The Moore County Economic Development Partnership (MCEDP) announces the 2025 Sandhills Entrepreneur Summit taking place Nov. 13, 2025 in Pinehurst. This third annual summit has been expanded to a full day of interactive workshops, expert presentations and networking designed to accelerate business growth in Moore County and the surrounding Sandhills region.

The summit comes at a critical time for small business development, with Moore County designated as a Certified Entrepreneurial Community® and experiencing significant economic growth. This year's program focuses on practical, actionable strategies that entrepreneurs can implement immediately.

Event Highlights

Keynote Address – Advancing Entrepreneurship in NC

• Thom Ruhe, President & CEO of NC IDEA, will explain why North Carolina is one of the nation’s leading hubs for entrepreneurship and explore the strengths and resources of this innovation ecosystem.

Three Interactive Workshops

• Laying the Foundation – Is Your Business Built to Last? –Market validation strategies with Rachael Newberry, program director at RIoT
• How to Achieve Your Goals with a Single-Page Plan – A single-page plan for achieving even the most ambitious goals with Dr. Sarah Glova, CEO of Reify Media& TedX speaker
• AI Prompt Engineering for Entrepreneurs - Practical AI tools demonstration with Don Shin, founder & CEO of CrossComm, covering ChatGPT, Claude and Microsoft Copilot

Additional Features

• Entrepreneur Success Story from a Sanford business owner during lunch
• Resource Expo with 12+ organizations offering free business coaching and financial services
• Extensive networking opportunities with fellow entrepreneurs and industry experts

The Summit will be held at The Fair Barn located at 200 Beulah Hill Rd S. in Pinehurst, N.C. The cost to register is $25 before the early bird deadline (Oct. 15) and $30 after the early bird deadline. Registration fee includes all meals and beverages.

“This summit represents our commitment to Moore County's thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem,” said Natalie Hawkins, MCEDP president, in a press release. “We've designed this year's program to provide immediate, actionable insights that entrepreneurs can use to build a stronger business.”

Hawkins emphasizes that both aspiring entrepreneurs and established small business owners will benefit from the programming. “Attendees should bring laptops or tablets to maximize their experience in our hands-on workshops,” she added in a press release.

The summit is made possible through partnerships with presenting sponsors MCEDP, NC IDEA and RIoT, along with support from other organizations committed to fostering entrepreneurial success, including Sandhills Community College Small Business Center, The Pilot, First Capital Bank, First Bank, Robbins May & Rich LLP, The Insurance Center, C.F. Smith Property Group, Clark Chevrolet Cadillac, Summit Retirement Partners and Tri South Builders.

Early registration is encouraged. Purchase tickets at www.moorecountyedp.org/2025entsummit

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