NC IDEA

aren’t slowing down and neither are we.

Preparations for the NC IDEA Fall 2026 Grant Cycle are already underway. Applications for the NC IDEA ($10K) and ($50K) grant programs open on 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝟮𝟳.

If you're considering applying and want guidance on building a competitive application, we're here to help. While attendance is not required to apply, we 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙮 encourage founders to join one of our upcoming information sessions.

We'll cover:
✅ Grant program eligibility and requirements
✅ Application timelines and key deadlines
✅ Tips for submitting a stronger application directly from NC IDEA alumni
✅ Which funding opportunity may be right for your company

Upcoming Information Sessions:
📍 July 13 – Fall 2026 Grants Information Session Webinar
w/ Chip Kennedy of CivicReach ( and grantee)
https://bit.ly/4uAJjwy

📍 July 14 – Charlotte | Do Greater, Inc. | Sparkhouse Charlotte
w/ Toni Shub, Ed.D, OTR/L of QoreInsights ( grantee)
w/ Travis Mason of The Gamrly Company, Inc. ( grantee)
https://bit.ly/3S5xbGa

📍 July 15 – Asheville | Hatchworks Coworking
w/ Anthony Hernandez of Marla Amplification ( grantee)
w/ Katie-lynn McDonald of Full Moon Tea Company ( grantee)
https://bit.ly/3S8LCcw

📍 July 20 – Wilmington | UNCW CIE
w/ Robert S. Cooley, Jr. of Nuream ( grantee)
https://bit.ly/4fHmUd9

📍 July 21 – RTP | Frontier RTP
w/ Brennan Barber of Theralinq ( and grantee)
w/ Jeanine Fry of LOOM3D ( grantee)
https://bit.ly/44a7o28

📍 July 22 – Winston-Salem | Winston Starts
https://bit.ly/4xphnhH

This is your chance to meet some the NC IDEA team and learn directly from NC IDEA alumni! A special thank you to our partners for welcoming and hosting us.

Summer Sizzle ☀️

By our President & CEO, Thom Ruhe.

Earlier this week, we had the privilege of convening our Partners from across for our annual in person meeting. The conversations and collaboration continue to strengthen our state's entrepreneurial ecosystem! 🎉

Join us for the RAP XXII Pitch Night & Founder Showcase to celebrate the twenty-second cohort of the RIoT Accelerator Program, marking the first cohort selected through the new partnership between RIoT Labs and NC IDEA. 🤝

Save your spot for our 8th Annual Ecosystem Summit this November! EARLY BIRD registration is now open and we expect another SELLOUT event. 🌊

On Episode 41 of #𝘌𝘤𝘰𝘴𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨, we sat down with Stan Parker, General Partner of the Winston-Salem Partners Roundtable (WSPR) Fund and former President of Winston Starts, to discuss how continues to cultivate exceptional entrepreneurial talent. 🎙️

Your latest NC IDEA newsletter is here: https://bit.ly/4uzDsHL

What if didn't replace jobs but helped people do them better? 🤖🔧

That’s exactly what Dave Sonders, founder of RO-bot and a 2025 NC IDEA grant recipient, is building.

RO-bot is a voice first platform for auto repair shops that acts as an AI copilot for technicians. It helps service departments recover valuable time, improve efficiency, and capture revenue opportunities that might otherwise be missed. 🚗

Learn more about Dave and RO-bot: https://bit.ly/4os3dbp

NEX Connect Wilmington Previews Newkirklytics OS Economic Intelligence & Entrepreneur Readiness Systems On May 29, 2026, entrepreneurs, business leaders, financial institutions, educational partners, community organizations, and public sector stakeholders gathered at Cape Fear Community College's Union Station for NEX Connect Wilmington. What began as a community networking and economic development ev