In 1999, HotJobs.com, a job search website founded by Richard Johnson, aired a 30-second Superbowl commercial that cost the company $2 million at a time when it was making $4 million a year. Five minutes after the commercial ran, the website experienced five times the volume it usually had, officials said at the time. While the ad itself was successful at reaching an ...

A Leland-based precision manufacturer has started a fundraising campaign in a push to launch a portfolio of products focused on clean energy, water and agriculture. Synergy Automation, located on Old Fayetteville Road in Leland, has a goal to raise $6.5 million for the first of three products within a new 13-product portfolio, said Kevin Carlson, co-founder and presiden ...

A new manufacturing company has rooted itself in Wilmington. C2C Plastics, a plastics injection molding company, plans to begin full production capabilities at its 17,000-square-foot facility in the North Kerr Industrial Park in mid- to late-July, Mark Pandozzi, CEO of C2C Plastics, said Friday. The company specializes making caps and closures, he said. The compan ...

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 techno ...

A fast-growing online social platform for real estate investors was named Entrepreneur of the Year at Wednesday’s Coastal Entrepreneur Awards.  Connected Investors came away from the event with the CEA wooden surfboard, created by Kids Making It, that is passed from winner to winner each year. The annual event is co-sponsored by the Greater Wilmington Busi ...

On a day in Wilmington about four decades ago, elementary school student Ron Sparks asked a pharmacist a question, then watched as the blood drained from the man’s face.   “A look of complete and total horror came across it,” Sparks said.   The then-9-year-old Sparks – now an engineer and owner of Sparks Engineering – wanted to k ...

NYE'S CREAM SANDWICHES 2936 Orville Wright Way, Suite 10 Wilmington No. of employees: 4 year-round, with an additional 4-6 during the summer and holiday season   Year founded: 2011 Top local officials: Christian Nye, owner and executive chef   Company description: Before the ice cream sandwich became trendy and artisanal, Nye said he was pa ...

Who would you invest $100,000 in?   That’s one of the pieces of advice we give our Coastal Entrepreneur Award judges each year when they’re faced with the task of making their picks.   Who shows high-growth potential?   Who is making a name for themselves and cutting through the noise?   Who, out of these stacks and stacks of nominat ...

Sean Hensler is quick to share credit for the success of his surgical equipment supply business.   Much credit is also due to Hensler, a health care professional who holds patents for devices his Wilmington- based company markets. Others are in development.   The U.S. Marine Corps veteran is founder and CEO of Hensler Surgical Technologies LLC.   Hensl ...

The idea to merge cryptocurrency with renewable energy resulted in the formation of KWHCoin, a blockchain-based renewable energy startup in Wilmington.   “Blockchain technology enables you to share information over the internet, and it allows you to connect peer-to-peer,” said Girard Newkirk, founder and CEO. “I’m a strong advocate of renewab ...