Duke Energy is a leading U.S. energy company providing electric and gas services to approximately 7.9 million customers across six states. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the company owns and operates diverse power generation assets, including renewable energy sources, with a focus on sustainability and community vitality.

Triangle Tweener Fund, established in 2021 and based in Raleigh, North Carolina, is a venture capital firm focused on investing in early-stage, high-technology startups within the Triangle area, which includes Raleigh, Durham, and surrounding regions. The firm aims to build a comprehensive index of private company investments that meet its specific 'Tweener List' criteria, targeting promising ventures at a critical stage of their development. By concentrating on seed and early-stage investments, Triangle Tweener Fund seeks to support the growth of innovative companies that have the potential to contribute significantly to the local economy and the tech landscape.

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.

The North Carolina Biotechnology Center, established in 1981, is a private, non-profit organization based in Durham, North Carolina. It is funded by the North Carolina General Assembly with the mission of enhancing biotechnology research, business, and education across the state. Rather than serving as a laboratory for research, the Center focuses on fostering job creation and strengthening the biotechnology sector by providing support and resources to industry stakeholders. Through its initiatives, the Center aims to generate economic and societal benefits for the region, contributing to the advancement of biotechnology in North Carolina.

SECU Foundation is a charitable organization funded by the contributions of SECU members, to help identify and address community issues and promote local and community development in North Carolina primarily through high-impact projects in the areas of education, housing, healthcare, and human services.

The National Science Foundation is an independent federal agency in the United States that funds and supports research and education in science and engineering. It funds fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering and administers non-dilutive funding programs to aid early‑stage technology development, helping translate discoveries into commercially viable products and services. Through grants and fellowships, the NSF supports researchers, educators, and startups, contributing to innovation and U.S. competitiveness. The agency operates with a substantial budget to advance science, engineering, and STEM education nationwide.

Founded in 2015, Cofounders Capital is a venture capital firm based in Cary, North Carolina. It specializes in early-stage investments, focusing on business-to-business software companies in the Southeast region, particularly North Carolina. The firm invests an average of $0.3 million to $0.4 million per round, taking minority stakes.

VentureSouth is a venture capital firm based in Greenville, South Carolina, specializing in startup and early-stage investments. The firm focuses primarily on manufacturing, logistics, and healthcare sectors, targeting opportunities in the Southeastern United States, particularly the Carolinas and surrounding areas. Since its founding, VentureSouth has developed a network of over 550 investors through various angel investment groups, making it one of the largest organizations of its kind in the country. The firm typically invests between $0.25 million and $2 million for a preferred equity stake of 15% to 35%, aiming for companies that can potentially deliver a 50% annualized rate of return within a 3-5 year timeframe. VentureSouth does not engage in common equity or debt investments, and it rarely invests in convertible debt.

Founded in 2000, Hatteras Venture Partners is a venture capital firm based in Durham, North Carolina. It specializes in early-stage investments in life sciences and healthcare companies, with a focus on biopharmaceuticals, medical devices, diagnostics, and healthcare IT. The firm primarily invests in companies located in the Mid Atlantic and Southeastern United States.

IDEA Fund Partners, established in 2007, is a Chapel Hill, North Carolina-based venture capital firm. It specializes in early-stage investments, focusing on technology-driven companies in the Southeast region of the United States. The firm's investment focus includes sectors such as technology, software, automation, big data, and healthcare. IDEA Fund Partners is known for its experience and active approach, supporting entrepreneurs who are innovating in industries at the early stages of digital transformation, with a particular emphasis on underserved markets.

Founded in 1995, SOSV is a global venture capital firm headquartered in New Jersey. It focuses on seed-to-growth stage investments in deep tech innovations, primarily in bio-tech/life sciences and hardware/robotics sectors, with a commitment to human and planetary health.

Alexandria Venture Investments is the strategic venture capital arm of Alexandria Real Estate Equities. Based in Pasadena, California, it provides long-term strategic capital to innovative life sciences and technology companies developing breakthrough therapies, diagnostics, and platforms across biopharma, digital health, agrifoodtech, agtech, and related healthcare fields. Established in 1996, the firm invests across seed, early, and growth stages and leverages its deep industry knowledge, extensive investor networks, and scientific advisory resources to support portfolio companies. The unit also pursues opportunities at the intersection of real estate, life sciences, and technology, reflecting its parent company's sector focus and integrated ecosystem approach. It aims to help entities advance human health by partnering with founders to scale transformative technologies.

Bull City Venture Partners is a Durham, North Carolina-based venture capital firm founded in 2012 that makes early-stage investments in technology, healthcare, and related sectors in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic United States. The firm focuses on B2B and tech-enabled businesses across software, mobile, e-commerce, health tech, cloud computing, fintech, internet services, and logistics, providing capital and strategic support, often taking a board seat and helping secure follow-on capital for growth rounds.

Founded in 2012, Rex Health Ventures invests in and partners with early-stage healthcare companies to facilitate innovation and improve patient care. They support the discovery and development of new treatments, tools, products, and services.

Excelerate Health Ventures is a healthcare-focused venture capital firm based in Durham, North Carolina, in the Research Triangle Park area. Founded in 2013, it pursues seed- and early-stage investments in healthcare technology, including healthcare software and digital health, with a preference for SaaS and B2B-enabled solutions. The firm targets opportunities across North America and supports portfolio companies by leveraging a network of strategic partners from pharma, providers, and payers to accelerate adoption and revenue.

Service Provider Capital is a venture capital firm established in 2014 and based in Colorado. The firm focuses on early-stage investments, notably seed-stage opportunities, and participates as a co-investor in Series A rounds led by institutional venture funds. Its portfolio interests span a broad range of technology sectors, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, blockchain, cybersecurity, e-commerce, education technology, fintech, hardware, information technology, robotics, health, and cannabis.

Battery Ventures is a technology-focused investment firm founded in 1983 and based in Boston, Massachusetts. It engages in venture capital and private equity investments in technology companies, with emphasis on software (including application and infrastructure software), IT infrastructure technologies, consumer internet and mobile services, industrial technologies, and life science tools. The firm seeks to back category-defining businesses with potential for scalable growth, often supporting companies through multiple stages and across select global regions.

IndieBio is an accelerator that supports startups using biology to solve major problems, delivering four-month programs for companies and teams with ideas. Based in San Francisco with an office in New York, it focuses on life sciences, biotechnology and synthetic biology, investing in seed and early-stage ventures that place biology at the core of their technology across products, processes and software. The program favors teams with two or more co-founders and generally provides equity-based funding in the early stages, often combining direct investments with additional financing options. Founded in 2014, IndieBio operates within the SOSV accelerator network, a global platform that supports portfolio companies through mentorship, resources and cross-border programs.

Intersouth Partners is a Durham, North Carolina–based venture capital firm founded in 1985 that concentrates on seed and early-stage investments in technology and life sciences. It seeks to be a lead or co-lead investor, often participating in the first institutional round with initial investments in the range of several hundred thousand to several million dollars and pursuing a total investment across rounds around ten to twelve million dollars. The firm emphasizes equity investments and typically seeks a board seat on portfolio companies, aiming to support growth in sectors such as software, semiconductors, communications, digital media, clean technology, security, medical devices, biopharmaceuticals, agricultural biotechnology, and biomaterials. Its geographic focus centers on the Southeast, including the Research Triangle area, Washington, DC, Atlanta, and the broader corridor from Baltimore to Florida. The firm is known for its active engagement and long-standing experience in building early-stage technology and life sciences companies.

National Institutes of Health is a biomedical research agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, based in Bethesda, Maryland. It is the primary U.S. government organization devoted to biomedical and health research, conducting science through the Intramural Research Program and funding external research through the Extramural Research Program. The NIH comprises 27 institutes and centers and supports about 1,200 principal investigators and more than 4,000 postdoctoral fellows across basic, translational, and clinical research. It has contributed to major advances such as vaccines and therapies and is dedicated to advancing knowledge and translating discoveries into improvements in public health. Established in 1887, NIH operates as a central hub for medical research in the United States.

Tencarva Machinery is a prominent distributor of process equipment and services, catering to industrial and municipal clients across the Southeast United States since 1978. The company specializes in providing a wide range of pumping systems, fluid handling systems, air handling equipment, and liquid process equipment tailored for various industries, including chemical, citrus, paper, textile, and power. In addition to its diverse product offerings, Tencarva also operates repair centers and field service teams capable of servicing most types of rotating process equipment. This comprehensive approach ensures that clients receive reliable and cost-effective solutions that meet their specific application needs.

Carousel Capital is a private equity firm based in Charlotte, North Carolina, founded in 1996. It concentrates on mid-market investments in the Southeastern United States, pursuing companies in the business services, consumer products and services, and healthcare services sectors. The firm seeks to partner with management teams to build companies with national and global footprints by providing strategic insight and sector expertise. It targets non-cyclical, growth-oriented opportunities and maintains an investor base that includes institutional investors and a network of current and former chief executives who assist in sourcing opportunities and offer strategic guidance.

SoftBank Robotics Europe, formerly Aldebaran Robotics, designs and manufactures humanoid robots for education, research, health, distribution, tourism, business applications, and home use. The company serves customers worldwide and focuses on interactive robotics that assist professionals and individuals. Founded in 2005, it is based in Paris, France, with additional offices in France, Japan, the United States, and China, and operates as a subsidiary of SoftBank Group.

The Aurora Funds is a North Carolina-based venture capital firm founded in 1994 that concentrates on early-stage investments in healthcare and information technology. It supports seed and Series A rounds, targeting companies from pre-product to early revenue, with initial investments typically ranging from 50,000 to 2.5 million and total financing of about 4 to 8 million across successive rounds. The firm looks to be lead or co-lead and often seeks a board seat in portfolio companies. Based in Cary, with an additional office in Durham, it provides resources to help healthcare and information technology startups grow.

Wolfpack Investor Network (WIN) is an angel investing platform that connects the entrepreneurial community and alumni network of North Carolina State University. Focused on empowering innovative private companies, WIN exclusively invests in portfolio companies that have an affiliation with NC State and are based in the United States. By leveraging its extensive network, WIN fosters collaboration and support among entrepreneurs and investors, aiming to drive the growth of businesses that are poised to shape the future.

GE Equity invests globally across various sectors, focusing on established companies with high growth potential. It takes minority ownership positions and offers growth capital, buy-out co-investments, secondary direct purchases, recapitalizations, and LP investments.

Founded in 1871, Truist is a banking organization headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. It offers a wide range of consumer and commercial financial services including retail banking, small business lending, asset management, insurance, mortgage lending, investment brokerage services, wealth management, asset-based lending, commercial mortgage lending, leasing, payment solutions, supply chain financing, and commercial deposit services.

Kohlberg Kravis Roberts is a global investment firm that manages multiple alternative asset classes, including private equity, energy, infrastructure, real estate and credit, with strategic partners that manage hedge funds. Founded in 1976, the firm is headquartered in New York and operates a broad international presence with offices in major financial centers around the world. KKR pursues a patient, disciplined investment approach, emphasizes high-quality talent, and aims to deliver attractive returns while creating growth and value for its investment partners.

Founded in 1994, Pappas Capital is a venture capital firm specializing in life sciences. It invests in biotechnology, biopharmaceuticals, medical devices, and related ventures across North America, with a focus on preclinical to Phase 3 companies.

One Better Ventures is a venture capital firm established in 2013 and located in Raleigh, North Carolina. The company focuses on nurturing and developing consumer brands that positively impact society. It provides advisory services, investment, and incubation for mission-driven ventures that feature sustainable business models. One Better Ventures has a notable history of building successful businesses, including Burt’s Bees and Seventh Generation. Currently, the firm collaborates with innovative ventures such as Leesa Sleep and Filter Easy, positioning itself as a principled and patient investor and operating partner. Committed to corporate citizenship, One Better Ventures allocates 10% of its profits to charitable donations and another 10% to an employee bonus pool, reflecting its dedication to service and community engagement.

Founded in 1986, Morningside Group is a venture capital firm based in the greater Boston area. It invests in companies with innovative science and technology across life sciences, digital health, AI, materials, and technology sectors.

Founded in 1997, Ares Management is a global alternative asset manager with approximately $144 billion of assets under management. It operates through three platforms: Ares Private Equity Group, Ares Private Debt Group, and Ares Capital Markets Group. The firm invests across credit, private equity, and real estate markets, focusing on middle-market companies and providing financing solutions to private businesses.

Alumni Ventures Group is a venture capital firm based in Manchester, New Hampshire, with offices across North America. It provides access to venture investing for individual accredited investors, particularly alumni networks, by offering diversified portfolios of venture opportunities and allowing members to invest alongside fellow alumni in ventures led by peers. The firm backs early-stage and later-stage opportunities across technology, consumer, healthcare, financial services, and other sectors, with a sector- and geography-agnostic approach. It typically invests between $10,000 and $3 million per deal and emphasizes the involvement of alumni connections and an institutional lead investor in opportunities. Alumni Ventures also offers focused funds to broaden participation, enabling accredited investors to access venture portfolios diversified by type, sector, stage, and geography. The model aims to democratize access to venture capital while maintaining rigorous selection standards through alumni networks.

Sustainable Food Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Durham, North Carolina, founded in 2020. It invests in early-stage food technology companies worldwide, focusing on cell-based, plant-based, and recombinant food products.

UNC Kenan-Flagler Private Equity Fund is a student-run private equity and venture capital firm located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, established in 2007. The fund focuses on making investments in both early and late-stage companies, engaging in buyouts, growth capital, and mezzanine debt financings. It aims to invest between $0.1 million and $0.15 million in portfolio companies that typically have enterprise values ranging from $20 million to $125 million. The fund operates with the dual purpose of delivering real returns for investors while providing an educational experience for its student members. It collaborates with partner private investment firms to enhance its investment strategies and reach.

Founded in 1999, Enhanced Capital Partners is a New York-based investment firm managing over $400 million. It specializes in equity and debt investments for small to mid-sized companies across various sectors, with a focus on healthcare technology systems and TMT industries.

Tergus Pharma, LLC is a dermatology contract research organization based in Durham, North Carolina, specializing in topical pharmaceutical research and drug development. Founded in 1995, the company offers a comprehensive range of services including formulation development, analytical research and development, in vitro permeation testing, and manufacturing of clinical supplies. Tergus Pharma supports both branded and generic dermatology products by providing expertise in skin biology and regulatory consulting. With a commitment to scientific excellence, the company enables its clients to efficiently achieve high-quality results in their pharmaceutical projects.

Founded in 2006, Greycroft is a venture capital firm based in New York and Los Angeles. With over $1 billion under management, it focuses on early-stage investments in consumer internet, financial technology, healthcare, and enterprise software sectors across the United States. The firm leverages its extensive network of media and technology industry connections to help entrepreneurs gain visibility, build strategic relationships, and bring products to market.

Founded in 2020, Piedmont Capital Investments is a venture capital firm based in Raleigh, North Carolina. The firm focuses on investing in transformative companies within the science and technology sectors, with a particular emphasis on electrification, manufacturing, and defense.

The Carlyle Group is a global private equity and alternative asset management firm founded in 1987 and based in Washington, DC. It manages a broad range of investment platforms across corporate private equity, real assets, global market strategies and investment solutions, serving institutional and individual investors worldwide. The firm supports growth and value creation by partnering with management teams and pursuing opportunities across industries such as aerospace, government services, energy, healthcare, technology, manufacturing, real estate and transportation, as well as strategic credit and other capital solutions. Through diversified fund families and advisory capabilities, it aims to deliver long-term capital appreciation and risk-adjusted returns across multiple market cycles.

RTP Capital Associates is an angel network based in Durham, North Carolina, founded in 2010. The firm is composed of accredited investors who invest their own capital and focuses on seed and early-stage investments. RTP Capital Associates primarily targets companies in technology-centric and low-tech execution-driven sectors within the North Carolina region.

Established in 2008, Live Oak Bank is a Wilmington, North Carolina-based commercial bank specializing in financing for small businesses nationwide. It focuses on innovative financial solutions, with a particular emphasis on veterinary practices and industries such as agriculture, healthcare, and pharmacy. The bank offers FDIC-insured banking products, business advisory services, and construction financing.

Google is a multinational technology company renowned for its search engine, offering services such as Gmail, Google Drive, Google Docs, and YouTube. It specializes in advertising solutions through Google Ads and mobile operating systems with Android, while actively innovating in artificial intelligence and machine learning.

The U.S. Department of Energy is a government agency established in 1977, located in Washington, D.C. Its primary mission is to ensure the security and prosperity of the nation by tackling energy, environmental, and nuclear challenges. The Department focuses on promoting transformative scientific and technological solutions to address these issues, thereby supporting the country's energy needs and environmental sustainability.

Established in 1999, Golden LEAF Foundation is a non-profit organization based in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. It focuses on expanding economic opportunity in North Carolina's rural and tobacco-dependent communities through grantmaking, collaboration, innovation, and stewardship.

First Bancorp operates as a bank holding company for First Bank, focusing on providing a comprehensive range of banking products and services to individuals and small to medium-sized businesses primarily in North Carolina and northeastern South Carolina. The bank offers various deposit products, including checking, savings, and money market accounts, as well as time deposits like certificates of deposit and individual retirement accounts. Additionally, First Bank provides loans for both consumer and commercial needs, covering areas such as business, real estate, personal, home improvement, and automobiles, alongside residential mortgages and small business administration loans. The company also facilitates credit and debit card services, safe deposit rentals, and electronic funds transfers, while offering internet and mobile banking solutions. Beyond traditional banking, First Bancorp provides investment and insurance products, including mutual funds, annuities, life insurance, and financial planning services. Established in 1934 and headquartered in Southern Pines, North Carolina, First Bancorp operates 101 branches within the region.

First Citizens Bank is a full-service banking institution that helps customers manage their money effectively. As a family-controlled bank under First Citizens BancShares, Inc., it boasts over $35 billion in assets and a history of steady leadership. Offering banking services, business solutions, wealth management, and modern online and mobile banking options, First Citizens is dedicated to serving diverse communities and promoting professional growth among its associates. With a focus on financial security and service excellence, the company, founded in 1898 and headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, strives to provide top-notch services to its customers while contributing to the success of the business.

Orlando Health is a prominent private, not-for-profit healthcare network located in Orlando, Florida. It serves nearly two million residents of Central Florida, along with approximately 4,500 international visitors each year. The organization is recognized for its comprehensive range of facilities, advanced medical treatments, and a highly qualified staff, positioning it as a leader in the healthcare sector. Orlando Health is committed to delivering high-quality care and improving health outcomes in the community it serves.

Sapphire Ventures is a global software-focused venture capital firm with teams across Austin, London, Menlo Park and San Francisco. It partners with visionary management teams and venture funds to back companies that can become category leaders and has backed hundreds of companies worldwide, generating a track record of public listings and acquisitions. The firm operates a multi-pronged platform—Sapphire Ventures, Sapphire Partners and Sapphire Sport—that combines growth and early-stage investing with a portfolio-growth team providing strategic resources and operational support to help portfolio companies scale. Sapphire Sport is an early-stage investment vehicle focused on the intersection of sport, media and entertainment technology, while the broader platform targets software, cloud, cybersecurity, AI and other technology-enabled sectors.

Wilmington Investor Network is a venture capital firm based in Wilmington, North Carolina, founded in 2004. The firm specializes in investing in early-stage companies, particularly in the technology, biotechnology, and medical device sectors. It primarily focuses on businesses located in eastern North and South Carolina, aiming to support local innovation and growth. Wilmington Investor Network typically invests between $0.2 million and $0.5 million in individual investment rounds, leveraging the collective resources and expertise of its network of angel investors to foster the development of promising startups in its target industries.