​How to build early credibility: intros, signals, and community leverage

• ​Common fundraising mistakes (timing, targeting, process) and how to avoid them

​Who it’s for: Founders and operators (pre-seed through Series A) who are actively fundraising now or expect to raise within the next 6–18 months, especially those building in the Southeast.

​Speakers

​Marc Minor

​Marc co-founded Higharc to help make homes easier to design, build, and buy. He’s passionate about pairing design with technology and leading teams that bring those innovations to market.

​Previously, Marc helped launch two 3D printing companies—Desktop Metal and Carbon3D—into market-leading positions as part of the early leadership teams. Earlier in his career, he led teams building web software and marketing for global brands including Nike, Mars, GE, and Apple.

​Marc holds a B.A. from New York University and briefly attended Harvard's Graduate School of Design.

​Paul Jaglowski

​Paul Jaglowski is a healthcare innovator and serial entrepreneur with a track record of building companies that transform how people experience care. As the Founding CEO of Feedtrail, he pioneered real-time, personalized feedback solutions that revolutionized patient and employee engagement — earning the company recognition as Best in KLAS 2024 for Patient Experience Improvement, and earning him a spot on CX Network's 30 Rising Customer Experience Super Stars Under 30 in 2018. Following Feedtrail's acquisition, Paul joined Relias as a Partner, where he continues to shape the future of healthcare engagement.

​Prior to Feedtrail, Paul built a foundation in strategy and operations as a management consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton and contributed to fintech startup OnDeck Capital during its IPO preparation.

​Paul is in the early stages of his next venture — a new company aimed at tackling one of the industry's most persistent and human-centered challenges. Details to come later this year, but the goal is ambitious and system-changing.

​Paul also serves on the Board of Directors for the Maison Fortune Orphanage in Hinche, Haiti, reflecting his commitment to global impact and making a meaningful difference beyond the business world.

​Carly Connell

​Carly Connell joined Bull City Venture Partners as a Principal in 2026. She previously served as a Vice President in Deloitte’s Emerging Growth Company Practice, advising venture-backed startups across the Southeast on audit, tax, and strategic finance while providing insight on business strategy and industry trends. Carly helped develop Deloitte’s Tax Technology alliance ecosystem and has been active in the startup community. In 2024, she was part of the founding team for the Agora Initiative, which brings together founders, funders, and technology influencers across DC, Maryland, and Virginia to help women fund and scale their startups. She also served on the Venture Atlanta recruiting committee and currently sits on the Board of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Wake and Johnston County.

​Location

​American Underground — Upstairs

​324 Blackwell Street, Durham, NC 27701

​Parking

​Free parking is available at the American Tobacco Campus North Deck, courtesy of CBC Real Estate.

• ​Map to: 305 W Pettigrew St, Durham, NC 27701

• ​Use the 2nd floor and above. (Please do not park on first floor.)

​Questions?

​This session is part of Raleigh-Durham Startup Week. Click here to learn more about the event, plus get answers to your FAQs.

​Track Supporter

​​​Thank you to Narrasoft for supporting the Strategy Track at #RDSW26!