2025 Open Mic

Our friends at Brand Fuel are a brand merchandise agency with a B Corp certification. They have invested 26 years in our community, creating branded gear worth remembering and are committed to sustainability, trust, originality – and a lot of fun. Trust us, you want them at your party ;)

Mariko Gordon, CFA, CFP® is a finance maverick who founded a $2.5 billion money management firm from scratch. From money management to business mentoring, she offers personalized financial planning and business and investment advice at her registered investment advisory firm, Uzume, LLC.

MRC is a full spectrum graphic design studio with a focus on hand-crafted, out-of-the-box brand experiences for clients passionate about their business. They build iconic brands for kindred spirits.

Oak City Studio is the Official Audio Partner of CreativeMornings RDU!

Counter Culture Coffee is dedicated to finding and bringing to market the most exciting and delicious coffees in the world. We approach our work with a passion for the ideal of coffee perfection, a dedication to real sustainability, and a commitment to cutting-edge education throughout the coffee chain.

Motorco Music Hall is an entertainment and events space in Durham, North Carolina. Motorco consists of a large, state of the art Showroom, the Garage Bar and restaurant Parts & Labor with a giant outdoor patio and the Veranda, a covered patio with its own bar and a Parrilla. They have full NC Liquor licenses and have a wide variety of beers, liquors, wines, and specialty cocktails (fresh squeezed juices, housemade syrups!). They are located in the Central Park district, within short walking distance to the restaurants and bars of Downtown.

ABentley Media provides high-end cinematography for commercials, marketing, animation, brands, and everything in between. Andrew is more than just a camera crew. He works with clients to ensure their vision is captured before ever hitting record. By prioritizing storyboarding and pre-production, he creates a seamless process that makes the entire project run smoothly and comfortably.

Emily Bennett is a Lifestyle, Food & Beverage, and Brand Photographer based in Raleigh, North Carolina. She is passionate about storytelling, and the power stories have to disarm and invite us into a deeper understanding of ourselves and each other. Her work is inspired by the coast, long walks, and dinner parties. She is our Lead Photographer, and we are so glad to have her on our team!

Mountain Laurel Digital are a collaborative team that works hard to support and empower their clients and their team. Their approach is transparent, sustainable, and selective — and they aim to produce only work they can feel proud of. They work exclusively with clients who align with their values: they’ve found it makes everyone happier. MLD fills the need for an agency that leads with transparency from the start — and honest communication with both clients and their internal team.

Nons Salts is a small business in Raleigh, producing unique blends of fresh herbs and spices preserved in a salt base.

CreativeMornings/Raleigh is fiscally sponsored by VAE Raleigh, a 501©3 nonprofit. VAE envisions a more equitable creative community where everyone has the resources needed to thrive. VAE produces, funds, and exhibits socially-engaged art through community collaboration.

From the arts to food to nonprofits, WALTER tells the stories of our community. WALTER is available on racks around Raleigh, online at waltermagazine.com or by subscription.

Raleigh.com was made by Raleigh locals, for Raleigh locals. Join 10,000+ enthusiastic subscribers. Every morning, you’ll receive a 2-minute email about top events and deals in Raleigh… including CreativeMornings events!