NC Idea

NC IDEA is a nonprofit organization based in Durham, North Carolina, founded in 2005 to support entrepreneurs in starting and growing high-potential companies. It primarily focuses on providing early financing through competitive grants, particularly targeting young, innovative companies in sectors such as biotechnology, cleantech, healthcare information technology, and software. NC IDEA emphasizes diversity, equity, and inclusion in its initiatives and works to serve as a catalyst for the development of technology-driven businesses in the region. In addition to financial support, the organization offers various programs and leverages a network of strategic partners to assist entrepreneurs during critical stages of their ventures.

Amy Bastian

Senior Director

Rizzo, David P.

President and CEO

Thom Ruhe

President and CEO

362 past transactions

Home for Life Designs

Grant in 2023
Home for Life Designs provides mobile and cloud software for practitioners to conduct home evaluations in any patient home environment. The company also provides an innovative home assessment solution for healthcare professionals and paraprofessionals, enabling clients to stay in their homes and community safely and independently, for life. Home for Life Designs is based in Salisbury, North Carolina.
The single goal at Boreas is to provide you with the ultimate in cryotank management without worry.

BCombs

Grant in 2023
BCombs is a stealthy technology firm based in Cary, North Carolina.

Well Seasoned Table

Grant in 2022
Well Seasoned Table is a one-stop-shop for spices and herbs.

Green Solutions Group

Grant in 2022
Green Solutions Group specializes in developing nontoxic embalming and tissue preservation products used in the medical, funeral, and medical education markets. Its products: GreenMBalm and Green Tissue Fix, benefit end users by removing toxicity from the lab.

Botanical Bones

Grant in 2022
Botanical Bones is a family business thoughtfully making superfood + adaptogenic dog treats.

Cybershield Security

Grant in 2022
We help SMBs automate their 3rd party risk and IT security compliance while eliminating the need to hire additional IT security resources.

Essential Personnel

Grant in 2022
Essential Personnel is the operational characteristics of law enforcement and fire demands a unique solution for organizational management.

WH Farms

Grant in 2022
WH Farms is a black woman-owned hemp cultivation business. It is USDA licensed to cultivate premium hemp blends and all the products are backed with a certificate of authenticity.

Nurtured Nest

Grant in 2022
Nurtured Nest does a wonderful job of staying up to date on birth and parental research with fabulous educators.

CopyForward

Grant in 2022
CopyForward is helping creators earn royalties on assets from art to collectibles using permanent contracts stored in a distributed ledger.

CICIL Home

Grant in 2022
CICIL Home believes in utilizing natural, renewable materials, making products simply, knowing where things come from, and understanding their impact on the earth.

DivySci

Grant in 2022
DivySci is a novel AI speech-processing platform that provides real-time social and contextual feedback on digital workplace interactions. The company improves written and verbal digital interactions by generating contextually applicable communication based on psychologically effective communication standards.

CalicoSol

Grant in 2022
Calico Sol provides eco-friendly alternatives to common household goods.

Secure Living

Grant in 2022
Secure Living screen and pre-select real estate projects to provide hassle-free investment opportunities on the simple online platform.

BLK Resumes

Grant in 2022
BLK Resumes is the recruitment platform that uses today’s most unique sourcing strategies.

DEI Directive

Grant in 2022
Comprehensive People Analytics (DEI Dashboard) for Successful DEI Operationalization and Optimization through the Full Employee Lifecycle.

Flexie

Grant in 2022
Flexie is the ultimate future of work platform - combining nontraditional jobs (flexible gigs, apprenticeships, etc.) and traditional jobs (full-time, part-time, internships) on a single platform to give students and youths the flexibility to find entry-level and early-career jobs that match their lifestyles and interests while helping companies attract, hire, and retain a modern workforce. Flexie also provides life-enhancing tools that empower young people to become financially responsible and build a future of financial independence while providing critical data that helps companies adopt and meet the demands of a changing workforce.

Ponybox Clothing

Grant in 2022
Ponybox Clothing's mission is to create a convenient and affordable way for women to discover self-expression through clothing while also reducing the negative environmental impacts caused by fast fashion.
Periscope Health Analytics provides data analytics and insights for behavioral health organizations.

Oncotect

Grant in 2022
Oncotect is a Raleigh-based biotech startup committed to pioneering early screening of cancer risks in dogs using their urine. The company’s patent-pending in-vitro scientific test combines its proprietary technology and C. elegans’ highly effective olfactory receptors to detect cancerous volatile metabolites. Oncotect is the only urine-based non-invasive, convenient, affordable, and accessible multi-cancer screening test available for dogs.

ROSA

Grant in 2022
ROSA Technology combines emotional data tracking, powerful data analytics, and licensed professionals to provide on-demand and individualized mental health interventions to the nation's highest-need students.

Coyle Solar

Grant in 2022
Coyle Solar is the need for clean, decentralized power generation and water purification has never been more critical to our society’s ability to respond to today’s most daunting risks.

Wholistics.Health

Grant in 2022
Wholistics.Health is designed to make it easier for health-conscious consumers to find and choose which product or therapy they can use to manage their health or chronic condition.

Drink Sarilla

Grant in 2022
Drink Sarilla provides streamlined focus and physical energy without the crash. Enjoy an innovative, full-flavor beverage free from refined sugar or artificial ingredients.

inStryde

Grant in 2022
inStryde is a hybrid hard tech company using A.I. and 3d printing to make custom orthotics more accessible and affordable.

Hot Route Analytics

Grant in 2022
Hot Route Analytics is a sports analytics company that provides in-depth sports analysis for all aspects of the game. Their premier product is a mobile app and analytic platform that is used by baseball coaches to predict live game strategies. It uses big data from game film and box scores to give any team a competitive edge and build a strong fan.

West End Learning

Grant in 2022
West End Learning is a startup helping college faculty build more affordable and engaging online courses.

Kind Cultures

Grant in 2022
Kind Cultures good cheese is cruelty-free, cultured, accessible, and sustainable.

Buzy

Grant in 2022
Buzy is the first and only solution created to remove the hassle and stress of owning a home.
Sister Girl Collection provides children's literature, Sister Girl apparel, Sister Girl children's home furnishings, and educational tools that encourage, motivate and enlighten children and communities.

MESKA Solutions

Grant in 2022
MESKA Solutions is dedicated to saving the planet one gallon at a time. A woman-owned Biogas Project Development Firm bringing a unique market-based approach to biogas projects.

Gatherware

Grant in 2022
Gatherware is a software provider transforming how healthcare systems plan for and utilize their resources. Its initial technology platform, Orion, leverages data to align capital and facility resources with business strategy.

LoanWell

Grant in 2022
LoanWell is community lending re-imagined. Our modern platform for CDFIs automates the entire loan origination and servicing process, enabling delivery of more capital, more efficiently. We help these mission-driven lenders grow great communities with the impact of affordable capital for the individuals and small businesses that are the engine of our economy. We believe in equitable access to affordable capital for all.

Freeman Capital

Grant in 2022
Freeman Capital is a tool for financial planning. One-on-one financial planning is now accessible, scalable, and cheap to anyone.

BatteryXchange

Grant in 2022
BatteryXchange is revolutionizing engagement by enabling organizations to share information and resources with captive audiences through innovative sharing economy amenities.

Smart Girls HQ

Grant in 2022
Smart Girls HQ is the best parenting resource designed for the parents of girls aged 3 to 12. Smart Girls HQ is to demystify STEM for you and your girls and, by doing so, inspire a generation of fearless female leaders and innovators!
Renaissance Fiber produces high-quality fiber from domestically sourced industrial hemp using proprietary methods that are clean (Ecologically Invisible™), inexpensive, and scalable. Our material is suitable for a wide range of applications in textiles and technical fibers.

Davos Guaranty

Grant in 2022
Davos Guaranty is a lender match platform for business capital that guarantees each loan.

Courtroom5

Grant in 2022
Courtroom5 is an intelligent, tech-enabled service that combines legal tools, on-demand training, and an online community to help non-lawyers navigate the civil justice system.

Acta Solutions Inc.

Grant in 2021
Acta makes it faster and easier for local governments to respond to inquiries and resolve repetitive customer service requests. Acta’s software-as-a-solution enhances the email workflow within an agency with tools to auto-compose responses, develop an internal knowledge-base, and streamline coordination between staff. The solution has proven effective at dramatically increasing productivity and response times within support-oriented agencies such as permitting and licensing departments. We currently help local governments serve over 8M citizens across 9 states.

Beam Dynamics

Grant in 2021
Imagine: a teleprompter stops working midway through a live program. A lighting grid suddenly turns off during taping, and a pair of premium cinema cameras stop functioning on a film set. In 90% of cases, interruptions on set can be traced back to high-end production equipment failure. And downtime in our industry costs money – adding up fast to break budgets and even end careers. While common business systems like ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) or CRM (Customer Relationship Management) have digitalized wide parts of businesses and AI has taken center stage in the media supply chain, the management of production technology assets is still quite analog and fragmented, requiring manual data entry and monitoring from the workforce. Beam Dynamics is helping film & broadcast productions manage, maintain, and grow their critical technology infrastructure. The Beam enterprise asset management platform provides engineers access to all critical security patches, firmware updates, documentation, and contact information from over 5,000 vendors and close to a million products in a single user interface. Simply by uploading an inventory list with the model # and manufacturer, engineers get access to a rich set of critical data to keep productions on-air, on time, and on-budget.

Piedmont Pennies

Grant in 2021
Piedmont Pennies provides delicious southern cheese crackers. Handcrafted, oven-baked cheese crackers made of simple ingredients.

ResolveX

Grant in 2021
ResolveX focuses on and addresses the needs of individual centers such as reporting, technology, and multiple system integrations, call documentation, remote worker capabilities, and local resources.

Without A Trace Foods

Grant in 2021
Without A Trace works to make all children and families feel included, regardless of food allergies or other dietary restrictions. Without A Trace is the only family-focused vertically-integrated manufacturer and distributor of allergen-friendly, gluten-free snacks that ships straight to homes.

Sani

Grant in 2021
Sani is a fashion apparel brand and online store focused on South Asian culture incorporating contemporary designs.

CliniSpan Health

Grant in 2021
CliniSpan Health is a software platform that is accelerating and diversifying clinical trial recruitment.

SnapPicFix

Grant in 2021
SnapPicFix is subscription based software for service pros to connect with their new and existing customers better and faster while maintaining a 5-star reputation and 5-start service. It utilizes Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to analyze incoming requests and empower your front office. We integrate and partner with the services that you already use and trust.

Flux Hybrids

Grant in 2021
Flux Hybrids is a developer of a hybrid conversion technology to enhance a vehicle's fuel efficiency. Its technology provides a significant uplift in fuel economy and reduction in fuel expense, making the kits cost-neutral also the conversion kits integrates into the vehicle's drivetrain, reducing it's carbon footprint, and enable customers to get access to a universal conversion kit for retrofitting gas vehicles to hybrids. The company was founded in 2019 and is headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina.

iEdapts

Grant in 2021
iEdapts is an education platform that offers math-aided GAP assessment e-Learning tools. The platform is connecting teachers with students in an interactive way through unique songs, videos, and specialized content. The company's mission is to provide an educational resource preference that both the teacher and the student can utilize.

Wreckingball

Pre Seed Round in 2021
Wreckingball automates job site safety orientations. They connect customers with brands. They create engaging stories and solve business problems with the use of design thinking, data, and digital technologies. It enables businesses to ensure job site safety for their workers. They also provide safety training.

Bristles

Grant in 2021
Bristles is a DIY planning app that uses AI to help folks DIY home design. It enables the artist to focus on maneuvering the brush to create beautiful art. The company's mission is to build creativity-enabling products that harness the insight of artificial intelligence to deliver powerful functionality as delightful, easy-to-use tools. Bristles was founded by Tina Tang and Anthony Alers in 2021.

Flow Phantom

Grant in 2021
Flow Phantom creates upsells and cross-sells on the Webflow e-commerce platform, a new and fast-growing e-commerce site builder. The company was founded in 2020 and is based in Raleigh, North Carolina.

MyMatR

Grant in 2021
MyMatR is a waste management company that provides automatic sorting of trash and recycling containers for public spaces. The company uses artificial intelligence, sensors, and robotics to automatically sort trash, recycling, and other forms of waste at the source of disposal. The MyMatR smart waste container can be customized with different collection bins (23 gallons vs 52 gallons). Additionally, the opening for discards can be adjusted to have a dual-hole or single-hole. MyMatR was founded in 2019 and is headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Padeo

Grant in 2021
Padeo is an unobtrusive plug-in that supercharges your site speed helping you win more leads and sales. Padeo works with every website, including WordPress, Squarespace, and Shopify. Learn more about how Padeo makes the web faster for everyone at padeo.io.

Sure!

Grant in 2021
Sure! is a provider of plant-based milk for babies and toddlers. The company also specializes in vegan infant formula that provides complete nutrition, quality, and convenience for the modern-day parent juggling family, business, and everyday life. It is based in Greenville, North Carolina.

BattleBuggies To Go

Grant in 2021
BattleBuggies To Go is a provider of hassle-free, same-day grocery delivery within a 10-mile radius of any in-network commissary. It is based in Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

No Mess SPF

Grant in 2021
No Mess SPF is a medical device company that provides automatic sun protection solutions. The company makes sunscreen applications quick, effective, and accessible for users to avoid sunburn and enjoy their day. It allows to avoid sunburn and wrinkles now, and future biopsies or skin cancer later.
Three Strands Recovery Wear is a recovery garment company that offers healthcare services for breast cancer. The company focuses on post-operative bras for mastectomies, breast reconstruction, augmentation, reduction, and any other breast cosmetic surgery. It aims to give women the power and control to recover with confidence.

Wishful

Grant in 2021
Wishful is a software platform connecting B2B sales and marketing teams that easily send gifts at various stages. The company's mission is to help companies achieve genuine and long-lasting relationships with their customers and prospects. Wishful is based in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Mycologics

Grant in 2021
Mycologics is a biotechnology company that creates public health solutions through communication, research, dissemination, and outreach. The company's proprietary biocontrol agents combat fungal infections in plants, animals, and humans and the associated co-infections and health disorders. Mycologics' mission is to develop solutions to safeguard food, feed, and health from harmful fungal pathogens and their toxins (mycotoxins).

Vitality Robotics

Grant in 2021
Vitality Robotics is a medical device company that designs AI-powered devices for biomedical research and veterinary medicine by combining computer vision, reinforcement learning, and robotics. It is based in Morrisville, North Carolina.

Floor Health

Grant in 2021
Floor Health is a digital health company that helps women finally treat their pelvic floor disorders with on-demand digital programs. The company's program is suited for women experiencing urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, prolapse, painful sex, vulvodynia, and vestibulodynia.

Armada IQ

Grant in 2021
Armada IQ is building a vision-based intelligence platform for integrated human-autonomous fleet operations.

Content Commanders

Grant in 2021
Content Commanders is a content marketing and branding agency that provides content storytelling and content placement services. The company uses multimedia content to deliver fan-building, audience-loving, engagement-activated digital, print, and social media content. It is based in Elizabeth City, North Carolina.

Home for Life Designs

Grant in 2021
Home for Life Designs provides mobile and cloud software for practitioners to conduct home evaluations in any patient home environment. The company also provides an innovative home assessment solution for healthcare professionals and paraprofessionals, enabling clients to stay in their homes and community safely and independently, for life. Home for Life Designs is based in Salisbury, North Carolina.

Worxstr

Grant in 2021
Worxstr provides an all-in-one digital management solution for companies working with contract labor.

Mapt

Grant in 2021
Mapt is a journaling app that offers quality college advising to every high school student through mobile technology. The app uses modern psychology to set up high schoolers for success in college.

Fun Mom Band

Grant in 2021
Fun Mom Band is an accessories company that makes stuff for moms. The company's product, Mom’s Fanny, lightens the mother's load with a hands-free pack that inspires confidence and fun. It easily converts from around their waist to cross-body and was designed to feel comfy and look good on anybody.

Jabin Beverage Co.

Grant in 2021
Jabin is a startup centered around using fresh, functional ingredients to power athletes and adventurers challenging the status quo.

Stemz

Grant in 2021
Stemz is a built-to-work for floral creatives, flower farmers & retail clients.

Couplet Care Bassinet

Grant in 2021
Couplet Care offers tools for improving patient safety, as well as clinical efficiency while promoting positive mother and infant health outcomes

BatteryXchange

Grant in 2021
BatteryXchange is revolutionizing engagement by enabling organizations to share information and resources with captive audiences through innovative sharing economy amenities.

Your Minute Mechanic

Grant in 2021
Your Minute Mechanic provides convenient, low-cost self-service auto diagnostics helping people navigate costly car repairs every day. Your Minute Mechanic is a patented, new revolutionary concept in automotive diagnostics. It is a stand-alone auto diagnostic machine similar to air or vacuum machine outside your local gas station. When an indicator light illuminates, most of us head to the service department or repair shop with no earthly idea of what is wrong with our vehicle. Others will ignore the light as long as possible for lack of time, money, or inconvenience. With Your Minute Mechanic, your car is diagnosed by a state of the art computer in simple terms to allow you to make an educated decision about the servicing of your vehicle.

Smart Girls HQ

Grant in 2021
Smart Girls HQ is the best parenting resource designed for the parents of girls aged 3 to 12. Smart Girls HQ is to demystify STEM for you and your girls and, by doing so, inspire a generation of fearless female leaders and innovators!

Active Defender

Grant in 2021
Active Defender is a campus emergency tool that saves time and saves lives. Active Defender is the instrument you need in your campus environment to facilitate the efficient and immediate dispersal of critical data. Active Defender allows on-site safety staff and first responders (when appropriate) to immediately assess emergency situations and to react with greater speed and accuracy than ever before. Active Defender is built to dramatically maximize campus safety, providing a more secure environment for our loved ones.

Darë Vegan Cheese

Grant in 2021
Darë Vegan Cheese is Using the same traditional cheesemaking techniques sans dairy, Darë Vegan Cheese creates an amazing, artisanal, aged, alternative. Their culturing process creates gut-healthy probiotics that both flavour their cheeses and give back to their bodies.

Protect3d

Grant in 2021
Protect3d is a leveraging 3D technologies to bring custom protective devices to athletes and competitors everywhere.We are striving to help athletes everywhere by making 3D technology more accessible to the everyday user.

Creative Allies

Grant in 2021
Creative Allies is changing the way brands reach their fans. We are an integrated marketing firm that focuses on helping celebrity and consumer brands execute marketing campaigns, engage customers, and acquire millennials. We accomplish this through our proprietary technology, comprehensive marketing services, and strategic partnerships. Our community has 120,000+ designers and 180,000+ fans. We have worked with brands and celebrities such as Eminem, Arizona Iced Tea, Selena Gomez, Twenty One Pilots, Rick and Morty and many more.
Career training, academic programs and lively entertainment and cultural offerings may all be found at Brunswick Community College (BCC) in Supply, North Carolina. Some of BCC’s academic offerings include art and science majors for those who wish to transfer to a four-year university. For those who want to prepare for a professional trade there are programs in Computer Repair, Medical Assisting, Pharmacy Technology, Office Administration, Plumbing and Welding, among others. A large part of BCC’s student life offerings may be found at the Odell Williamson Auditorium, a 1,500-seat venue that features musical, dance and theatre performances as well as lectures from renowned performers, artists and authors. Student services include academic and career advising, disability services and a student mentoring program. Students interested in attending Brunswick must provide proof of a high school diploma or GED, as well as copies of transcripts. All students must also take an assessment or placement exam prior to enrolling. Tuition for in-state students is significantly reduced. Financial aid is available to those who qualify.
Bridge of Hope Life Transformational Services offers Triple Threat Services (Individual and Leadership Coaching, Professional Counseling, and Consulting) to businesses, faith-based institutions, school settings, colleges and universities, individuals, organizations, etc.

HUSTLE Winston-Salem

Grant in 2021
HUSTLE Winston-Salem exists to facilitate and promote a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem by working with both entrepreneurs and community stakeholders.

Vision Church

Grant in 2021
Vision Church is a non-denominational church in Raleigh, NC that exists to glorify God and make disciples.
Communities in Partnership is a community-based organization that works in close proximity to its neighbors and members to help tackle any form of economic disparity, food insecurity, and the rising cost of living that resides within the East-Durham area.
Illumined Leadership Solutions prepares high-impact entrepreneurs + leaders for the transformation of themselves and their communities.
Urban League of Central Carolinas is a multi-service, non-profit agency with a mission to empower the community to reach financial stability and social justice.
Young Urban Professionals' goal is to stimulate economic development among marginalized individuals who are business owners and entrepreneurs.

Loyd Visuals

Grant in 2021
Loyd Visuals is a family-based, full-service video production company that celebrates opportunity, creativity, and community.

The Boost Pad

Grant in 2021
The Boost Pad provides the necessary resources underrepresented founders need to create solutions and build impactful businesses.

Jecha Networks

Grant in 2021
Jecha Networks is a management and technology consultancy that assists aspiring entrepreneurs, groups, and small businesses in pursuing their entrepreneurial dreams from the concept stage to the product or service stage.

Sankofa Farms

Grant in 2021
Sankofa Farms is a multifaceted agricultural entity that seeks to assist in changing the food intake habits of those living in and affected by food deserts.

GRAVITL

Grant in 2021
We build the distributed cloud.

Caia

Grant in 2021
Caia is a hand-held medical device company that simplifies breast self-exams. The company designed a tool to help women perform breast self-exams with more confidence and accuracy by showing them exactly what to look for. Caia was founded in 2019 and is headquartered in Durham, North Carolina.

Cardstalk

Grant in 2021
Cardstalk is a greeting card marketplace that specializes in card printing kiosks featuring indie and local artists. The company was founded in March 2020 by Steph and Brandon Prime.

Interview School

Grant in 2021
Interview School is a mock-interview software designed and developed with interview questions and feedbacks with the latest updates.

Jayla’s Heirlooms

Grant in 2021
Jayla’s Heirlooms is a manufacturing company that offers handmade dolls for kids and babies. The company is based in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Hot Route Analytics

Grant in 2021
Hot Route Analytics is a sports analytics company that provides in-depth sports analysis for all aspects of the game. Their premier product is a mobile app and analytic platform that is used by baseball coaches to predict live game strategies. It uses big data from game film and box scores to give any team a competitive edge and build a strong fan.

Plantnrgy

Grant in 2021
Plantnrgy is a health startup that offers plant-based protein and superfood mixes with simple ingredients. The company's mission is to help people obtain optimal nourishment with its plant-based and nutrient-dense protein mixes.

iMama

Grant in 2021
iMama is a digital health platform that provides healthcare solutions for its patients. The platform uses AI and machine learning to help mothers prolong their breastfeeding cycle and help employers provide nursing moms with lactation support benefits.
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