View NC IDEA's 20 Years of Impact Report

Learn More
SEARCH

Resources

Here to Help

We offer a collection of resources designed to help innovative entrepreneurs start and grow their startups.

NC IDEA provides entrepreneurs with the practical tools and support they need before taking the next step in their journey toward building a successful company. Then, IF and WHEN the time is right, be prepared to apply for our MICRO or SEED.

Our Programs

Supporting North Carolinians in reaching their entrepreneurial potential through a variety of programs.

Think like an entrepreneur

NC IDEA MINDSET: Develops skills and critical thinking to help individuals succeed regardless of their chosen path

NC IDEA MINDSET
Validating your startup

NC IDEA MICRO: Provides $10K and programming to founders testing assumptions about their business

NC IDEA MICRO
Scaling and growing

NC IDEA SEED: Awards $50K to early stage companies looking to gain customers or attract investors

NC IDEA SEED

Our Partners

North Carolina Ecosystem

Guided by a commitment to supporting entrepreneurial ambition and economic advancement in our state, NC IDEA has partnered with nearly 200 organizations that deeply understand their local communities through its NC IDEA ENGAGE and ECOSYSTEM grant programs. Learn about the organizations in your community that want to help you succeed.

Find a Partner

Office Hours

Connect with members of our team one-on-one to learn more about the resources and opportunities available to you at NC IDEA. We have limited Office Hour appointments on a weekly basis and increase the number of available time blocks during our Spring and Fall grant cycles. Schedule time with us so we can learn more about your idea.

>>Schedule Office Hours with Amy Bastian, VP Grants & Programs, for all things NC IDEA SEED

>> Schedule Office Hours with Allan Younger, Senior Director of Programs, for all things NC IDEA MICRO

>> Schedule Office Hours with Carlo Diy, Program Manager, for all things NC IDEA MINDSET

Amy Bastian Color WEB

Amy Bastian

VP, Grants & Programs
SCHEDULE NOW
Allan Younger Color WEB

Allan Younger

Sr. Director, Programs
SCHEDULE NOW
Carlo Diy - Headshot

Carlo Diy

Program Manager
SCHEDULE NOW

***Please note that Office Hours are intended for questions specific to each team member’s area of expertise. They should be used sparingly and only for matters related to NC IDEA.***

Our Partners

NC IDEA PODCAST

Hear from entrepreneurs and experts who are challenging the status quo and driving lasting change.

LEARN MORE

NEWS + INSIGHTS

Explore the latest NC IDEA updates, featuring news from our companies, partners, and more.

LEARN MORE

MEET OUR COMPANIES

Explore our growing network of funded companies built over 20 years.

LEARN MORE
Still Have Questions?

Amy Bastian

Vice President, Grants and Programs

Linkedin Twitter

Amy serves as the Vice President of Grants and Programs at NC IDEA, where her primary responsibilities are managing the NC IDEA SEED and NC IDEA MICRO grant programs.

Prior to NC IDEA, Amy Bastian served as Director of Analytics and Testing for The Nature Conservancy. There she developed and led the Marketing Department’s digital analytics and website testing programs, with a focus on developing well-defined business goals and providing actionable insights leveraging qualitative and quantitative data. Amy was also an Account Director at Blackbaud and the Membership Director of KCRW public radio.

Amy received an MPH in Biostatistics from University of California, Los Angeles and a B.S. in Journalism with a double major in Economics from University of Maryland, College Park. She is a member of Durham Habitat for Humanity’s Family Selection Committee and part of the leadership team for 100 Women Who Give a Hoot: Chapel Hill/ Durham. She is also an NC IDEA MINDSET certified facilitator of the Ice House Entrepreneurship Program.

Amy has set aside time on Friday mornings to answer questions about NC IDEA MICRO and NC IDEA SEED. Schedule a time with Amy here. 

Allan Younger

Senior Director

Linkedin

Allan is the Senior Director of Programs at NC IDEA where he leads the Foundation’s programmatic priorities and partnerships. He oversees program development and management for all entrepreneur programming; including the Foundation’s NC IDEA LABS customer discovery curriculum, programmatic support for NC IDEA MICRO grant recipients and deployment of the Ice House curriculum through NC IDEA MINDSET.

Prior to NC IDEA, Allan served as the Director of the Small Business Center at Forsyth Technical Community College located in Winston-Salem, NC where he was responsible for strengthening operations and services, enhancing support to small businesses and providing community advocacy. Previously, Allan was a Business Counselor at the Small Business and Technology Development Center. He also served in several roles at GE Capital. Allan currently serves as an Adjunct Professor at Winston-Salem State University and previously served as Adjunct Professor at Carolina Christian College, Forsyth Technical Community College and Salem College.

Allan received his MBA from Winston-Salem State University and a B.A. in Economics and Sociology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Allan is available for 15-minute appointments for those interested in discussing their existing or prospective businesses.  Schedule a time with Allan here. 

Carlo Diy

Program Manager

Linkedin

Carlo serves as Program Manager at NC IDEA. He is also an NC IDEA MINDSET certified facilitator of the Ice House Entrepreneurship Program. In this role he oversees the NC IDEA MINDSET program and its deployment throughout the state.

Prior to NC IDEA, Carlo founded and grew HaitiHub.com – a language learning company and social enterprise that helps people learn the Haitian Creole language so they can do more effective humanitarian aid work in Haiti. Drawing on his own entrepreneurial experience and love for education, Carlo taught high school entrepreneurship for several years in Durham Public Schools and wrote curriculum for COMPTIA among other organizations.

Carlo received a Masters of Arts in Teaching (MAT) from Duke University and a B.A. in English from Pomona College.