NC IDEA

NC IDEA is a nonprofit organization based in Durham, North Carolina, dedicated to supporting early-stage, high-growth technology companies. Since its inception in 2005, NC IDEA has provided critical funding through its grant programs, including NC IDEA SEED, which offers $50,000 grants to innovative startups with proven concepts, and NC IDEA MICRO, which provides $10,000 to help young companies validate and advance their ideas. Through these initiatives, NC IDEA aims to reduce the risks associated with scaling startups while also offering mentorship and guidance. The organization has awarded over $7.2 million in grants to 161 companies, with nearly 70 percent still operating today. Collectively, these companies have raised over $295 million in additional funding and created more than 1,860 jobs, demonstrating the significant impact of NC IDEA on the entrepreneurial ecosystem in North Carolina.

Amy Bastian

Senior Director

David P. Rizzo

President and CEO

Thom Ruhe

President and CEO

Past deals in Beverages

Well Seasoned Table

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

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.

Sure!

Grant in 2021
Sure! is a company based in Greenville, North Carolina, that focuses on providing plant-based milk and vegan infant formula specifically designed for babies and toddlers. The company aims to offer complete nutrition and high-quality products that cater to the needs of modern parents, ensuring convenience while supporting healthy eating habits for their young children. Through its ready-made offerings, Sure! enables parents to easily provide nutritious food options that align with a plant-based lifestyle.

Jabin Beverage Co.

Grant in 2021
Jabin Beverage Co. is a maker of drink apple cider vinegar beverage that balances great taste with incredible health properties. The company is centered around using fresh, functional ingredients to power athletes and adventurers challenging the status quo. Jabin Beverage Co. is based in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Devil's Foot Beverage

Grant in 2019
Devil's Foot Beverage is a craft beverage company based in Asheville that specializes in non-alcoholic ginger beer and sparkling water drinks. The company is committed to using fresh, natural, and locally sourced ingredients, creating products that balance sweetness, citrus, and the natural spice of ginger. This approach provides a flavorful alternative to sugary and artificially flavored beverages. By handcrafting their drinks, Devil's Foot Beverage ensures quality control and the ability to produce seasonal varieties, catering to consumers seeking healthier beverage options. The company is gradually expanding its product availability within the local market.

Lamassu Arak

Grant in 2019
A smooth anise-flavored spirit, Lamassu Arak brings its ancient origins to the West as the first wholly-distilled and bottled commercial Arak in America.

Jeddah’s Tea

Grant in 2019
Handcrafted, small-batch prepared iced teas from around the globe; made in Durham, NC.

Resistor Brews

Grant in 2018
Resistor Brews is a provider of unique flavors distributed in grocery stores, coffee shops, and restaurants. It is based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Zaria's Milk

Grant in 2018
Zaria's Milk is a food company that specializes in homemade lactation cookies and baked goods designed for breastfeeding mothers. Founded by Phyllis Caldwell-George in 2017, the company's offerings are crafted using lactation-boosting ingredients such as oatmeal, brewer's yeast, flaxseed meal, and sweet potatoes. Each product is made to order and individually wrapped to ensure freshness, allowing mothers to enjoy nutritious treats that support their lactation needs.

Glean

Grant in 2018
Glean is a food and beverage company founded in 2017 and headquartered in Farmville, NC. The company focuses on delivering healthy, fresh, and allergen-free foods to consumers. Glean operates a marketplace that offers a variety of products, including beet powder, pumpkin flour, and sweet potato flour, all made from natural ingredients without added sugars or preservatives. With a mission to reduce farm waste and combat hunger, Glean aims to provide innovative, clean label foods while promoting sustainability through the responsible sourcing of fruits and vegetables.

Devil's Foot Beverage

Grant in 2018
Devil's Foot Beverage is a craft beverage company based in Asheville that specializes in non-alcoholic ginger beer and sparkling water drinks. The company is committed to using fresh, natural, and locally sourced ingredients, creating products that balance sweetness, citrus, and the natural spice of ginger. This approach provides a flavorful alternative to sugary and artificially flavored beverages. By handcrafting their drinks, Devil's Foot Beverage ensures quality control and the ability to produce seasonal varieties, catering to consumers seeking healthier beverage options. The company is gradually expanding its product availability within the local market.

Tom & Jenny's

Grant in 2015
Producer of caramel candies intended to create the combination of flavors and ingredients that work for a keto-friendly, low-carbon, and sugar lifestyle. The company produces and sells gourmet caramel and chocolate candies made up of sugar-free plant-based ingredients, enabling customers to satisfy their cany cravings with candies.

Mati Inc.

Grant in 2014
Mati Inc. is a company based in Durham, North Carolina, that specializes in the production and sale of energy drinks. Founded in 2012, it offers a unique energy drink brewed from plant-based ingredients, fruit juice concentrates, and water. The flagship product, MATI, is designed to provide a healthier alternative for active and health-conscious consumers seeking to enhance their everyday performance. Mati Inc. distributes its products through various channels, including wholesalers, retail outlets, and online platforms, primarily serving customers in North Carolina and surrounding counties. As of April 2020, Mati Inc. operates as a subsidiary of NOBL Beverages.

Intervolve

Series C in 2006
Intervolve, Inc. provides supply chain software and services for the beverage industry. It offers DistributionSuite, a set of retail execution applications that integrates sales data from distributors' current route accounting system with non-transactional data collected on mobile devices; Route Accounting System (RAS), which integrates sales order management, inventory management, financial accounting, reconciliations, and route maintenance into an enterprise-wide mobile computing environment for sales delivery and warehouse operations; and A-B Mobility Selling System, a mobile sales and delivery application that aligns with A-B's strategic retail execution initiatives. The company also provides services, such as implementation, remote consulting, business process consulting, systems hardware and technology consulting, data consulting, report development, and training. Intervolve, Inc. was founded in 1999 and is based in Raleigh, North Carolina.
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