DURHAM – Five startups across the state have been selected for $5,000 grants to help them set up crowdfunding campaigns through the NC IDEA Foundation.

The five are to work toward launching fundraising campaigns by May. The winners were selected through a competitive process.

Grant money is to be used to pay for crowdfunding platform fees as well as supporting marketing materials and other expenses.

The five are:

  • Black Mountain Ciderworks – Black Mountain, NC

Black Mountain Ciderworks + Meadery crafts real cider and sessionable mead from local apples and honey, harmonizingfresh flavors with traditional wisdom to craft the ideal libations for modern times.

  • Freeman Capital – Charlotte, NC

Freeman Capital has the audacity to treat regular people like millionaire investors and offer the key services needed to build and retain wealth through its platform offering automated financial planning, investment management and financial education.

  • LivWell Nutrition – Winston-Salem, NC

LivWell Nutrition is elevating the standard of plant-based supplements with quality and transparency.

  • Optimal Solar – Durham, NC

Optimal Solar seeks to unlock the freedom that solar power provides. They are the maker of the high-efficiency solar module.

  • Vanmile – Charlotte, NC

Vanmile provides a technology platform for on demand, local moving and delivery services. Through the Vanmile smart phone app, consumers are able to book a truck with a driver instantly.

The grant program is a new one, launched in partnership with Localstake NC, a crowdfunding platform.

“The recent passage of the NC PACES Act gives North Carolina companies another mechanism to raise capital from individuals in a compliant and organized manner,” NC IDEA notes. “While this mechanism has helped thousands of companies across the country successfully raise capital, to date, few companies in North Carolina have taken advantage of this potential alternative to raising money.”

Thom Rhue, CEO of NC IDEA, said the grant recipients make up “a strong, diverse group of the types of companies that may be successful using Our experiment to offer these grants did reveal there is still a great deal of education needed concerning this viable investment option; but we were very pleased with the strength of applicants we did see.”