
After eight years helping shape Raleigh’s startup scene at Raleigh Founded, Lauren Romer is stepping into something deeply personal.
In this episode of Biz/Dev, Lauren shares what it feels like to walk away from a role that defined a decade of her life and bet on the thing she has quietly been building all along: Romer & Company.
We talk about the emotional weight of leaving a community you helped grow, what it takes to trust yourself when the path is no longer obvious, and how working alongside founders for years can give you the courage to finally become one yourself.
Lauren also opens up about how design, sustainability, and intentional space are not just aesthetic choices, but tools for building better lives and better businesses.

After eight years helping shape Raleigh’s startup scene at Raleigh Founded, Lauren Romer is stepping into something deeply personal.
In this episode of Biz/Dev, Lauren shares what it feels like to walk away from a role that defined a decade of her life and bet on the thing she has quietly been building all along: Romer & Company.
We talk about the emotional weight of leaving a community you helped grow, what it takes to trust yourself when the path is no longer obvious, and how working alongside founders for years can give you the courage to finally become one yourself.
Lauren also opens up about how design, sustainability, and intentional space are not just aesthetic choices, but tools for building better lives and better businesses.