2018 Coastal Entrepreneur Awards

Thanks to everyone who’s been a part of the Coastal Entrepreneur Awards and those who packed the Burney Center for the 10th Anniversary celebration on May 23rd.

This we recognized and heard from our region's most accomplished entrepreneur from the past 10 years, Chip Mahan, CEO of Live Oak Bank. Mahan's 2008 start-up is now a public company worth more than $1 billion and has spawned two significant Wilmington-based spinoffs, nCino and Apiture.
The awards also featured the announcement of the "Top Ten for Ten" — the ten entrepreneurial organizations among the 90 previous winners that have stood out the most for their innovation and growth.

Here are some highlights in case you missed it:

▪ Live Oak Bank CEO Chip Mahan was honored as the Entrepreneur of the Decade. Live Oak, which received its banking charter 10 years ago this month, now has 550 employees. Its spinout technology company, nCino, has 500 employees. Its latest venture, Apiture, has 100 employees, including 55 in downtown Wilmington, and its venture arm, Canapi, has started making additional investments. By itself, Live Oak is making Wilmington a player in the fast-growing fintech – or financial technology – industry.

▪ Click here to see the Business Journal’s slightly fictionalized video about Live Oak Bank, the Coastal Entrepreneur Awards program and previous winners.

▪ All 90 previous Coastal Entrepreneur Award winners were recognized last night, and the “Top 10 for 10” was announced — the 10 organizations that have stood out the most for their innovation and growth.