Echo: Working to clear tangible and invisible hurdles for current and aspiring entrepreneurs

This article was written for our sponsor, Whitley Law Firm

The Triangle area and Durham specifically have long been dubbed the “startup capital of the South.” With three research universities, supportive communities and innovative industries, the Triangle is teeming with some of the country’s smartest minds with the ambition and drive to make an impact on their world.

And, in turn, this spirit of entrepreneurship has continued to fuel growth and innovation, creating a thriving ecosystem. “Entrepreneurs are the heartbeat of any thriving community. They create jobs, fill gaps and solve problems that institutions often overlook,” said Anjanette Miller, CEO of Echo, a Durham-based entrepreneurial support organization.

In fact, Miller knows personally how entrepreneurship can change and shape a life. She said, “I was a young mom, and single for many years during my children’s early years. In many ways, entrepreneurship saved my life, or, at least, allowed me to live the life I’d only dreamed of.”

An entrepreneur for over 20 years, Miller said it was the ability to build something intergenerational that drew her to Echo. “[Echo shows] entrepreneurship isn’t just about starting a business, but about building agency, dignity and legacy.”

What is Echo?

Echo serves both youth and adult entrepreneurs through their “Entrepreneurs Building Entrepreneurs” community-based model. With community being the cornerstone, Echo offers several services and programs, including:

• Startup sprints and accelerators
• Teen-led incubators
• UnStuck Workshops
• Near-peer Mentorship
• Business resource navigation

In the fall of 2025, Echo will add office hours, a Founders’ Summit and community pitch nights. Through these services, Miller said, “Echo is a launchpad and a lifeline for entrepreneurs at every stage.”

Last year, Echo supported more than 400 youth and adult entrepreneurs and they distributed over $50,000 to teens and young adults through internships, stipends and scholarships.

While the most popular current offering tends to be the cohort-based programs for both teens and adults, Miller noted the most powerful interactions come from the daily interaction and the casual feedback people can solicit over a cup of coffee or when they ask a mentor for help. “That’s the ecosystem in action,” she said.

Why is the work important?

“Echo isn’t just a program, it’s a movement,” said Miller. While it’s easiest to describe the idea in terms of specific offerings, Miller said that doesn’t paint the full picture. “In North Carolina, especially in underfunded and rural areas, entrepreneurs and small businesses owners are often the ones holding communities together. If we don’t invest in them, we miss the opportunity to build an inclusive economy.”

Miller has witnessed firsthand how Echo has opened unimaginable doors. She relayed the story of a student who originally came to Echo as part of the Teens Tackle Climate Change incubator and loved the experience so much that she joined the Teens Tackle Mental Health and Wellness incubator. With that, she had the courage to come forward with an idea for a medical device. “She told me her teacher dismissed her dream and told her she was too young,” Miller said.

Without Echo, that young brilliant mind may have been stymied. Instead, she was encouraged and emboldened. She entered and won the Echo Pitch competition, which led the way to her getting an internship at Duke University. Today, this first generation student is a rising sophomore at Harvard University on a full ride.

It’s because of stories like this one and so many more that local companies like Whitley Law Firm understand just how important it is to not just donate, but to amplify the work. Ben Whitley said, “We’re proud to support Echo because their work reflects the power of community—helping both teens and adults turn ideas into real opportunities. Their focus on mentorship and hands-on support creates a lasting impact by building strong foundations.”

With programs like Echo opening doors and fueling dreams, the Triangle area will continue to nourish and foster brilliant ideas which just may create lasting change or live-saving innovations.

It’s for this reason Miller hopes people will choose to learn more about and support organizations like Echo. She said, “Follow us, share our stories, volunteer your expertise, become a mentor, donate if you can. But most of all, believe in entrepreneurs. Show up to a pitch night. Buy from a local founder. Invite someone into your network. Those small acts are how we build an ecosystem of support.”

To learn more or to get involved, visit www.echo-nc.org.

This article was written for our sponsor, Whitley Law Firm