This Week's Latest Tech News in Wilmington, NC - Sunday April 20th 2025 Edition

Wilmington's tech sector is experiencing unprecedented growth, ranking 13th among Southern U.S. cities in tech job density and median earnings.

The city has achieved a remarkable 27.9% increase in tech establishments since 2019, with North Carolina ranking 8th nationwide in tech industry growth.

Notable developments include nCino's recent performance, reaching $141.4 million in total revenues, and Lumos' $56 million fiber infrastructure investment. The average tech professional salary has risen to $118,933, with an 8% projected annual growth through 2028.

Cape Fear Community College is playing a crucial role with a 94% employment rate for graduates.

The city's tech ecosystem continues to evolve through strategic initiatives like the Wilmington Tech Innovation Conference, which has secured $50 million in investment pledges.

With over 1,000 unfilled tech positions annually, Wilmington's transformation into a tech hub shows no signs of slowing, supported by robust infrastructure developments and a thriving startup environment that ranks 22nd nationally.

Palo Alto Networks, a leader in cybersecurity with 14% year-over-year revenue growth to $2.3 billion, is expanding to Wilmington with a $50 million investment to establish a new regional hub by Q4 2025.

This expansion comes as the company rolls out its AI-driven security initiatives, focusing on operational resilience and unified security platforms.

The move is expected to create over 300 high-skilled jobs in cybersecurity engineering, data analysis, and customer support.

Wilmington's appeal stems from its tech talent pool, with UNCW producing 1,500 graduates annually skilled in data science and AI.

The local government's support through tax incentives and grants has created an attractive environment for tech enterprises.

The timing aligns with Palo Alto Networks' launch of Cortex Cloud in February 2025, enhancing their cloud security capabilities and requiring additional talent.

The company's presence is projected to boost tech-sector job growth by 20% in Wilmington by the end of 2026, according to the Wilmington Business Development Corporation.

As Chief Expansion Officer Richard Taylor states, "Wilmington's vibrant entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to harnessing cutting-edge technology make it an ideal location for our expansion."

The city's comprehensive 5G network infrastructure and growing startup ecosystem provide the perfect foundation for Palo Alto Networks' innovative security solutions, potentially attracting more tech companies to the region.

Wilmington's startup ecosystem is experiencing unprecedented growth, ranking 22nd nationally and 61st globally in startup ecosystems as of 2025.

The tech sector has shown remarkable expansion, with tech earnings increasing by 36.3% from 2019 to 2023, the second-highest percentage increase among Southern metros.

The city's tech workforce has grown by 27.6% since 2019, supported by innovative hubs like TekMountain, which is transitioning to a hybrid approach for startups.

Success stories like nCino demonstrate the ecosystem's potential, with the company reporting total revenues of $141.4 million and projecting between $574.5 million and $578.5 million for fiscal year 2026.

The average tech salary now stands at $118,933, with an 8% projected annual growth through 2028.

• Major investments are fueling this growth, including a $50 million pledge from the Wilmington Tech Innovation Conference and Lumos' $56 million fiber infrastructure project.
• The city has identified 358 top startups as of April 2025, with particular strength in fintech, healthcare, and clean energy sectors.
• Despite these achievements, the ecosystem faces challenges, including over 1,000 unfilled tech positions annually, highlighting opportunities for growth and talent development.

Local educational institutions are responding to this need, with Cape Fear Community College reporting a 94% employment rate for tech graduates and launching new programs in business analytics and data mining to support the expanding tech workforce.

The University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) continues to advance its 16-month accelerated master's in data science program, which combines rigorous technical training with practical business applications.

The program, launched in 2017, has achieved significant milestones, with over 70% of students securing summer internships between their first and second year.

The curriculum includes essential components such as computational data science, machine learning, and statistical analysis, delivered through a structured three-semester format.

Students engage in hands-on learning through the practicum partnerships with industry leaders including Live Oak Bank, NCino, SAS, and IBM, working on real-world data challenges.

The 2025 practicum timeline features key events from February through December, including proposal reviews, kick-off meetings, and final presentations.

The program's emphasis on both technical proficiency and business acumen has positioned it effectively in the job market, with Data Science being ranked #2 by Glassdoor among the 50 Best Jobs in America for 2021.

UNCW's initiative continues to evolve, integrating emerging trends in artificial intelligence and machine learning while maintaining strong connections with local industry partners.

The program requires no GRE scores and offers rolling admissions, making it accessible to qualified candidates who demonstrate strong academic backgrounds in statistics, linear algebra, and programming.

This approach has created a dynamic learning environment that prepares graduates for immediate impact in the rapidly growing field of data science.

Wilmington's tech scene is leveling up big time with its massive 5G rollout in 2025. According to recent industry reports, both AT&T and Verizon are launching their standalone 5G networks this year, joining T-Mobile which already delivers the largest 5G coverage in North Carolina at 48% of the state.

The competition is heating up fast, with coverage maps showing significant network density across Wilmington's metropolitan area, particularly in commercial zones and tech corridors.

T-Mobile leads the pack in 5G availability, while Verizon maintains the strongest 4G LTE presence covering 80% of the region.

This tech upgrade is changing the game for everyone.

Local internet service providers are now offering 5G home internet solutions with super-fast speeds and easy setup, perfect for remote workers and streamers.

The city's businesses are already seeing major improvements in their operations - think real-time data processing, seamless video conferencing, and smart device integration that actually works.

The Economic Development Office's projection of a 5% GDP boost seems totally achievable, especially with more tech companies eyeing Wilmington as their next home base.

Wilmington's strategic approach in prioritizing commercial areas for the initial rollout is paying off.

The infrastructure improvements are happening block by block, with full citywide coverage expected to drop by December 2025. This isn't just about faster TikTok downloads - it's about transforming Wilmington into a legit tech hub that can compete with bigger cities.

Local businesses are already reporting better connectivity and productivity, proving that this investment in 5G technology is exactly what Wilmington needed to level up its game in the tech world.

Wilmington's tech landscape is evolving with multiple high-impact conferences in 2025. The Wilmington Information Technology eXchange (WITX) kicks off the season on February 18, focusing on AI in Business, Cloud Computing, and Data Analytics.

Building on this momentum, the Techno Security & Digital Forensics Conference arrives June 3-5 at the Wilmington Convention Center, bringing together cybersecurity professionals, digital forensics experts, and industry leaders.

The conference features over 120 seminar sessions and 70+ exhibitors, creating networking opportunities across multiple tech disciplines. According to the latest data from UNCW's Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, these events contribute to the region's 27.6% increase in tech employment since 2019.

With average tech salaries reaching $118,933 and projections showing an 8% annual growth through 2028, Wilmington is cementing its position as a southeastern tech hub.

The conferences also align with major infrastructure developments, including Lumos' $56 million investment in high-speed fiber and the NC IDEA grant supporting local startups.

For students and professionals, these events offer essential networking, training, and career advancement opportunities in emerging technologies like AI, cloud computing, and digital forensics.

Wilmington's biotech landscape is experiencing unprecedented growth, with local ventures like Isosceles Pharmaceuticals, Nuream, and OpiAID leading breakthrough innovations.

The sector employs over 5,600 professionals earning an average salary of $113,838, marking significant economic impact. Recent developments include NCBiotech's recognition in Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies list, highlighting their successful Accelerate NC Life Sciences Manufacturing coalition which has expanded training access across 79 counties.

The region's biotech momentum is further amplified by UNCW's research expenditures reaching $33M, representing a 154% increase over two years.

Notable achievements include DuraVax's formation in mRNA pharmaceuticals and significant grants for universal flu vaccine development. The University's commercialization efforts have set records for license revenue and patent filings, while collaborations between nursing and computer science departments are advancing healthcare simulation training.

Beyond individual success stories, Wilmington's biotech ecosystem benefits from robust infrastructure support.

• Frontier Scientific Solutions' investment. The billion-dollar investment in cold chain storage capacity demonstrates the region's commitment to growth.
• BioWork certification programs. The implementation at community colleges ensures a steady pipeline of skilled workers.
• Entrepreneurial support organizations. These continue fostering innovation across the region.

This combination of research excellence, workforce development, and infrastructure investment positions Wilmington as a rising star in the biotech industry.

Wilmington's data science scene is absolutely crushing it in 2025! UNCW's Master of Data Science program is leading the charge, with over 70% of students landing sweet summer internships between their first and second year.

The program's practical approach to turning data into real insights has earned it serious cred - Glassdoor even ranked data science as the #2 best job in America.

Local tech growth is mind-blowing, with Wilmington ranking #11 nationwide for tech talent growth, showing a massive 27.6% jump since 2019.

The city's created over 11,000 direct tech jobs in the last five years, and tech wages have shot up by 44%. The community vibe is next level, with regular AI and data science meetups happening all across the city, covering everything from beginner workshops to advanced machine learning sessions.

These aren't just your average tech meetups - they're connecting people with real opportunities, especially with major companies actively recruiting entry-level talent at salaries starting around $92K. What's really cool is how the data science community is growing beyond just tech - it's helping make better decisions for the whole city.

With an unemployment rate of only 2.9% and tech GDP growth of 19%, Wilmington's data science scene isn't just growing - it's transforming the city into a legit tech hub that's way more affordable than the usual suspects like Silicon Valley or NYC.

Wilmington's tech scene is absolutely crushing it in 2025! The city has seen a massive 27.6% boost in its tech workforce since 2019, with average tech salaries hitting $118,933.

Major players like nCino and Apiture are driving serious growth, while Cape Fear Community College is stepping up with cutting-edge training programs. The job market is on fire with over 11,000 new positions and a solid 12% growth rate.

The salary range is impressive - AI Architects pulling in $200K+, and even entry-level tech roles starting at $60-70K. The hottest jobs right now? Cloud Architects, Cybersecurity Engineers, AI specialists, and Full-Stack Developers are leading the pack.

North Carolina ranked #8 nationwide for tech industry growth, with over 6% of jobs in New Hanover County being tech-related.

Local institutions like UNCW and Cape Fear Community College are totally killing it with their tech programs, making sure we've got the talent pipeline flowing.

The best part? This isn't just some temporary boom - we're seeing steady growth in areas like cloud computing, cybersecurity, and AI, with most roles seeing 18-24% projected job growth.

For anyone looking to break into tech, Wilmington's definitely the place to be right now.

Wilmington's sustainable tech scene is hitting new milestones in 2025, with the city's Sustainability Program leading ambitious environmental initiatives.

The recently launched Piedmont and Coastal NC Clean Communities Coalition is transforming the region's approach to clean energy, while GreenTech 2025's partnership with Coastal Innovations is yielding impressive results, reducing carbon emissions by 15,000 tons annually.

The city's energy management program has revolutionized municipal operations across 900,000+ square feet of facilities, with LED retrofits cutting electricity use by 40-70% in key buildings.

The sustainable tech ecosystem got another boost through the new C-PACE program, which helps commercial property owners secure financing for energy-efficient upgrades.

The city is also transitioning its vehicle fleet to electric, targeting 50% EV adoption by 2035 and full conversion by 2050. Local tech companies are at the forefront of this green revolution: EcoSmart Wilmington has perfected zero-waste manufacturing, while GreenWave Innovations' smart water management systems have slashed residential water usage by 25% in pilot areas.

These initiatives align with Wilmington's goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 58% by 2050, making the city a model for sustainable urban development. The impact is already visible - improved air quality, reduced energy costs, and growing clean tech job opportunities are transforming Wilmington into a green tech hub.

Wilmington's cybersecurity landscape is experiencing a significant transformation with Palo Alto Networks' strategic expansion into the region.

The tech giant's arrival coincides with UNCW's recent $625,000 federal funding boost for maritime cybersecurity, creating a powerful synergy in the local tech ecosystem.

Leveraging Palo Alto's Precision AI technology, which currently processes over 1 trillion cloud events and prevents 11.3 billion attacks inline daily, Wilmington businesses are gaining access to industry-leading protection.

The company's collaboration with SLB demonstrates its commitment to securing critical infrastructure, particularly relevant to Wilmington's maritime sector.

This partnership showcases Palo Alto's ability to adapt its cybersecurity solutions to specific industry needs, combining cloud and edge technologies with platform-based security solutions.

The expansion brings Palo Alto's comprehensive security stack to local businesses, including Prisma SASE, Prisma Cloud, and Cortex XSIAM. Additionally, UNCW's enhanced cybersecurity program will focus on risk assessment and workforce training, addressing the growing demand for skilled professionals in the region.

This coordinated approach between industry and academia positions Wilmington as an emerging hub for cybersecurity innovation, particularly in maritime and transportation security.

For local businesses, this means access to enterprise-grade security solutions previously available only to Fortune 100 companies, while students and professionals gain opportunities for advanced training and certification in cutting-edge cybersecurity technologies.

Wilmington's tech ecosystem is experiencing unprecedented growth, with major developments reshaping the city's digital landscape. Recent data shows a remarkable 19% growth in the tech sector from 2018 to 2023, with tech professionals earning an average salary of $118,933.

• Amazon's groundbreaking announcement of their first robotics fulfillment center will create over 1,000 jobs and span more than 3 million square feet. Learn more about Amazon's center.
• Frontier Scientific Solutions' $1.5 billion investment in a global logistics facility at Wilmington International Airport strengthens the city's position in the life sciences sector. Read about Frontier's facility.

The tech workforce has grown by 27.6% since 2019, with over 1,000 unfilled tech positions highlighting the robust demand for skilled professionals.

Local educational institutions are responding to this growth. Cape Fear Community College reports a 94% employment rate for tech graduates and is launching new programs in business analytics and data mining.

The establishment of multiple innovation hubs, including TekMountain's major expansion and nCino's continued market success, showcases Wilmington's emergence as a dynamic tech destination.

With projected growth rates of 8% annually through 2028, enhanced by significant infrastructure developments like Greenlight Networks’ ultra-high-speed fiber internet offering speeds up to 8 Gbps, Wilmington is solidifying its position as a leading tech hub on the East Coast.

The combination of strategic investments, educational initiatives, and infrastructure improvements creates a fertile ground for continued innovation and growth in the region's tech ecosystem.