News & Insights

SoarTriangle to be Administered as a Program of NC IDEA Foundation

DURHAM, NC – AUGUST 30, 2016 – NC IDEA Foundation, an organization committed to supporting entrepreneurial business innovation and economic advancement in North Carolina, is proud to announce that SoarTriangle will now be administered as a program of NC IDEA.

“SoarTriangle has become a leading voice for female entrepreneurs navigating the fundraising landscape in the Triangle,” said Thom Ruhe, president and CEO of NC IDEA. “This is deeply tied to NC IDEA’s mission to support entrepreneurial innovation and economic advancement in North Carolina and we are enthusiastic to expand this program’s efforts in our state.”

After two successful years of mentoring female-led startups fundraising in the Triangle and drawing awareness to the issues of gender diversity in the startup ecosystem, SoarTriangle will now benefit from the infrastructure of the foundation to extend its efforts and sustain the initiative.

“SoarTriangle has taken on a life of its own,” said Lauren Whitehurst, lead principal and co-founder of the SoarTriangle program. “It has grown to be a powerful initiative. Now we are delighted that NC IDEA has agreed to bring it under its umbrella so that it can benefit from the foundation’s infrastructure and ability to dedicate a program manager to the work. This move means SoarTriangle will remain a strong, viable entity for years to come.”

This union is made official just in time to welcome SoarTriangle’s newest cohort of mentored companies, to be announced in the coming weeks. Under the direction of NC IDEA program manager Reagan Reynolds, SoarTriangle will continue mentoring select female-led fundraising startups in the state and examining the social structures that influence the funding gap in our ecosystem in order to make noticeable advancements toward gender equality.

“SoarTriangle’s success is the result of the involvement of leaders and entrepreneurs in our community who care deeply about diversity inclusion in entrepreneurship, which is key to NC IDEA’s mission of economic advancement in our state,” said Reagan Reynolds, program manager of NC IDEA. “I am thrilled to continue SoarTriangle’s good work as it contributes to the greater vision of NC IDEA.”

About NC IDEA
NC IDEA is a private foundation committed to supporting business innovation and economic advancement in North Carolina. The organization serves as a catalyst for young, high-growth technology companies by promoting initiatives that foster growth and guides these companies to become major contributors to the state’s business community. Since its inception in 2006, NC IDEA’s seed-stage grant program has awarded over $4.5M to 109 companies across the state. NC IDEA has supported over 100 additional companies through its Durham-based startup program Groundwork Labs. Learn more at ncidea.org.