3 Durham entrepreneurs recognized as among the best in the Southeast

DURHAM, N.C. (WNCN) — Three entrepreneurs from Durham have been recognized as among the best in the Southeast, a professional services organization said Friday.

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The Entrepreneur of the Year 2026 Southeast Award from Ernst & Young LLP was given to 12 business leaders in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama, according to the organization.

According to the organization, three of the winners were from Durham: David Spratte and Kasper Kubica of Carpe and Zach Maurides of Teamworks.

The organization said Spratte and Kubica are the creators of a fast-absorbing that reduces sweat without giving hands a slick feeling.

Maurides runs a software as a service company in athletics that has become one of the fastest-growing, helping more than 6,000 sports organizations, according to Ernst & Young.

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According to Ernst & Young, a total of six entrepreneurs from North Carolina won the regional award. Also named as winners were Inmar Intelligence CEO Spencer Baird of Winston-Salem, Community Concierge Services, LLC founder Cody Campbell of Charlotte, and Metcon, Inc. founder Aaron Thomas of Pembroke.

“The Entrepreneur Of The Year 2026 Southeast Award winners are reshaping their industries and redefining what it means to lead as entrepreneurs,” Southeast Program Director Chevy Arnold said in a statement.

Southeast Program Director Kimberly Kicklighter said in a statement, “Through their vision, focus and commitment to growth, they are building companies that move markets forward, create opportunities for their teams and strengthen the communities around them.”

The regional winners will be considered for the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards, which are scheduled to be announced in November. The National Overall Award winner will compete for the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year Award in May 2027, according to the organization.

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