The Startup Factory

The Startup Factory is an accelerator based in Durham, North Carolina, focused on investing in seed capital and early-stage startups. The firm provides $50,000 in exchange for 7.5% equity in participating companies. Its program spans three months, during which startups receive intensive mentorship and access to a network of experienced entrepreneurs and investors. Additionally, companies that successfully complete the program can qualify for follow-on funding ranging from $20,000 to $150,000 in the form of a convertible note. The Startup Factory aims to equip entrepreneurs with the necessary resources and guidance to foster growth and development in their ventures.

Chris Heivly

Managing Partner

Past deals in North Carolina

Boomboxfm

Seed Round in 2015
BoomboxFM is a direct-to-fan distribution platform that helps independent artists market themselves to new music fans. It customizes undiscovered music based on the listener’s personal preferences, and delivers it directly to users on their personal Boombox page.

CareLuLu

Seed Round in 2014
CareLuLu, Inc. provides an online platform that enables parents to search daycares and preschools in Washington, D.C.; Alexandria and Fairfax, Virginia; Gaithersburg and Baltimore, Maryland; Raleigh, North Carolina; and Los Angeles, California. The company was founded in 2013 and is headquartered in Oakland, California.

SnapYeti

Seed Round in 2014
SnapYeti Inc. provides a platform for sharing photos. It offers SnapYeti that enables the users to compete to win prizes and deals, as well as to help promote causes that are changing the world. The company’s SnapYeti also enables businesses incentivize current and future customers to actively promote their brand with friends and family through photos (snaps). SnapYeti Inc. was incorporated in 2013 and is headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Antenna

Seed Round in 2014
Our mobile-first, real-time feedback platform captures true audience sentiment, increasing participation and conversions. We are personalized, two-way feedback for the mobile generation.

Curagami

Seed Round in 2014
Curagami curates and filters crowdfunding content from around the web.

HomeWellness

Seed Round in 2013
HomeWellness will create a wave of sustainable home improvements that enhance quality of life for employees while helping employers reduce emissions, making corporate sustainability both personal to the employee and meaningful to the employer.

PopUp

Seed Round in 2013
PopUp is like Twitter for places - With the PopUp App, you follow people and brands and their messages are delivered to you not on a timeline, but automatically to your phone, at physical locations as you move through your day. Only the most relevant info about where you are, from the friends and brands you trust, is delivered to you. And you can then create popups, too, and leave them for your friends and followers for them to discover. The PopUp App and APIs allows anyone - a person, a brand, an advertiser, a content publisher - to create content that is delivered to their audience at a specified location.

trinket

Seed Round in 2013
Trinket is the easiest way to make your class website interactive. Trinket's powerful open teaching platform lets teachers to create, prepare, and teach their courses all in one place. Everything on Trinket is open licensed, so teachers can create the best course materials by finding and sharing their word for lesson plans/curriculum] with others teaching the same thing.

Brevado

Seed Round in 2013
Brevado keeps your clients in the loop from start to finish with beautiful project timelines designed for them. Brevado offers clients a non-invasive way of checking their project status. Users can layout their process in milestones and steps. As tasks are completed, clients and team members will receive automatic progress updates, ensuring they are never left in the dark. Brevado is simple, intuitive and visual. Most importantly, it is made for your clients to understand.

Tanjo Inc.

Seed Round in 2013
Tanjo uses machine learning to animate customer personas.

Tuee

Seed Round in 2013
Tuee is a guest relationship management (GRM) tool used by service-based businesses like restaurants to improve retention marketing and operational proficiency. Tuee uses a tablet system to capture experiential and contact data from 80% of guests at the point of sale. Tuee then uses that data to send instant operational alerts, personalize email / social media communication, and run loyalty campaigns. Tuee is currently in 67 restaurants located across 8 states.

Tuee

Seed Round in 2013
Tuee is a guest relationship management (GRM) tool used by service-based businesses like restaurants to improve retention marketing and operational proficiency. Tuee uses a tablet system to capture experiential and contact data from 80% of guests at the point of sale. Tuee then uses that data to send instant operational alerts, personalize email / social media communication, and run loyalty campaigns. Tuee is currently in 67 restaurants located across 8 states.

TabSprint

Seed Round in 2013
TabSprint is a mobile app that lets you get faster drinks, without having to close out a tab. We also display all the local drink specials, as well as full bar menus and prices. We are currently launched in select venues in the Raleigh / Durham / Chapel Hill area. If you are interested in becoming one of those select venues, contact us.

Taggs

Seed Round in 2013
Taggs, Inc. operates a Software as a Service (SaaS) platform that provides visual content marketing analytics that includes data collection, cross platform comparisons, and industry benchmarking. Its clients include ALDO, Tommy Hilfiger, Lancome, and Avon. The company is based in Raleigh, North Carolina.

TabSprint

Seed Round in 2012
TabSprint is a mobile app that lets you get faster drinks, without having to close out a tab. We also display all the local drink specials, as well as full bar menus and prices. We are currently launched in select venues in the Raleigh / Durham / Chapel Hill area. If you are interested in becoming one of those select venues, contact us.

AI patents

Seed Round in 2012
AI Patents operates a sophisticated search engine that enables users to efficiently find relevant patent information using natural language queries. This platform allows individuals to input ideas in their own words, copy and paste patent claims, or upload entire invention disclosures, making it accessible even to those without expertise in patent searching. By leveraging advanced algorithms and insights from patent examiner reports, the search engine provides a ranked list of pertinent documents, facilitating a thorough discovery process. The service caters to a diverse clientele, including Fortune 500 companies, patent pools, tech start-ups, and individual inventors, serving needs across legal, business development, research and development, and valuation sectors. Based in Raleigh, North Carolina, AI Patents aims to streamline the patent research process for various users.

Alekto

Seed Round in 2012
All too often, creditors misreport consumer credit data. Since even a single error on your credit report can cost you thousands of dollars, erroneous credit reporting is something the average American just can’t—and shouldn’t have to—pay for. Alekto can save you from that nightmare. Using a patent-pending transaction management system, Alekto makes sure that your credit report is properly updated. That way, you never have to worry, spend time, or money trying to correct your report after the damage to your credit score has already been done. An accurate credit report can get you better loan rates and ensure that you’re not denied credit, a home, or even employment. Let Alekto get you the credit you deserve for paying your bills today!

Offline

Seed Round in 2012
Offline Media, Inc. operates an online platform designed to help users discover local events and experiences in their cities. Founded in 2012 and based in Raleigh, North Carolina, Offline curates daily listings of activities, enabling users to explore and engage with their surroundings effectively. The platform also integrates users' LinkedIn profiles to facilitate professional networking through group events. By providing tailored recommendations, Offline aims to foster a deeper connection between individuals and their communities, helping them to appreciate and enjoy their city and everyday life.

Able Device

Seed Round in 2012
Able Device, Inc. provides SIMbae licensed software and tools to enable purpose-built machines, such as utility meters and security systems to embed and execute a remote monitoring and control application on a mobile operator’s SIM card rather than an external CPU. It serves developers and service providers. The company was incorporated in 2012 and is based in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Arcametrics Systems

Seed Round in 2012
Arcametrics trims waste from online advertising through full custom "lookalike" audiences. Our audiences enable advertisers to selectively show ads only to consumers with a high probability of converting on a specific offer. By combining advanced predictive analytics with vast data assets in an automated workflow, Arcametrics is bringing the power of big data to any advertiser at any budget. Early customers are seeing a 3X average lift in campaign ROI using our platform.

Science Behind Sweat

Seed Round in 2012
RxAnalytics helps athletes improve their fitness and health by providing personalized recommendations driven by predictive analytics. Founded by PhD geneticists and statisticians who are collegiate athletes and competitive CrossFitters, RxAnalytics combines in-depth domain expertise with proprietary machine learning analytics to create a novel platform for behavior, training and performance analysis. One individual, one roadmap to increased performance, fitness and health.

Ruzuku

Seed Round in 2012
Ruzuku, Inc. operates an online software platform that facilitates the creation of online courses and learning communities. Founded in 2012 and based in Durham, North Carolina, Ruzuku provides tools for authors, coaches, speakers, and consultants to develop, host, and sell online courses or coaching programs. The platform is designed to be user-friendly, focusing on essential features that enhance the learning experience. By enabling individuals to share their knowledge, Ruzuku aims to make learning convenient and efficient for users.

Entasso

Seed Round in 2012
Entasso, Inc. is a talent market platform based in Durham, North Carolina, founded in 2011. The company specializes in job search services that connect recent college graduates with entry-level positions. Entasso differentiates itself by allowing users to showcase their skills, interests, and personalities through interactive games, quizzes, and applications. This approach helps in matching candidates to jobs that are well-suited to their profiles. Moreover, Entasso assists employers in articulating their hiring needs, including cultural fit and specific skills, thus enhancing the recruitment process. By fostering long-term relationships with well-matched candidates, Entasso enables employers to streamline their hiring efforts and reduce the challenges associated with traditional job boards and applicant tracking systems.

ArchiveSocial

Seed Round in 2012
ArchiveSocial, Inc. specializes in social media archiving and risk management solutions designed to help organizations comply with public records laws and protect their online presence. Founded in 2011 and based in Durham, North Carolina, the company provides features such as authentic capture, social media replay, continuous archiving, and advanced search capabilities. Its services are particularly beneficial for government entities, law enforcement agencies, and industries such as financial services and healthcare, enabling them to engage with their communities on social media while ensuring that all content and metadata are securely archived and easily accessible. ArchiveSocial's automated record-keeping addresses the challenges of managing social media compliance, allowing clients to mitigate risks and maintain control over their digital communications.