Fundraising Fox
NC IDEA
FoundationDurham · Pre-Seed–Seed · 16 people tracked
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Investment thesis
NC IDEA is a North Carolina foundation dedicated to inclusive entrepreneurial economic development statewide. It provides non-dilutive grants — including MICRO and SEED grants that often serve as young companies' first outside capital, and ENGAGE and ECOSYSTEM grants that strengthen the broader entrepreneurial infrastructure. Beyond funding, it offers programs such as its LABS toolkit, customer discovery guidance, office hours, and information sessions. The foundation places emphasis on serving underserved communities, including through the NC Black Entrepreneurship Council and rural entrepreneurship initiatives. Its goal is to make North Carolina the best state in the nation for entrepreneurs to start and grow businesses.
Source: firm website, verified Sep 27, 2026.
Team · 16 people
from curated & public directories
Founder mafia
2 people who came through NC IDEA went on to found or lead other companies.
What they invest in
from 75 of 352 portfolio companiesAI & Machine Learning ×22Healthtech ×20SaaS ×19Digital Health ×11Biotech ×10Consumer ×10Hardware ×8Medical Devices ×8
HQs:United States×78
Who they back
founder profiles across 58 portfolio companiesFounding team size:solo founder×302 founders×183 founders×74+ founders×3
Where their founders studiedfrom 51 founders with education data
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ×9North Carolina State University ×8Duke University ×5UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School ×5University of California, Berkeley ×3Davidson College ×2Duke University - The Fuqua School of Business ×2Fort Hays State University ×2
What their founders studiedfrom 54 founders with field-of-study data
Engineering ×19Business & Management ×18Computer Science ×9Chemistry ×3Finance & Accounting ×3Humanities ×3Life Sciences ×3Physics ×3
Where their founders worked beforefrom 52 founders with career history
North Carolina State University ×3Blueprint Health LLC ×2Duke University ×2Microsoft ×2SolarPack ×2University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ×2
Accelerator rootsportfolio companies that came through a program
12 founders hold a PhD · 13 hold an MBA (of 57 with degree data)
Investments · 352 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathBy year:2025 · 12023 · 92022 · 32021 · 32020 · 32019 · 22018 · 12017 · 32016 · 12014 · 22011 · 129 dated
Guerrilla RF designs and manufactures high-performance RFIC and MMIC components, including low noise amplifiers, gain blocks, power amplifiers, mixers and switches.
Deep TechHardwareSemiconductorsGreensboro, US
Ryan Pratt(Founder, CEO)inJohn Berg(Executive Officer)inDesiree Pratt(Executive Officer)Kellie Chong(Chief Business Officer)inMike John-Williams(Chief Financial Officer)inMark Mason(Chief Operating Officer)in
Acta builds software for local government teams to centralize departmental knowledge, provide trusted approved responses, guide workflows, and conduct parcel-level research.
AI & Machine LearningGovTechSaaS
Pavani Peri(Founder)inTai(Founder)
Allstacks is an AI-agent platform that connects data from software development tools (Jira, GitHub, GitLab, Jenkins) to provide engineering teams and leaders with delivery metrics, risk alerts, and recommendations for planning, managing, and optimizing software creation.
AI & Machine LearningDeveloper ToolsEnterprise SoftwareRaleigh, US
Jeremy Freeman(Founder)inHersh Tapadia(Founder)inDarrell J. Freeman, Jr.(Executive Officer, Director)Scot Sherwood(Director)
BoardAndrew Drylie(Director)inFiras Raouf(Director)in
Co-investorsAtlassian VenturesCompanyon VenturesCreativeCoFirst Rays Venture PartnersGutbrain VenturesHyperplane Venture Capital+9 more
Altis Biosystems builds RepliGut®, human intestinal tissue models grown from human intestinal stem cells that provide human-relevant preclinical data for drug absorption, metabolism, toxicity, and disease modeling.
BiotechDeep TechHealthtechMedical DevicesDurham, US
Christopher Sims(Executive Officer)inJimmy Smedley(Executive Officer)inSamuel Franklin(Director)Joseph McMahon(Director)Michael Biron(Executive Officer, Director)
BoardChristopher Perkins(Director)
Co-investorsAtlanta Technology AngelsCentral Texas Angel NetworkCheckmate Capital Group LLCCowtown AngelsHatteras Venture PartnersJohnson Venture Partners+1 more
Durham, US
Anil Chawla(Executive Officer, Director)in
BoardPaul Harney(Director)David E. Gardner(Director)
Co-investorsRevolutionLevel Equity
Armada IQ provides AI strategy consulting and implementation services, including proprietary AI system design, machine learning model deployment, data infrastructure architecture, and enterprise training for organizations seeking to develop and operationalize AI capabilities.
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareCharlotte, US
Co-investorsTechstars
Arpio provides an automated disaster recovery platform purpose-built for AWS and Azure cloud applications.
Cloud ComputingCybersecurityData & InfrastructureEnterprise SoftwareSaaSDurham, US
Doug Neumann(Founder)inShaw Terwilliger(Founder)inMeredith Rike(Vice President of Customer Success)
BoardEric Engineer(Director)inWill Omberg(Director)in
Co-investorsCompanyon VenturesCreativeCoDraper AssociatesPaladin Capital GroupS3 VenturesUncorrelated Ventures+6 more
Atlantic Fish develops bioengineering solutions, likely focusing on cellular agriculture or aquaculture applications based on team expertise in cell line development and bioprocess engineering.
BiotechClimate TechFoodTechWashington, Dc, US
Doug Grant(CEO)Trevor Ham(Chief Science Officer)inFrederick Douglas Grant(Executive Officer, Director)
Co-investorsAlwyn CapitalSOSVSustainable Food Ventures
Automated Insights uses natural language generation to turn sports statistics from the Opta database into readable narratives such as game previews, live match insights, and player bios in multiple languages.
AI & Machine LearningMedia & EntertainmentSports TechDurham, US
Robert Allen(Executive Officer, Director)Adam Smith(Executive Officer)inRobbie Allen(Founder)
BoardScott M. Frederick(Executive Officer, Director)inScot Wingo(Director)Randy Castleman(Director)
Co-investorsBoxGroupIDEA Fund PartnersOsage Venture PartnersSamsung Venture Investment Corporation
BatteryXchange operates a network of portable phone-charging kiosks placed in partner business locations, allowing mobile device users to borrow batteries and return them to any nearby kiosk.
Circular EconomyConsumerHardwareIoTCharlotte, US
Desmond A Wiggan(Executive Officer, Director)inAubrey Yeboah(Executive Officer, Director)in
Co-investorsCharlotte FundNex Cubed
BearFiber develops proprietary methods to produce hemp fiber with cotton-like properties for use in apparel and consumer products.
AgTechCircular EconomyConsumerNew MaterialsWellness & Fitness
Capwave provides AI agents that coordinate the fundraising process for founders and investors.
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareFintechSaaS
Charlotte Ketelaar(Co-founder)inReid Williams(Co-founder)in
Co-investorsCharlotte FundPrimordial VenturesPrimordial
Cell Microsystems develops automated instruments for cellular and molecular workflows used in life science research, including oncology, stem cell biology, and regenerative medicine.
BiotechDeep TechHardwareMedical DevicesDurham, US
Scott McGinnis(President)inNancy Allbritton(Director)Yuli Wang(Director)Matthew Megaro(Director)Gary Pace(Executive Officer, Director)Christopher Sims(Executive Officer, Director)
Co-investorsTelegraph Hill Partners
CivicReach helps residents connect with government agencies and nonprofit organizations to access services they depend on.
AI & Machine LearningGovTechSaaS
Co-investorsPrimordial VenturesVC 414
CliniSpan Health uses an AI-driven social media influencer platform to recruit underrepresented patients into clinical trials.
Digital HealthHealthtechDurham, US
Co-investorsTechstars
Companah is a women-owned family business offering water cremation services for pets in North Carolina, treating animal aftercare with dignity and personalized attention comparable to their living care.
ConsumerWellness & FitnessNorth Carolina, US
Hal AtkinsShannon Atkins
Corevist provides a B2B eCommerce and self-service customer portal platform built for SAP manufacturers, offering real-time SAP integration for pricing, ordering, and order management.
Advanced ManufacturingE-commerceSaaSRaleigh, US
Sam Bayer(Executive Officer, Director)Kevin Mosley(Director)
Co-investorsJurassic CapitalRecurring Capital Partners
Couplet Care designs the Couplet Care Bassinet, a hospital bassinet developed through human-centered research to let mothers see, reach, and interact with newborns from their hospital beds.
Digital HealthFemTechHealthtechMedical DevicesApex, US
Kristin Tully(Founder)inTy HaglerinStacie McEntyre(Chief Executive Officer)inDonald A. Holworth(Director)Jan L. Davis(Director)
Courtroom5 provides a litigation toolkit and guidance system for self-representing litigants (pro se parties) to navigate court procedures, interpret law, and prepare cases without hiring lawyers.
LegalTechDurham, US
Sonja Ebron(Executive Officer, Director)inDebra Slone(Executive Officer, Director)in
Co-investorsAd Astra VenturesTechstars
Dare Vegan Cheese produces plant-based cheese products sold direct to consumers via e-commerce.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerFoodTechAsheville, US
Gwendolyn Dare Hageman(Founder)
DayWatt builds direct current (DC) power systems for commercial buildings that connect rooftop solar arrays directly to critical devices like lighting, air conditioning, and IT equipment.
CleantechEnergyHardware
Co-investorsCharlotte Fund
A beauty service brand offering eyebrow shaping, brow styling, permanent makeup, lash lift, and facial treatments, with pre-treatment consultations to match techniques to each client's facial structure and skin condition.
ConsumerFuture of WorkWellness & FitnessFort Mill, US
Co-investorsTechstars
Elite HRV provides a team dashboard for remote analysis of heart rate variability, sleep, exercise, and mood data to help coaches, sports teams, athletes, and wellness practitioners monitor client and team member wellbeing and optimize training and recovery.
ConsumerDigital HealthHealthtechSaaSWellness & FitnessAsheville, US
Jason Moore(Executive Officer, Director)inVince Salvo(Executive Officer)inJef Fry(Executive Officer)
BoardAlyssa Moore(Director)Peter Blacklow(Director)inMeredith McPherron(Director)in
Co-investorsHigh Country Impact FundBoston Seed CapitalDrive by DraftKingsIdeaship
Raleigh, US
RYAN O'DONNELL(Executive Officer, Director)JEFF STOCKS(Executive Officer)
BoardDAVID E. GARDNER(Director)
Co-investorsTech Square VenturesWolfpack Investor Network
Flux Hybrids develops plug-in hybrid powertrain kits for vehicles, available as second-stage manufacturer upfits or aftermarket installations.
Advanced ManufacturingCleantechMobility & TransportationTroutman, US
Cody Biedermann(Cofounder)inClay Dowdey(Cofounder)inMicah Ulrich(Cofounder)inWilliam Swartz(Director)
Co-investorsCharlotte FundTechstarsWolfpack Investor Network
Fokuslabs develops Revibe, a wearable platform built on Samsung hardware that delivers personalized vibration and text reminders to enhance focus and attention.
AI & Machine LearningHealthtechIoT
Co-investorsThe Launch Place
An investment app providing personalized wealth journeys and comprehensive wealth management through subscription-based financial planning.
AI & Machine LearningFintechCharlotte, US
Co-investorsBackstage CapitalCharlotte Angel FundTechstars
Just Her Rideshare operates a pre-scheduled transportation coordination platform connecting women riders with independent women drivers.
B2B MarketplacesMarketplacesMobility & TransportationCharlotte, US
Kimberly Evans(Founder)in
KelaHealth develops data-driven solutions that apply insights from millions of patient records to personalize and improve medical decision-making.
AI & Machine LearningData & InfrastructureDigital HealthHealthtechMedical DevicesSan Francisco, US
Bora Chang(Executive Officer, Director)
BoardDennis McWilliams(Director)
Co-investorsBlue Hour VenturesIntuitive VenturesNueterra CapitalTechstarsSante Ventures
Keona Health offers CareDesk, an AI-assisted patient access platform that handles voice, chat, and web requests for medical practices, automating scheduling, refills, reminders, and cancellations while routing complex calls to staff with full patient context.
AI & Machine LearningDigital HealthHealthtechSaaSChapel Hill, US
OAKKAR OAKKAR(Executive Officer, Director)inSTEPHEN DEAN(Executive Officer)inJimmy Kaanapu(Founder)in
BoardBRUCE THOMPSON(Director)
Co-investorsRiverside Acceleration CapitalSaaS CapitalThe Riverside Company
Learn.xyz is a corporate learning platform that uses AI to convert documents such as handbooks, policies, and slide decks into gamified, bite-sized micro lessons.
AI & Machine LearningEdTechHR Tech
Co-investorsCoinbase VenturesFlori VenturesEarl Grey Capital
Raleigh, US
Matthew Schembari(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)Nathan Fairbanks(Executive Officer, Promoter)Marcus Hutcheson(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)Glenn Rane(Executive Officer, Promoter)Daniel Hertzka(Executive Officer, Promoter)Dan Hertzka(Founder)
Co-investorsBitkraft Esports VenturesGalaxy InteractiveMakers Fund
Liine is a marketing data and lead management platform designed for healthcare practices and clinics.
AI & Machine LearningHealthtechMarketing TechSaaSRaleigh, US
Bradley R. Blaser(Executive Officer, Director)inCharles Winn IV(Executive Officer, Director)Eric Blaser(Executive Officer)inCharles Winn(President and Representative)Andrew Johnson(Executive Officer)in
BoardArun Mohan(Director)
Co-investorsEastside Partners
LoanWell provides software to digitize and automate loan origination, grant management, and servicing, including custom borrower landing pages, auto-decisioning, e-signature, ACH disbursement/repayment, and KYC verification.
FintechSaaS
Bernard Worthy(Founder)in
Co-investorsImpact America FundOpen Opportunity FundResilient VenturesCollab CapitalSoftBank Group
Lucerna Dynamics provides software that identifies injection errors in nuclear medicine procedures, evaluates their impact, and helps reduce error frequency for healthcare teams.
BiotechDigital HealthHealthtechMedical DevicesCary, US
RONALD LATTANZE(CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER)inJOSH KNOWLAND(VP Product Development, Co-Founder)CHARLES SCARANTINO, M.D.(CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER)WILLIAM GORGE(SECRETARY AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER)inRon Lattanze(CEO)inSteve Perrinin
Co-investorsElevate Innovation Partners
Other
Tracked investments with no reachable website or further public details — typically companies that wound down, renamed, or were absorbed.
3 Spark Design4Evermore Ventures828 Labs LlcA-B-Sea ResearchActive DefenderAdaptbionicAdvanced Hydrogen Technologies CorporationAlontree CompanyAmissaAmpogeeAnimal Cancer DxAntlia EnergyAnybody ClothingAnycloudAp SolutionsArcametrics Systems IncArcticArgonetaArgyle SocialAscend GoalsAshanti StylesAstrahiveAuthorloyaltyBasetraceBattlebuggies To Go LlcBcombsBeam DynamicsBeecozBibi ThreadsBioMedomicsBioshape SolutionsBleanBlkresumesBlue Ridge AromaticsBlue Spatial CorpBoostsuiteBooty MintBotanical BonesBrand AssuranceBristles LlcBruvueCaiaCalico SolCanine HarvestCanopy Lawn CareCardiovascular ResonancesCardstalkCarolina InstrumentsCellbreakerChatstyleChiliportCicilCircuitsaysClever Education SolutionsClinical SensorsCommitteesCommunity Expert SolutionsContent CommandersCopyforwardCore Ai CorporationCore PrognostexCore Snatcher IncCounsel ConnectCps BiofuelsCrowdtunesCurateCybershield SecurityCydocCytex Therapeutics, Inc.Davos CorporationDealcloudDeltasphere IncDendiDescalzaDevil's FootDevils Foot Beverage CompanyDiluviumDivysci SoftwareDojo FreshDpoly SystemsDrabaDyzen IncEcocurrentEcotekindustriesEcreeEdulyncElectronic Lab LogsEmbrew Coffee And Tea ProductsEncapsioEntogeneticsEpiphany Mobile SolutionsEssential PersonnelExstobioEz Food OrderFeedstationFiltaraFishinglicense UsFitmom AthleticsFixersistersFlasky LabwareFloor HealthFlow PhantomFramewrkFreedomFreshspireFun Mom BandGema TouchGig ConnectedGivefinityGleanGoghnowGokart KidsGravitlGreen Cooling GroupGreen Solutions GroupGreen Stream TechnologiesGrill PinzGryppers IncHaytrabajo Blockchain SolutionsHealthemeHolysmokesHome For Life DesignsHome Lending PalHoppy Planet FoodsHot Route AnalyticsIedapts LlcImagineoptixImamaImpathiqImpulsonic, Inc.Infosense IncInneroptic Technology IncInrfoodInsitutecInterview SchoolIvyJabin Beverage CoJaylas HeirloomsJeddahs TeaJoosyJute NetworksKinlyLabrunnerLamassu ArakLight And Charge SolutionsLiraLittle HouseLoyaleseLumen Design GroupLuxury Shoe ClubMailvuMatMatcha NudeMati EnergyMbrightMedicporterMefiverMercierMicmag By MeMithrilai CorpMoor For Less
Browse all 352 investments with full details →
▶152 more tracked companies
MotaaviMuuktestMvtrakMybeehyveMycologicsMykareMykinfoMymatrMyperiodpalNanoforgeNatrxNautilus MaterialsNeighborzNeomega Nutritionals LlcNeuroPlusNext RayNirvana SciencesNo Evil FoodsNo Mess SpfNoteninjaNovocorNurtured NestNurv Fit CorporationOncoscopeOpensproutsOpiAID, LLCOrchid Gene LlcOtherscreenPadeoPanaceutics IncPapermulchPatagonia Health IncPeriscope Health AnalyticsPettygigsPhinitePhyscientPiedmont PenniesPinnacle Medical ProductsPip GrowPlanktos InstrumentsPlantd ClimbingPlantnrgyPollynation ApothecaryPonybox ClothingPopupPostbiotic LabsPowerchalk LlcPreservation DyehouseProaxionProctorfreeProject HeelProtect3dProtochipsProtopiaPT WiredPump For JoyPureskill GgQcardQuartersproutRebundleRedbud LabsRemedeaseRenaissance FiberRent AssuredResistor BrewsResolvexRethink LedgersRevBossRim HelmetsRite Of PassageroobrikRosa TechnologySalusSandbar Oyster CompanySaniSarda Technologies IncSAViiScale Social AiScion NeurostimSeachange TechnologiesSecure LivingSelah InnovationsSeniors In TransitionServeHubShyftautoSinobas AmplificationSinonSix Wing StudiosSize Me UpSMART GIRLS HQ LLCSnappicfixSnapyetiSnugwicksSocial CascadeSoteria Formulations IncSpice WitchSpoonflowerSpring EngageSpring MulberryStartup SpotStemzSubstantial MediaSureSurveiTeam Genius SquadTec CelThe Coaching MarkThe Quick SpaceThe Wed CliqueThimblerThree Strands Recovery WearTin LizzeeTom JennysTransLocTrinketTrio LabsTrommlTsv AnalyticsUnbox The DressUndecidedUnravelUp on 3UpswingUrban OffsetsValencellVengaVenturing Lifestyle DesignsVerineticsVetleticsVirnikaVitalFloVitality Robotics IncVizlaVizma Life SciencesWashington’s HammerWeeklyWell Seasoned TableWest End LearningWeyezeWh FarmsWildweed GardensWithout a Trace FoodsWorxstr LlcWrangleWreckingball Systems LlcWritten Word MediaXR TechnologiesYour Case PlanYour Minute MechanicZarias MilkZenaluxZumatek
Exits · 3
1 IPOs · 2 acquisitions · showing 2Guerrilla RFOTC: GUERArcametrics Systems Incacq. by Media Math
Portfolio news
latest coverage across their companies
Altis Biosystems · tweenertimes.com · Aug 27, 2026
Arpio · thesaasnews.com · Jun 5, 2026
Capwave · capwave.ai · May 21, 2026
Three Strands Recovery Wear · winstonsalem.com · Oct 8, 2025
Frequently asked questions
- How many investments has NC IDEA made?
- NC IDEA has 352 tracked investments, 3 of which have exited, including 1 dated in the last 24 months.
- What stage does NC IDEA invest at?
- NC IDEA invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed stages.
- What sectors does NC IDEA focus on?
- NC IDEA focuses on Biotech, Consumer, Data & Infrastructure, Enterprise Software, Hardware, Healthtech, Impact & Social Good, Media & Entertainment, Medical Devices, New Materials, SaaS, Sector Agnostic.
- Where is NC IDEA located?
- NC IDEA is headquartered in Durham, US.
- Who does NC IDEA co-invest with?
- NC IDEA most often shares deals with Techstars, Charlotte Fund, The Launch Place, among 97 tracked co-investors.
- What size deals does NC IDEA back?
- Across 5 deals with disclosed amounts, NC IDEA has joined rounds of $10K – $50K (median $10K).
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