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Advancing Entrepreneurship
EQUITABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT​
NC IDEA empowers North Carolinians to achieve their entrepreneurial potential by offering support when and where they need it most. -
Economic Impact
A CATALYST FOR POSITIVE CHANGE
NC IDEA is committed to providing opportunity for all entrepreneurs which is vital to North Carolina's economic prosperity. -
Celebrating Entrepreneurship
SUPPORTING STATEWIDE ACTIVITIES
Through partnering and collaborating with others, NC IDEA can help more high potential entrepreneurial endeavors take flight.
-
Advancing
EntrepreneurshipEQUITABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT​
NC IDEA empowers North Carolinians
to achieve their entrepreneurial potential
by offering support when
and where they need it most. -
Economic
ImpactA CATALYST FOR POSITIVE CHANGE
NC IDEA is committed to
providing opportunity for all entrepreneurs
which is vital to North Carolina's
economic prosperity. -
Celebrating
EntrepreneurshipSUPPORTING STATEWIDE ACTIVITIES
Through partnering and collaborating
with others, NC IDEA can help more
high potential entrepreneurial endeavors take flight.
OUR HISTORY
Follow our progression to empower North Carolinians to achieve their entrepreneurial potential.
ENGAGING COMMUNITIES
NC IDEA ENGAGE supports individuals and organizations to facilitate activity that brings like-minded folks together.
100,000 MINDSETS
An ambitious goal to embolden the power of entrepreneurial thinking through the deployment of Ice House.
NC IDEA Awards Total of $450,000 to Nine North Carolina Startups

Our work is based on a simple but powerful goal; foster economic development in North Carolina. Since 2006, NC IDEA has awarded grants to over 265 companies and hundreds of communities and partners from across the state with more than $14.7M+ in funding and tens of thousands of support programming hours.
Statewide Distribution of Grants by Region

NC BLACK
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
COUNCIL
Elevating Black Entrepreneurship in North Carolina
The North Carolina Black Entrepreneurship Council (NC BEC) leads NC IDEA in its programmatic and grant making ambitions to address the challenges of Black entrepreneurship in North Carolina. The Council works closely with the Foundation to identify, recommend and support partners, grant recipients and programs to serve the entrepreneurial aspirations and economic potential of North Carolina’s Black community.

FOCUS ON DIVERSITY
NC BLACK
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
COUNCIL
Elevating Black Entrepreneurship in North Carolina
The North Carolina Black Entrepreneurship Council (NC BEC) leads NC IDEA in its programmatic and grant making ambitions to address the challenges of Black entrepreneurship in North Carolina. The Council works closely with the Foundation to identify, recommend and support partners, grant recipients and programs to serve the entrepreneurial aspirations and economic potential of North Carolina’s Black community.
FOR ENTREPRENEURS
Helping Entrepreneurs When They Need It Most
PROGRAMS
Our LABS program helps entrepreneurs take their first steps toward building a successful company through a guided approach to customer discovery.
RESOURCES
Beyond funding, we look to provide value to all entrepreneurs by sharing resources needed to build, launch and scale a successful business.
FOR THE ECOSYSTEM
Strengthening Economic Opportunity for All Communities
PARTNERS
By working together with our network of statewide partners, we achieve our shared goals of advancing entrepreneurship in the state of North Carolina.
EVENTS
Entrepreneurship advocates come together to collaborate and address what is needed to support all entrepreneurs, creating a shared vision of making North Carolina the best place to start and grow a business.







