The Research Triangle’s startup ecosystem has shattered its own records, with companies in the region raising a combined $2.1 billion in venture capital during the first quarter of 2026. The figure represents a 45 percent increase over the same period last year and firmly establishes the Triangle as one of the top five startup ecosystems in the United States.

Artificial intelligence and biotechnology companies drove the surge, accounting for roughly 60 percent of total funding. The quarter’s largest single raise came from Helix Therapeutics, a Durham-based biotech firm developing AI-powered drug discovery tools, which closed a $340 million Series C round led by Andreessen Horowitz.

“What we’re seeing is a fundamental shift in how the investment community views this region,” said venture capitalist Sarah Chen of Bull City Capital. “Five years ago, we had to convince Silicon Valley that the Triangle was investable. Now they’re coming to us.”

The boom has been fueled by a deep talent pipeline from the region’s universities — Duke, UNC, and NC State collectively produce more than 3,000 STEM graduates annually — as well as a cost of living that remains significantly lower than San Francisco, New York, or Boston. Several large funding rounds went to companies founded by university spinouts or recent graduates.

The investment surge is also translating into jobs. Triangle tech companies have posted more than 4,500 new positions in Q1 alone, spanning roles from software engineering to laboratory research. Economic development officials say the ecosystem is approaching a critical mass that could sustain growth even during broader market downturns.

Epic Games, the Cary-based company behind Fortnite and Unreal Engine, announced plans to add 500 new positions at its North Carolina headquarters over the next two years as part of a major campus expansion that underscores the gaming giant’s commitment to the state.

The expansion includes a new 200,000-square-foot building adjacent to Epic’s existing campus on Crossroads Boulevard, which will house engineering, design, and creative teams working on next-generation projects. The company is also investing $50 million in upgrades to its existing facilities, including a state-of-the-art motion capture studio and an expanded playtesting lab.

“Cary has been our home since day one, and we’re doubling down on that,” said CEO Tim Sweeney during the announcement. “The talent in this region — from the universities, from the broader tech community — is world-class, and that’s what makes this the right place to build the future of interactive entertainment.”

The new positions will span a range of roles including software engineering, 3D artists, narrative designers, and business operations. Epic said starting salaries for technical roles will average above $120,000, with the company also expanding its tuition assistance and employee housing programs.

The expansion was supported by a $12 million incentive package from the state of North Carolina, contingent on job creation targets being met within specified timelines. Governor Stein called the announcement “a validation of North Carolina’s position as a global leader in the digital economy.” Epic currently employs approximately 2,500 people in the Triangle region.

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University officially opened the doors to its new $85 million Cybersecurity Research and Innovation Center on Monday, positioning the Greensboro institution as a national leader in digital defense research and workforce development.

The 120,000-square-foot facility, located on the university’s east campus, features classified research labs, a cyber range for simulated attack-and-defense training, and collaborative workspace designed to bring together academic researchers, government agencies, and private sector partners. It is the largest dedicated cybersecurity research center at any historically Black college or university in the nation.

“This center represents a new chapter for NC A&T and for the cybersecurity field itself,” said Chancellor Harold Martin. “By training the next generation of cyber professionals in an environment that reflects the diversity of our nation, we’re not just filling a workforce gap — we’re strengthening our national security.”

The center has already secured research partnerships with the Department of Defense, the National Security Agency, and several Fortune 500 companies. Its curriculum integration means that undergraduate and graduate students will have access to real-world research opportunities starting in their first year.

The facility’s opening comes at a time when the United States faces a cybersecurity workforce shortage estimated at more than 500,000 unfilled positions nationally. NC A&T’s computer science program has been one of the fastest-growing in the UNC System, and university officials expect the new center to double enrollment in cybersecurity-related programs within three years.