NC IDEA MICRO Grants

NC IDEA is a private foundation based in Durham, North Carolina, dedicated to supporting entrepreneurship and high-growth startups across the state. Through its MICRO grant program, NC IDEA seeks to provide early funding to innovative companies that are testing critical assumptions about their business models. The foundation has a longstanding mission of validating entrepreneurial ideas, advancing startups, and strengthening North Carolina’s economy through funding, mentorship, and programming. The NC IDEA MICRO program awards $10,000 in non-dilutive funding to early-stage startups that are actively moving their businesses forward by validating assumptions and developing business models. This grant is intended for companies that are at the stage of customer discovery, prototyping, and revenue model testing. Funding is paired with mentorship, programming, and structured guidance to help startups reach milestones that position them for future growth and competitiveness in subsequent NC IDEA SEED funding rounds, institutional investment, or other financing channels. Award funds are distributed in two tranches, with 75 percent released upon execution of the grant agreement and the remaining 25 percent provided two months later. Eligibility is restricted to companies headquartered in North Carolina that conduct the majority of their operations within the state and present themselves as North Carolina businesses across their public-facing channels. Companies must commit to maintaining this presence for at least 12 months following grant completion. The program targets startups with innovative products or business models and a sustainable competitive advantage, particularly those that can scale to multi-million dollar enterprises or secure institutional capital within 5 to 7 years. Excluded from eligibility are companies with high capital intensity and long commercialization timelines, such as pharmaceutical firms, as well as lifestyle businesses, local service providers, not-for-profits, franchises, and industries including trucking, event management, and consulting. At least one founder must reside in North Carolina, with preference given to teams planning to dedicate a full-time founder within 6 to 12 months. The application process is competitive, with approximately 150 to 200 applicants per cycle. The Fall 2025 cycle opens July 28, 2025, and closes at 5:00 pm EST on August 25, 2025. Selected finalists will be notified on September 26, 2025, and finalist interviews will take place October 6 to 15, 2025. Award recipients will be notified October 21, 2025. NC IDEA typically funds 15 startups per MICRO cycle. Applications require detailed information on founders, business progress, problem and solution fit, market opportunity, traction, revenue expectations, prior funding, and intended use of grant funds. Optional elements include a three-minute video pitch or demo. A milestone plan covering 3 to 8 measurable objectives over a 5 to 7 month period must be submitted, outlining how the funds will validate key business assumptions. Recipients participate in a structured six-month program, which includes an eight-week customer discovery and product launch curriculum requiring approximately three hours per week of seminars and engagement with mentors. Companies also complete periodic check-ins with NC IDEA staff, receive tailored feedback, and engage in a final presentation at the end of the program. Long-term benefits include access to NC IDEA staff, continued mentorship opportunities, workshops, and networking connections. NC IDEA emphasizes that applicants may only apply to one program, MICRO or SEED, per cycle. Contact information for NC IDEA includes its Durham headquarters at 411 W. Chapel Hill Street, Suite C2, Durham, NC 27701, phone number 919-941-5600, and general contact email listed on its website. The foundation also offers info sessions, webinars, and office hours prior to the application deadline to support applicants. MICRO is offered twice annually, in spring and fall, and is positioned as a stepping stone toward SEED funding or other sustainable growth pathways for startups in North Carolina.