The Network for Entrepreneurs in Wilmington (NEW) has received a grant from NC IDEA to fund an event in June featuring two successful technology entrepreneurs.

The Engage grant will help underwrite what NEW founder Jim Roberts calls a Riverside Chat on June 25. The event features Tom Fisher, a leader in cloud-based technology, and Jordan Cohen, an expert in voice technology, according to a news release. The event moderator is Tim McLoughlin, a partner in Cary-based Cofounders Capital.

Cofounders Capital recently announced a $31 million venture fund, the release stated.

Fisher, a North Carolina native, "has been a high-level executive with tech companies such as IBM, Oracle, eBay, Qualcomm, Gateway and Success Factors," the release stated. Cohen, who has been involved in voice technology development for more than three decades, worked in this field during his time in the U.S. Air Force and with IBM. More recently he has been with a company called Semantic Machines.

NC IDEA is a Durham-based nonprofit whose goal is to foster economic development in North Carolina by helping young startups commercialize their innovations. Its Engage grants fund organizations across the state that "execute creative programs to support entrepreneurs and strengthen North Carolina as a national exemplar for entrepreneurship," according to the release. Grants are for a maximum of $5,000.

Roberts has worked in entrepreneur development within North Carolina for nearly 20 years and has participated in building Wilmington's entrepreneurial ecosystem since 2013.

The June 25 Riverside Chat takes place at Ironclad Brewery and begins at 4 p.m. It will also mark NEW's 4th anniversary, the release stated. Information is at Facebook.com/NEWilm.

NEW also presents a program at 4 p.m. Thursday at Ironclad Brewery that features Joe Colopy, co-founder of Bronto Software. To fund the startup, Colopy and his co-founder used $10,000 of their own money, spurning offers of investor capital so they could retain equity in their startup.

After 13 years they sold Bronto for $200 million to NetSuite, which was then acquired by Oracle.

Information about Thursday's program is available here.