News & Insights

Introducing the Spring 2018 NC IDEA SEED Grant Recipients

NC IDEA Newsletter – May 11, 2018



Congratulations to the seven North Carolina startups selected as our newest NC IDEA SEED grant recipients from our Spring 2018 grant cycle.

The seven grant recipients were chosen from the 12 finalists that had been selected out of the record-breaking 185 submissions. This grant cycle translated to the most geographically diverse applicant pool since the program’s inception. Read the full press release here.

The seven Spring 2018 NC IDEA SEED grant recipients include:

Cardinal Workshop, LLC – Burlington, NC
Cardinal Workshop is a digitally-driven furniture brand focused on lasting quality and personal service. By merging a personalized online shopping experience with a digital fabrication process, Cardinal is making it easier to get quality, customized furniture with products designed to be easy to move and manufacture using sustainable materials.
Elite HRV – Asheville, NC
Elite HRV gives consumers rapid and personalized feedback on how well exercise, diet, sleep or stress management efforts are working. Hundreds of thousands of people now use Elite HRV to remove the guesswork in their health and fitness journey each day. Elite HRV is the tool of choice for doctors, coaches and high-performing individuals looking to get better and more sustainable results in health, fitness and stress management.
Freeman Capital – Charlotte, NC 
Freeman Capital is an active wealth management firm that leverages a mix of artificial intelligence and knowledgeable human traders to break down barriers for the middle class and millennials ready to invest. As the only retail automated wealth management platform offering investments in currency and forex starting at $1,000, it actively manages investments different from cookie-cutter stocks, bonds and ETF portfolios.
Glean, LLC – Snow Hill, NC
Up to 40% of farmers’ crops are lost due to shape, size, or other imperfections, while many across the globe suffer from food allergies, hunger and malnutrition. Glean was founded with an innovative approach to reduce farm waste, while creating value added health foods such as vegetable flours and powders, purees and natural snack foods – all to address growing dietary problems across the globe.  Glean has made it their mission to “revive both people and produce for purpose” by gathering goodness from farmers and donating back pound for pound to help those in need.
myBeeHyve – Hampstead, NC
myBeeHyve offers a contact management system built specifically to address the mobile needs of the growing network marketing industry. Since its founding in March 2017, myBeeHyve has moved quickly to launch its innovative application and gain thousands of users from seven countries representing over 125 network marketing brands. With a solution for more than 20 million network marketers in the US and more than 103 million network marketers globally, myBeeHyve is perfectly positioned at the intersection of network marketing, social commerce and empowerment of women entrepreneurs.
SalesSync, LLC – Cary, NC
SalesSync’s phone performance management platform is an all-in-one solution for converting more new patient calls into in-office consultations. Utilizing call recordings and speech analytics, their technology categorizes 100% of a practice’s new patient calls to provide unparalleled visibility into what is happening on the phones, as well as tools for improving staff performance.
VitalFlo, Inc. – Raleigh, NC
VitalFlo is redefining the standard of care for asthma management by providing actionable recommendations to patients when they need it most: before they have an asthma attack. The company’s lung health analytics platform, powered by its handheld medical device and digital health management app, enables asthmatic patients to track their lung health and asthma medications at home. VitalFlo’s vision is to build a future without asthma attacks.


Micro-Grant Program Deadline Approaching!
Apply by Monday, May 14th at 5PM EST

Are you (or do you know) an early NC-based startup looking to validate and advance an idea? Could $1K to $10K toward customer discovery, prototype development or marketing activities (and more) make a significant impact in moving the business forward? Beyond the funding, could the startup benefit from mentorship and assistance, as well as access to an expansive network of advisors, partners and investors?

Companies answering yes to any of the above questions, should consider applying to the NC IDEA SEED Micro-Grant Pilot Program, a grant program providing project-based, micro-grants in the amount of $1K to $10K to young companies looking to take their next step. NC IDEA is particularly looking for ideas outside of their historical focus; companies existing in North Carolina’s rural and distressed counties are highly encouraged to apply.

Apply by May 14th

Announcing NC IDEA Summer School Series

NC IDEA will be hosting a series of programming over the summer open to the entrepreneurial community of North Carolina. Bring your lunch every Wednesday starting May 16th for an hour focused on a new topic to help you grow your business. We will be announcing the entire series of speakers soon, stay tuned!

Our first class will be focused on “Talking to Customers” hosted by John Austin from 12pm-1pm on Wednesday, May 16th.

RSVP for May 16th

Events for Entrepreneurs

 

Connect X
May 21st-24th at Charlotte Convention Center 

RIoT partners with the Wireless Industry Association for Connect (X), a ground-breaking event that showcases the innovative technology, underlying infrastructure, and partner ecosystem driving the future of communications. Connect X is designed to serve all elements of the expanding and evolving wireless ecosystem – from the macro structures that stand high above the ground and the miles and miles of fiber networks below the ground to the technology driving the ongoing network densification in our cities and the technology embedded in our cars. Don’t miss out on this event!

For full exhibit registration, use the code X18RIOT30 at registration checkout for a 30% discount on any pass type for the event and/or use code X18RIOT25 at checkout for a 25% discount on exhibit space.

 

RIoT XXV
May 23rd, 5pm-7:30pm

RIoT will hold their 25th event focused on Smart Cities of the South. Hear about Public/Private partnerships that have utilized IoT to revolutionize parking, local transit and other areas of public importance. Networking reception, including food and drink, to immediately follow.

This event is free and open to the public. Register here.

 

Apply to Present at CED Tech Conference by June 5th, 2018

ATTN: Tech Entrepreneurs, get exposure at the CED Tech Conference.

The two-day event will be held Sept 12-13 attracting 800+ attendees with a mission to showcase entrepreneurial companies and connect them with partners and investors to accelerate business growth.

One application gives you the chance at two opportunities:

  • Demo Room – Reserved exhibit table for one-on-one networking with potential investors, partners and clients
  • Main Stage – Live on-stage presentation as part of the main conference agenda plus a spot in the Demo Room

Learn more and apply here.

 

SBIR/STTR Road Tour
June 21-22, 2018 

Interested in an SBIR/STTR Grant from the US Small Business Administration? First Flight Venture Center (FFVC) has been selected as local host of the SBA Road Tour to North Carolina on June 22nd at the North Carolina Biotechnology Center. This Road Tour stop will bring approximately 20 agency Program Managers to present their funding priorities/opportunities, lessons learned and common mistakes. Entrepreneurs/business owners will also have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with Program Managers to discuss specific SBIR or STTR grants. There will be pre-event activities on June 21st including SBIR Proposal Training and a networking event.

This is the ONLY stop in North Carolina for the Road Tour!

Learn more and register for one or both days here.