NC NC IDEA

NC IDEA strengthens North Carolina's economy through strategic grants and programs that help entrepreneurs achieve their potential. NC IDEA offers two primary grant programs: MICRO grants ($10K) for early-stage startups validating business assumptions, and SEED grants ($50K) for companies with proven concepts ready to scale. Both programs include comprehensive mentorship, programming, and ecosystem support beyond just funding.

For ZHC builders in North Carolina or willing to establish operations there, NC IDEA provides accessible non-dilutive funding with strong community support, expert guidance, and connections to follow-on investors and customers.

Program Types

NC IDEA MICRO Grant

• $10K in funding plus 8-week program
• Early-stage startups validating assumptions
• Path to $2M+ revenue within 7 years or VC within 4 years
• 15 companies selected per cycle (twice yearly)
• On path to revenue within 12 months

NC IDEA SEED Grant

• $50K in funding
• Companies with demonstrated proof of concept
• Path to $2M+ revenue within 5 years or VC within 2 years
• 5-7 companies selected per cycle (twice yearly)
• Generating revenue or on path during grant period

Common Requirements (Both Programs)

Geography

• Headquartered in North Carolina
• Majority of operations in NC
• Must identify as NC company in all public materials
• Maintain NC operations for 12 months post-grant

Industry and Company Type

• Innovative companies with proprietary IP or sustained competitive advantage
• Solving large problems with unique value propositions
• NOT eligible: pharmaceutical companies, high-capex/long-runway ventures

Market Opportunity

• Large, rapidly growing market opportunities
• Clear path to scale and high growth potential
• Scalable business model

Team

• At least one full-time founder living in NC (preferred all founders)
• MICRO: Full-time within 6-12 months
• SEED: At least one full-time founder currently
• Full-time = 40+ hours/week on startup, max 15 hours elsewhere

Prior Investment

• Less than $250K in equity investment preferred
• Less than $1M in non-dilutive grants preferred
• Friends/family funding viewed differently
• Must detail how past funding was used

Revenue

• MICRO: Path to revenue within 12 months (many have initial revenue)
• SEED: Generating revenue or achieving during grant period
• SEED: Under $250K revenue ($500K for food/beverage)

Recent Grant Recipient Revenue Profiles

MICRO Recipients (at application):

• Software: 32% generating revenue (avg $87K for those with revenue)
• Consumer Products (non-F&B): 100% generating revenue (avg $37K)
• Food & Beverage: 100% generating revenue (avg $37K)
• Cleantech/Biotech/Med Device: 20% generating revenue

SEED Recipients (at application):

• Software: 85% generating revenue (avg $83K for those with revenue)
• Consumer Products: 100% generating revenue (avg $108K)
• Food & Beverage: 100% generating revenue (avg $143K)
• Cleantech/Biotech/Med Device: 56% generating revenue (avg $63K)

ZHC-Specific Fit

✅ Excellent for:

• North Carolina-based startups
• Early-stage validation (MICRO) or scaling (SEED)
• Software, consumer products, cleantech, biotech
• Companies on path to high growth
• Founders needing mentorship and ecosystem support

❌ Poor fit if:

• No North Carolina presence or unwilling to establish
• Pharmaceutical companies
• High capital requirements with long commercialization runway
• Already raised >$250K equity or >$1M grants
• Revenue exceeds thresholds ($250K/$500K for SEED)
• Cannot apply to both MICRO and SEED in same cycle

Application Process

NC IDEA MICRO

NC IDEA SEED

Grant Cycles

• Two cycles per year: Spring (February application) and Fall (August application)
• Can only apply to either MICRO or SEED (not both) per cycle
• Competitive process: 150-200 MICRO applications, 130-180 SEED applications per cycle

Funding Details

MICRO Grant

• $10K total funding
• 75% distributed upon signing agreement
• 25% distributed after 2 months
• Coupled with 8-week program (3 hours/week)
• Focus: Customer discovery and product launch

SEED Grant

• $50K total funding
• Released over 6-12 months in milestone-based tranches
• Progress reporting before each tranche
• Flexible implementation timeline
• Work with NC IDEA on milestone definition

• Official Website
• NC IDEA MICRO
• NC IDEA SEED
• MICRO and SEED Comparison Chart - Review eligibility differences
• Spring 2026 Grant Webinar - Watch recorded info session
• Application Portal: Opens late January and late July
• Regional Info Sessions: Triangle, Charlotte, Winston-Salem/Triad, Asheville, Wilmington