Center for Entrepreneurship & Partnership Engagement

About the Center for Entrepreneurship & Partnership Engagement

The Center for Entrepreneurship & Partnership Engagement (CEPE) is a dynamic Center of Excellence at the National Institute of Minority Economic Development—where vision meets action, and entrepreneurs gain the tools, relationships, and strategic guidance needed to thrive in an evolving economy. CEPE is purpose-built to move small and diverse businesses forward, transforming promising ideas into sustainable enterprises and positioning established companies for accelerated growth.

CEPE serves as the Institute’s connective engine for opportunity, identifying high-impact collaborations and cultivating relationships across public, private, and philanthropic sectors. These alliances are intentionally designed to expand access, unlock capital pathways, and generate lasting economic prosperity for diverse populations. By leveraging the Institute’s deep expertise and expansive network, CEPE ensures that entrepreneurs are supported by a coordinated ecosystem committed to their long-term success.

At its core, CEPE delivers meaningful education, targeted training, growth strategies, and hands-on technical assistance to entrepreneurs at every stage—from concept to scale. Whether helping a founder refine a business model, preparing a company for procurement and contracting opportunities, or guiding leaders toward new markets, CEPE equips businesses with the capabilities required to compete and lead. Beyond programming, the Center serves as a trusted community hub, convening stakeholders, facilitating partnerships, and aligning resources to create measurable impact for marginalized communities.

CEPE’s work is grounded in four strategic priorities:

• Advance the entrepreneurial journey: Provide coaching, training, and technical assistance that support businesses from ideation through expansion.
• Activate partnerships that matter: Build and steward cross-sector relationships that deliver coordinated, high-value support where it is needed most.
• Catalyze growth beyond startup: Help entrepreneurs strengthen customer acquisition strategies, achieve procurement readiness, secure corporate and government contracts, and pursue sustainable market expansion.
• Champion equitable opportunity: Intentionally support underrepresented entrepreneurs by dismantling systemic barriers, tailoring programs, and advocating for equitable access to capital, networks, and opportunity.

CEPE’s impact is amplified through a powerful portfolio of programs and resources. The Center leads four Women’s Business Centers—the WBC of North Carolina, Charlotte, the Triad, and Central Virginia—creating vibrant pathways for women entrepreneurs to launch, grow, and scale successful enterprises. Complementing this work is the Minority Executive Education Institute (MEEI), which strengthens leadership capacity and prepares executives to navigate complexity, drive innovation, and build resilient organizations.

Together, these initiatives reflect CEPE’s unwavering commitment to building an inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem—one where innovation is cultivated, partnerships are purposeful, and diverse businesses are empowered to compete at the highest levels. Through its strategic approach and community-centered philosophy, the Center for Entrepreneurship & Partnership Engagement is not only supporting businesses—it is shaping a future defined by shared prosperity, economic mobility, and transformative growth.

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