Application Opens January 9th for Female Entrepreneurs Ready to Pursue Equity-Backed Funding
DURHAM, NC – December 7, 2017 – NC IDEA, a private foundation committed to supporting entrepreneurial business innovation and economic advancement in North Carolina, announced today that applications for NC IDEA SOAR will open on January 9th. NC IDEA SOAR, originally launched in 2014 as SoarTriangle, became a program of the Foundation in August 2016.
NC IDEA SOAR is designed to help female entrepreneurs raising capital overcome the obstacles contributing to the gender-specific funding disparity. The program is open to NC-based female CEOs of scalable startups prepared to raise a seed or Series A round of equity-backed funding. Female-led startups pursuing a Series B or greater will also be considered based on identifiable needs of the company. The application will be available online from January 9th through January 23rd at 5:00pm EST.
Companies accepted into NC IDEA SOAR receive one year of dedicated mentorship from fundraising strategy experts. In addition, NC IDEA SOAR companies will gain access to NC IDEA advisors, workshops and other resources, as well as introductions to investors in the NC IDEA network. NC IDEA SOAR applicants will complete a rigorous application process and opportunities will be awarded based on key metrics around the investment-readiness of the company.
Interested applicants can visit https://ncidea.org/grants-programs/nc-idea-soar/ to learn more about the program and the process. NC IDEA will also host an information session in early January to discuss the program further and answer specific questions. Details to register for the information session will be posted on the website soon.
About NC IDEA FOUNDATION
NC IDEA is a private foundation committed to supporting business innovation and economic advancement in North Carolina. Today, the organization fulfills this mission through multiple grant and mentoring programs. NC IDEA ECOSYSTEM funds organizations across the state that execute creative programs to support entrepreneurs. Over the last decade, the NC IDEA SEED program has awarded over $5M in non-dilutive grants to 126 high-growth companies across the state. Since 2011, nearly 150 companies have participated in NC IDEA LABS, formerly Groundwork Labs, to guide founders developing an idea or product. NC IDEA SOAR, a program founded in 2012, supports female entrepreneurs leading scalable businesses in raising capital through mentorship, strategic advice and connections. NC IDEA LEAD, the Foundation’s newest program, provides leadership training for founders of high-growth companies. Learn more at ncidea.org.
