WFU Center for Private Business

What WFU Center for Private Business does

The WFU Center for Private Business is a membership-based nonprofit organization affiliated with Wake Forest University that serves privately-held and family-owned businesses across North Carolina. It was founded in 2015 (firmographics) / 2016 (operational history) and is headquartered at 500 West 5th Street in Winston-Salem, NC, with a team of approximately 8-10 staff.

The Center's product is a structured professional development and peer advisory platform organized around six core focus areas — Succession Planning, Company Governance, Company Culture, Strategic Planning, Family Harmony, and Leadership Development. Core programs include Business Leader Forum (22 confidential peer advisory groups of 8-10 business leaders meeting monthly), monthly Strategic Workshops, Expert Panels, and the Legacy Speaker Series. Members also receive free access to 500 West 5th office space, including bookable conference and event rooms. The Center has no proprietary technology platform beyond the MemberClicks membership portal; delivery is fundamentally human-facilitated across five regional markets (Triad, Triangle, Charlotte, Wilmington, Asheville).

Revenue is generated through annual membership dues ($1,500 per company), a one-time $1,500 Forum initiation fee, event registration fees ($100-$150 for non-members), a three-tier corporate sponsorship program ($3,000+ / $10,000+ / $20,000+ annually), individual donations, and the Opportunity Fund pay-it-forward program. Major sponsors include First Citizens Bank, Truist, and Flow Automotive at $100,000+ each, plus PNC, Bank of America, Forvis Mazars, EOS Worldwide, and Regions. Wake Forest University does not fund the Center, though a strategic alignment with the WFU School of Business was announced in fall 2024 to share faculty expertise and student access with member companies.

Name

WFU Center for Private Business

Legal name

The Center for Private Business

Website

https://cpb.wfu.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The WFU Center for Private Business is a Wake Forest-affiliated nonprofit that runs a membership-based peer advisory and professional development platform serving 250+ privately-owned and family-owned businesses across North Carolina through Forum groups, workshops, and expert panels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Business Peer Advisory & Professional Development Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA)

Keywords

• Private business advisory
• Peer advisory groups
• Family business services
• Leadership development programs
• Succession planning services

Headquarters

HQ city

Winston-Salem

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fee of $1,500 grants company-wide access to programming, bookable office space, and Forum group invitations.
2. Forum Initiation Fee: One-time $1,500 initiation fee to join a Forum peer advisory group.
3. Event Registration Fees: Events typically $100-$150 for outside individuals; free for members. Some events free for all attendees.
4. Corporate Sponsorships: Sponsorship tiers at $3,000+, $10,000+, and $20,000+ annually providing various benefits including Forum placement, meeting space access, executive committee seats, and recognition.
5. Individual Donations: Individual donors and Friends of the Center provide financial support. The Center also offers an Opportunity Fund supported by second-year membership dues.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Center for Private Business is a membership-based nonprofit organization that sells an annual company membership ($1,500/year) granting all employees of a member company access to monthly programming, confidential peer advisory Forum groups, expert-led workshops, and free use of its Winston-Salem office space. Programming is organized around six core focus areas—Succession Planning, Company Governance, Company Culture, Strategic Planning, Family Harmony, and Leadership Development—designed to help privately-held and family-owned North Carolina businesses grow sustainably across generations.

Product overview

The Center for Private Business is a membership-based professional development organization affiliated with Wake Forest University that serves privately-held and family-owned businesses across North Carolina. The organization offers a unified platform of programs including the Business Leader Forum peer advisory groups, monthly Strategic Workshops, Expert Panels, and Legacy Speaker Series events—all organized around six Core Focus Areas (Succession Planning, Governance, Company Culture, Strategic Planning, Family Harmony, and Leadership Development). Additional member benefits include free access to office space at 500 West 5th in Winston-Salem and the Opportunity Fund for underresourced business owners. The Center operates in five geographic markets: Winston-Salem/Triad, Raleigh/Triangle, Charlotte, Wilmington, and Asheville/Western NC.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Forum (Business Leader Forum): Peer advisory groups consisting of 8-10 business leaders who meet monthly to share and discuss business challenges in a confidential setting
• Legacy Speaker Series
• Strategic Workshops
• Expert Panels
• Opportunity Fund

Products and services

• Business Leader Forum A peer advisory group program consisting of 8-10 business leaders who meet monthly to confidentially discuss business challenges. The Forum covers four areas: Business, Family and Friends, Personal Health, and Pressing Matters, with a structured 4-hour agenda. The Center facilitates 22 Forum groups across North Carolina with an annual 2-day retreat at the Truist Leadership Institute. Targeted at owners/leaders of privately-held and family-owned NC businesses.
• Strategic Workshops Monthly deep-dive educational sessions on specific business topics such as succession planning, AI integration, leadership, tax planning, and operations. Workshops are available in-person and virtually for all employees of member companies. Targeted at members of the Center and outside individuals for a fee.
• Expert Panels Panel discussions featuring subject matter experts covering topics including cybersecurity, tax legislation, workforce management, DEI, sustainability, and business succession. Panels are hosted in-person with virtual options. Co-hosted with sponsor experts from organizations like Bank of America, Truist, Forvis Mazars, and EOS Worldwide.
• Legacy Speaker Series Speaker events featuring successful business leaders sharing their stories, including founders and executives from companies such as Truist Financial, First Citizens Bank, Biscuitville, D.H. Griffin Companies, McKinley Building Corporation, Angus Barn, Winston's Grille, and Serena & Lily. Past speakers include Frank Holding Jr., Kelly S. King, Van Eure, Ken Dull, and J.J. Smith.
• Opportunity Fund A financial assistance program providing a $1,000 discount on first-year membership ($500 for the first year instead of $1,500), with second-year dues funding another participant's first year in a pay-it-forward model. Also covers one Forum orientation fee for qualifying underresourced business owners.
• 500 West 5th Office Space Free access to the Center's headquarters in downtown Winston-Salem, featuring over 5 bookable spaces including an Event Space (40 attendees), Seminar Room (32 attendees), three Conference Rooms (14/10/8 attendees), a Kitchen, and small privacy pods. Available to members at no cost; non-members pay rental fees of $250-$800 for 4-8 hours.

Quantifiable outcome

• 250+ member companies across North Carolina
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• Wake Forest University School of BusinesscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024Strategic alignment announced fall 2024 between the Center for Private Business and Wake Forest University School of Business. Opens door for greater sharing of resources, faculty expertise, and connection with students to member companies. Dean Annette L. Ranft noted natural partnership synergies.
• Hustle Winston-SalemminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDEI partnership network member helping broaden access to entrepreneurship for underresourced business owners.
• Reach Women's NetworkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDEI partnership network member focused on women's business leadership development.
• Foundation for the CarolinasminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDEI partnership network member supporting access to professional resources for underserved business owners.
• Center for Creative EconomyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDEI partnership network member supporting creative economy entrepreneurs and business owners.
• Winston StartsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDEI partnership network member supporting startup and business ecosystem development.
• The Diversity MovementminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDEI partnership network member providing diversity and inclusion resources and training opportunities for member companies.
• NXT/CLTminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDEI partnership network member focused on Charlotte market business development.
• The Truist Leadership InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner$100,000+ sponsor. Hosts annual Forum retreats. Provides leadership development programming and facilities.
• Family Enterprise USAmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner$5,000+ sponsor. Provides Washington DC policy expertise and tax legislation workshops for member companies.
• UNC AshevilleminorStrategic or Co-development Partner$3,000+ sponsor. Bridge to students and alumni leaders. Hosts UNC Asheville Family Business Forum companies.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• YPO (Young Presidents' Organization): Premier global peer network for chief executives including family business leaders; comparable in offering peer forums, learning events, and member-only programming for business owners.
• SCORE: National nonprofit providing mentorship, workshops, and resources to small business owners; broader scale and free model, but overlaps in serving privately-held businesses with educational programming and mentoring.
• Tiger 21: Peer membership organization for high-net-worth individuals including business owners, with confidential group meetings and investment/family-office education — comparable confidential small-group peer model.

Direct peers

• TAB (The Alternative Board): Peer advisory board franchisor for small and mid-sized business owners, providing monthly facilitated peer groups — directly comparable confidential peer advisory model for private business owners.
• EO (Entrepreneurs' Organization): Global membership organization for entrepreneurs offering peer learning, events, and forums — comparable in mission (supporting privately-held business owners) and structure (membership + peer groups + programming).
• Strategic Coach: Coaching and peer group program for entrepreneurs, structured around small-group sessions and workshop content — directly comparable membership + peer advisory format targeting private business founders.
• Vistage: The largest CEO peer advisory and executive coaching organization in the US, running confidential monthly peer group meetings for business leaders — the closest national analogue to the Center's Business Leader Forum model.
• Renaissance Executive Forums: Operates confidential peer advisory forums for business owners and CEOs — closely comparable Forum-style model targeting privately-held business leadership.

Emerging players

• Family Enterprise USA: Advocacy and education organization for family-owned businesses; the Center is already a partner/sponsor of Family Enterprise USA, and both serve the family-business owner segment with programming and policy resources.

Regional players

• UNC Asheville Family Business Forum: University-affiliated family business forum in Western NC that the Center partners with; serves an overlapping Asheville/Western NC audience with comparable family-business programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/wfucenterforprivatebusiness
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wfu-center-for-private-business
• Instagraminstagram.com/centerforprivatebusiness

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about WFU Center for Private Business