Spring 2025 NC IDEA SEED Grant Recipients Selected from Diverse Applicant Pool
DURHAM, NC – May 15, 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. Since its inception in 2006, the NC IDEA SEED grant program has awarded over $10.3M in non-dilutive grants to 225 innovative companies across the state, with these most recent awards being the 39th cycle of the program.
“We had an incredibly competitive grant cycle, and it’s exciting to see that four of the six newest SEED grant recipients previously received an NC IDEA MICRO grant,” said Amy Bastian, Vice President of Grants and Programs of NC IDEA. “The $10,000 MICRO funding, combined with customer discovery programming and network building, positioned these companies to become competitive for the larger SEED grant. In addition, factoring in the statewide reach, this cohort highlights the strength of North Carolina’s startup ecosystem in supporting early-stage growth,” Bastian added.
The following six Spring 2025 NC IDEA SEED grant recipients were chosen after a three-month competitive application and selection process that drew applications from across the state:
Arclet – Asheville, NC
An all-in-one platform for sharing evidence-backed health communications with your community.
Kahmino – Raleigh, NC
Simplifies the home search by delivering personalized, curated neighborhood recommendations to help users move with confidence.
Marla Amplification – Asheville, NC
Amplifiers that stand out as American hand-built, high-quality, and meticulously crafted, timeless tools.
Scale Social AI – Raleigh, NC
Transforms how small businesses market themselves by automating the creation of authentic, customer-generated content.
That Pitch – Charlotte, NC
Helps vocal artists make money from sync licensing—without the legal headaches or industry gatekeepers.
Verenovo – North Wilkesboro, NC
Redefining waste-to-value with patented pyrolysis technology that converts biomass into high-carbon biochar, renewable energy, and carbon credits.
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.
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.
