This grant provides $50,000 to innovative, high-growth companies headquartered and operating primarily in North Carolina. Targeted at startups with proprietary intellectual property or a sustained competitive advantage, the grant supports businesses that have demonstrated proof of concept and are ready to scale. Eligible applicants must have at least one full-time founder living in North Carolina and be addressing large, rapidly growing market opportunities. Companies with significant prior revenue or investment are less likely to be considered. The grant aims to help recipients achieve milestones that position them for institutional investment, further grant funding, or increased revenue.
Eligibility requirements
Company must be headquartered and conduct majority of operations in North Carolina
All public materials must identify business as a North Carolina company
Must maintain majority of operations in North Carolina for 12 months after grant
Must be an innovative company with proprietary IP or sustained competitive advantage
Must be solving large problems and addressing large, rapidly growing market opportunities
Must have demonstrated proof of concept and market readiness (MVP)
At least one full-time founder living in NC (preferred all founders in NC)
Companies with >$250K revenue in last 12 months are less likely to be considered
Companies with >$250K in equity investment or >$1M in non-dilutive grant funding are less likely to be considered
Not eligible: consulting practices/agencies, training companies, tv/film production, distributors, franchises, resellers, local service-oriented small businesses, not-for-profits
How to apply
Application via NC IDEA SEED page
Proof of concept and MVP
Details on team and founder residency
Disclosure of revenue and prior investment
What you get
$50,000 grant to scale business
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