06-25-2025

North Carolina’s Southeast: A Rising Hub for Emerging Industries

Southeastern North Carolina is experiencing a quiet evolution – one that’s reshaping the region’s economic future and drawing the attention of entrepreneurs, investors, and innovators across the country. Anchored by a strategic location, strong education systems, and targeted infrastructure investments, the region is rapidly becoming a magnet for emerging industries like FinTech, MedTech, and research-driven innovation.

FinTech and Tech Innovation on the Rise

North Carolina has the fastest-growing financial services industry in the country, with a 30% growth rate since 2018, according to the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina. With the continued digitalization of banking and commerce, FinTech is making significant inroads in the region, including such companies as cloud-based banking software platform nCino and AI-driven biotechnology company Lapetus Solutions, both in Wilmington. In fact, Wilmington is an emerging hub for entrepreneurship in finance and business services, with organizations like University of North Carolina at Wilmington's (UNCW) Small Business and Technology Development Center and Genesis Block supporting FinTech startups. Additionally, UNCW’s Cameron School of Business offers a FinTech program that emphasizes blockchain, digital banking, and data analytics, preparing students for careers in high-demand areas.

Startups and established companies alike are finding southeastern North Carolina attractive due to its affordability, high-speed connectivity, access to talent, and proximity to larger financial centers like Charlotte and Raleigh. Just an hour’s drive north of North Carolina’s Southeast, the Research Triangle produces around 14,000 computer science graduates each year. Coworking spaces and incubators in cities such as Wilmington and Fayetteville are fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration, helping startups scale while maintaining access to talent from nearby universities. Fayetteville State University even produces an annual FinTech/InsurTech Conference for its students that includes a pitch contest.

A Growing MedTech Ecosystem

Medical technology is another area of fast growth. From digital health platforms to advanced medical devices, North Carolina’s Southeast is proving to be fertile ground for MedTech companies. The region benefits from its proximity to major healthcare systems, a growing pool of skilled workers, and research collaborations with institutions like UNC Wilmington and Cape Fear Community College. Entrepreneurs in this space are tapping into a diverse patient population and leveraging local clinical networks to test and deploy cutting-edge solutions.

Examples in North Carolina’s Southeast include Atlantic Medical in Wilmington, which develops nutraceutical products and devices to address ocular diseases; and West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. in Kinston, which manufactures rubber components, such as stoppers for vials and plungers for pre-filled syringes.

ATEX Technologies, Inc. in Pinebluff, which custom engineers implantable textile components for medical devices, and Sanctuary Systems in Freemont, a manufacturer of non-woven fabric for hospital beds, apparel, garments and thermal insulation applications, are just two examples of how North Carolina’s history in textiles has served as a strong foundation for the MedTech industry. North Carolina’s Southeast has a skilled workforce experienced in working with various fabrics and materials. Couple that with groundbreaking advancements in biomedical textiles, including synthetic aortas, vascular grafts, and innovative wound healing scaffolds, and it’s clear that MedTech has an advantage here in North Carolina’s Southeast.

Collaborative Momentum

What really sets North Carolina’s Southeast apart is the way these industries intersect. Tech companies are collaborating with MedTech startups. Financial services firms are integrating new software solutions. Research labs are helping to commercialize technologies with broad market potential. Public-private partnerships and workforce development programs are fueling the momentum, ensuring the local talent pipeline keeps pace with industry demand.

As these sectors continue to gain traction, North Carolina’s Southeast stands ready – not just to participate in the future economy, but to help shape it.