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Technology

Something’s Humming in Tech

You don’t have to go to Austin or Silicon Valley to gain access to a growing tech ecosystem. The Research Triangle consistently ranks among the top 15 for tech talent – providing the support and resources North Carolina tech companies need to scale.

But in Chapel Hill, we’re a town that consistently punches above our weight, with more than 75% of our residents holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. We’re also actively welcoming technology businesses, offering incentive packages for companies that create jobs, strengthen the economy, and promote skills development and lifelong learning.

Let’s Talk Business in Chapel Hill

Whether you’re considering a relocation or looking to expand your in-town footprint, our business expansion team is ready to help. Reach out for confidential, comprehensive support.

Let’s Talk Business in Chapel Hill
Set for Success

Big Connections in a Small Town

Looking for a supportive community and network of tech talent, research, incubators, and accelerators? Our team works collaboratively with UNC and regional partners to ensure that businesses here can explore their potential.

Group of professionals collaborating in a bright, modern office space designed for co-working and teamwork.

Absolutely! We’re one of the fastest-growing places for technology, located right within the Tech Triangle of North Carolina. Chapel Hill has quietly become one of the best places to launch a startup or scale an existing tech company. In fact, we’re ranked as one of the top 10 cities in North America for tech innovation.

Dozens of tech businesses already operate from Chapel Hill. CData, a governed-access AI company, serves over 10,000 customers worldwide, while Terra Dotta provides cloud-based software facilitating cross-cultural experiences for students, faculty, and staff across more than 85 countries.

UNC-Chapel Hill also operates one of the Top 30 computer science schools in the U.S. — contributing to us being one of the top 15 tech talent markets in America. Tech companies in Chapel Hill also gain access to Innovate Carolina Junction — a coworking space close to UNC where your business can connect with innovation-ready talent and early-stage ideas from labs and startups.

young professionals in white lab coats look at a microscope in a laboratory

We’re a top-tier place for biotech companies in North Carolina. To put things in perspective, North Carolina is home to almost 860 life science companies. Chapel Hill is home to dozens, with a high concentration of academic spinouts and early-stage ventures emerging from UNC research.

In 2025, our product pipeline got a major boost when BioLabs’ Chapel Hill launched its new 23,000-square-foot incubator with shared, off-campus wet lab space providing critical infrastructure for startups.

Established biotech companies in Chapel Hill include Tenax Therapeutics (a company focused on developing products that address cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases) and Auration Biotech (focused on developing novel therapeutics to restore or maintain hearing). These companies benefit from the combined research capacity of the Triangle, specialized talent, and a collaborative ecosystem that actively supports biotech innovation from lab to market.

“...We’re aligning our growth trajectory with a world-class talent pool, a thriving innovation ecosystem, and a community that shares our values around sustainability, technology, and education.”

The New Epicenter for Tech

Technology Businesses

The Research Triangle is one of the fastest-growing regions for technology businesses. Here are a few of our companies driving exponential growth.

Our Team

Here to Help

Not sure where to find an incentive application or business permit? Need insight into our local industries? Contact us, and we’ll connect you to the right people and resources.

David Putnam

David Putnam

Economic Development Director

Sarah Potter

Sarah Potter

Business Vitality Manager

Get in Touch

Connect with Chapel Hill Economic Development to ask questions, explore opportunities, and learn more about why this community is right for you.