Raleigh, NC
www.riot.org
RIoT supports companies in capturing emerging markets and accelerating startups. RIoT helps the community in capturing Internet of Things (IoT) opportunities locally, nationally, and globally. They represent a network of technologists, engineers, business leaders, academics, policy makers, and entrepreneurs, all of whom have a stake in the Internet of Things industry. RIoT is a 2016 and 2020 NC IDEA ECOSYSTEM Grant Recipient.
Submitted By Rachael Newberry
Published September 2024
Growing up in Durham and completing my undergraduate degree at UNC Chapel Hill gave me a front-row seat to the evolution of North Carolina’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Organizations like American Underground, Raleigh Founded, NC IDEA Foundation, First Flight Venture Center, and others laid the groundwork for the thriving ecosystem we see today.
Early in my career at Duke’s Center for Advanced Hindsight, I had the privilege of building a behavioral science-based startup program that taught startups how to leverage insights to create better products. This experience ignited my passion for developing programs and resources to support entrepreneurs in our state.
Back then, Duke’s Center for Advanced Hindsight was a neighbor of NC IDEA, allowing me to learn from experts like John Austin, a senior director at the time. This connection eventually led me to meet Tom Snyder, the Executive Director of RIoT. In 2018, RIoT had just received a federal economic development grant and was looking for someone to lead their RIoT Accelerator Program (RAP) launch. The timing couldn’t have been better.
RIoT has always been known as the hub for founders wanting to explore emerging technologies across the automation of data; from IoT-enabled data collection and transmission to advanced analytics and visualization. We connect founders working with new technologies to industry leaders within our extensive network, ensuring they have the resources to pursue innovative ideas. This commitment to supporting and connecting entrepreneurs is deeply embedded in our DNA. Unlike many venture-backed accelerator programs focusing on making companies investible, RAP takes a different approach. We empower founders to define success on their terms, debunking the myth that all tech startups need to raise venture capital. Our 12-week program supports startups and entrepreneurs by providing resources, mentorship, and connections that help turn their ideas into successful, scalable businesses, with a strong focus on customer-first and revenue-driven growth.
As a nonprofit primarily focused on economic development, our values often align closely with those of the entrepreneurs we support. When they succeed and create jobs, it’s a win for them and us. Our support ranges from the accelerator program to our partner network, events, and RIoT Labs. This work is driven by our relentless focus on outcomes and our commitment to continuously evolve our offerings. We operate much like a startup, constantly validating our model and always remaining market-driven. 
To date, RIoT has completed 18 cohorts and supported 150+ startups that have collectively created 500+ jobs and generated $150M+ in revenue. With the support of NC IDEA’s 2020 ECOSYSTEM grant, we expanded our RAP Model to Wilson, North Carolina. By immersing ourselves in the Wilson ecosystem, we discovered the untapped potential of rural communities in the state. The city’s renovation of an old downtown building into a coworking space, now known as Gig East Exchange, became our home base in Wilson. We recently completed our fifth RIoT Accelerator Program there and remain motivated to expand this work across other communities. Seeing the progress of this ecosystem is genuinely inspiring, as it is driven by a real willingness to support any founder in need. This is what makes it special.
Raleigh, NC
www.riot.org
RIoT supports companies in capturing emerging markets and accelerating startups. RIoT helps the community in capturing IoT opportunities locally, nationally, and globally. They represent a network of technologists, engineers, business leaders, academics, policy makers, and entrepreneurs, all of whom have a stake in the Internet of Things industry. RIoT is a 2016 and 2020 NC IDEA ECOSYSTEM Grant Recipient.
Submitted By Rachael Newberry
Published September 2024
Growing up in Durham and completing my undergraduate degree at UNC Chapel Hill gave me a front-row seat to the evolution of North Carolina’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Organizations like American Underground, Raleigh Founded, NC IDEA Foundation, First Flight Venture Center, and others laid the groundwork for the thriving ecosystem we see today.
Early in my career at Duke’s Center for Advanced Hindsight, I had the privilege of building a behavioral science-based startup program that taught startups how to leverage insights to create better products. This experience ignited my passion for developing programs and resources to support entrepreneurs in our state.
Back then, Duke’s Center for Advanced Hindsight was a neighbor of NC IDEA, allowing me to learn from experts like John Austin, a senior director at the time. This connection eventually led me to meet Tom Snyder, the Executive Director of RIoT. In 2018, RIoT had just received a federal economic development grant and was looking for someone to lead their RIoT Accelerator Program (RAP) launch. The timing couldn’t have been better.
RIoT has always been known as the hub for founders wanting to explore emerging technologies across the automation of data; from IoT-enabled data collection and transmission to advanced analytics andvisualization. We connect founders working with new technologies to industry leaders within our extensive network, ensuring they have the resources to pursue innovative ideas. This commitment to supporting and connecting entrepreneurs is deeply embedded in our DNA. Unlike many venture-backed accelerator programs focusing on making companies investible, RAP takes a different approach. We empower founders to define success on their terms, debunking the myth that all tech startups need to raise venture capital. Our 12-week program supports startups and entrepreneurs by providing resources, mentorship, and connections that help turn their ideas into successful, scalable businesses, with a strong focus on customer-first and revenue-driven growth.
As a nonprofit primarily focused on economic development, our values often align closely with those of the entrepreneurs we support. When they succeed and create jobs, it’s a win for them and us. Our support ranges from the accelerator program to our partner network, events, and RIoT Labs. This work is driven by our relentless focus on outcomes and our commitment to continuously evolve our offerings. We operate much like a startup, constantly validating our model and always remaining market-driven.
To date, RIoT has completed 18 cohorts and supported 150+ startups that have collectively created 500+ jobs and generated $150M+ in revenue. With the support of NC IDEA’s 2020 ECOSYSTEM grant, we expanded our RAP Model to Wilson, North Carolina. By immersing ourselves in the Wilson ecosystem, we discovered the untapped potential of rural communities in the state. The city’s renovation of an old downtown building into a coworking space, now known as Gig East Exchange, became our home base in Wilson. We recently completed our fifth RIoT Accelerator Program there and remain motivated to expand this work across other communities. Seeing the progress of this ecosystem is genuinely inspiring, as it is driven by a real willingness to support any founder in need. This is what makes it special.
