Fall 2025 SEED Grant Recipients Announced LIVE at Conclusion of Day One of
2025 NC IDEA Ecosystem Summit
DURHAM, NC – November 18, 2025 – NC IDEA, a private foundation committed to supporting entrepreneurial ambition and economic empowerment in North Carolina, announced today that the organization has awarded a total of $300,000 in grants to six North Carolina startups. The new grant recipients were announced live yesterday at the conclusion of Day One of the 2025 Ecosystem Summit. Since its inception in 2006, the NC IDEA SEED grant program has awarded over $10.6M in non-dilutive grants to 231 high-growth companies throughout the state, with these most recent awards representing the program’s 40th cycle.
“This cycle marks a huge milestone for the SEED grant program, now in its 40th cycle,” said Thom Ruhe, President and CEO of NC IDEA. “What’s even more exciting is that 50% of the new SEED recipients are alumni of the MICRO program, further underscoring the value of our early-stage support in helping these companies scale. Our support is only magnified by the strength of North Carolina’s vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem and supporting communities who we are celebrating with this week at our 7th annual Ecosystem Summit,” Ruhe added.
The following six Fall 2025 NC IDEA SEED grant recipients were chosen after a three-month competitive application and selection process that drew an impressive 177 applications from across the state:
Cervu Health – Cary, NC
Building a comprehensive pelvic health system supporting female cancer survivors experiencing chronic pelvic pain and changes in their sexual health.
Citrus Oncology – Cary, NC
An AI-enabled virtual clinic that specializes in managing toxicities and comorbidities by connecting patients with onco-subspecialists for timely virtual consultations.
CivicReach – Raleigh, NC
A voice AI platform that provides governments with highly affordable, accessible, and centralized phone-based resident customer service.
Path Intelligence – Charlotte, NC
Transforms real estate sales with AI-guided virtual tours that engage buyers inside immersive 3D spaces while capturing detailed behavioral data.
QoreInsights – Waxhaw, NC
Offers the Classroom Education Plan (CEP), an AI-powered tool that helps K-6 teachers instantly access personalized strategies tailored to their students’ needs.
Theralinq – Raleigh, NC
Reshaping pediatric therapy by providing families with instant access to medically validated home exercises tailored to each child’s profile.
NC IDEA SEED offers early stage companies the critical funding they need to scale faster. The $50,000 grants are awarded to innovative startups with a proven concept, even if they are not yet profitable. The funds, along with mentorship and guidance, push companies forward and reduce the risk associated with these nascent firms.
During the live grant announcements, NC IDEA also recognized the sixteen previously announced Fall 2025 MICRO grant recipients.
About NC IDEA FOUNDATION
Celebrating its 20th year, NC IDEA is an independent private foundation committed to equitably empowering North Carolinians to achieve their entrepreneurial potential. Through our powerful combination of competitive grants and programs, and a network of strategic partners, we help entrepreneurs when they need it most. NC IDEA’s resources are highly competitive, enabling the Foundation to support North Carolina’s most ambitious entrepreneurs. We believe entrepreneurs transform communities and view our work as a catalyst for positive change. Learn more at www.ncidea.org.