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Funder · Foundation

NC IDEA

Funds North Carolina startups and ecosystem organizations with grants, mentorship, and networking for early commercial growth.

United Statesncidea.org
Key stats
Annual funding—
Programs6
Active grants0
Total grants4
About

NC IDEA is a private 501(c)(3) foundation based in Durham, North Carolina. Founded in 2006, it has awarded more than $26 million in grants to over 2,000 companies, which have raised more than $1 billion in follow-on capital and created more than 5,000 jobs.

Its direct entrepreneur grants are MICRO at $10,000 and SEED at $50,000, both aimed at North Carolina headquartered startups at validation an…

Programs & grants under this funder
NC BEC ECOSYSTEM

Funds organizations in North Carolina focused on Black entrepreneurship support and access.

NC BEC GROWTH

Funds growth stage support for Black led North Carolina startups after earlier startup assistance.

1 grant
NC BEC GROWTH
Closed
— pool
NC IDEA ECOSYSTEM

Funds North Carolina ecosystem groups supporting rural, women, and minority entrepreneurship.

NC IDEA ENGAGE

Offers support grants for organizations in North Carolina building entrepreneurship events.

1 grant
NC IDEA ENGAGE
Between cycles
— pool
NC IDEA MICRO

Offers validation grants for North Carolina startups testing core assumptions.

1 grant
NC IDEA MICRO
Between cycles
— pool
NC IDEA SEED

Funds North Carolina startup scaling through non dilutive support after early validation.

1 grant
NC IDEA SEED
Between cycles
— pool
Last verified: 29 May 2026Source: ncidea.org