Some local efforts to support startups and small businesses have been focusing on minority- and women-owned business owners. To that end, Wilmington entrepreneurs Tracey and Girard Newkirk last year founded Genesis Block, a company that provides business development services.

"We have 54 companies that we provide specific business development services for, whether it be coworking or some type of consultation, and we have 38 resident companies that participate in our entrepreneur programs," Girard Newkirk, CEO of Genesis Block, said during WilmingtonBiz Talk on Thursday. "One of our goals is obviously to build the entrepreneur class, but we also wanted to become a hub for entrepreneurial activity in the Wilmington area, and we want to serve as the anchor organization for minority and women business development here in Southeastern North Carolina."

Genesis Block also recently launched ANZA, a technology platform designed to support the growth and connection of minority- and women-owned businesses, and they’ve got plans to establish innovation corridors throughout the Wilmington area.

On Thursday’s WilmingtonBiz Talk, the Newkirks elaborated on the growth of Genesis Block, which is also headed by Tracey Newkirk in her role as president, and discussed their plans for the future.

View the full BizTalk conversation below. Also listen to this and future weekly WilmingtonBiz Talk discussions on the Business Journal's new podcast, available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Stitcher.




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