NC IDEA SEED Grants

NC IDEA SEED is a competitive grant program offered by NC IDEA, a private, North Carolina–based organization dedicated to supporting the growth and scaling of innovative startups. The program awards $50,000 grants to early-stage companies with proven concepts that are poised for rapid growth, helping them reduce risk, accelerate customer acquisition, and attract future investment. The funding is accompanied by mentorship, programming, and connections to potential partners, advisors, and investors. The Fall 2025 grant cycle is currently open for applications. The SEED program is designed for innovative businesses with proprietary intellectual property or other defensible competitive advantages, addressing large and rapidly growing market opportunities. Eligible companies must be headquartered and conduct the majority of their operations in North Carolina, with public-facing materials clearly identifying them as North Carolina companies. Awardees must maintain this operational presence in the state for at least 12 months following the completion of the grant. Ineligible business types include those with high capital requirements and long commercialization timelines (e.g., pharmaceutical companies), as well as event venues, staffing agencies, publishing houses, consulting or training firms, film and TV production, distributors, franchises, resellers, local service businesses, trucking and freight companies, “lifestyle” businesses, and non-profits. Businesses illegal in North Carolina, even if legal elsewhere, are also excluded. Applicants must demonstrate a viable proof of concept, market readiness, and a minimum viable product, and show how the $50,000 grant will meaningfully accelerate growth. While generating revenue is advantageous, it is not a strict requirement, but companies with annual revenue exceeding $250,000 (or $500,000 for food and beverage companies) in the past 12 months are less likely to be considered. Applicants must have at least one full-time founder living in North Carolina, with preference for all founders to reside in the state. Founders must dedicate at least 40 hours per week to the business, with no more than 15 hours spent on other employment, ventures, or school-related activities. Companies with over $250,000 in prior equity investment or over $1 million in non-dilutive grant funding are less likely to be selected. Founder contributions and “friends and family” equity are considered differently and do not negatively impact eligibility. Applicants must clearly explain how the SEED grant will be used to achieve measurable milestones that position the business for future investment, grant wins, or significant revenue growth. The Fall 2025 application process follows a rigorous, multi-stage review. Applications opened on July 28, 2025, and will close on August 25, 2025, at 5:00 pm EST. Approximately 24 companies will be selected as semi-finalists and announced on September 19, 2025. Semi-finalists must submit a revised application by September 29, followed by a 15-minute phone interview with NC IDEA staff. From these, 10–12 finalists will be chosen on October 24, 2025, to deliver a 10-minute in-person pitch and 15-minute Q&A session with a panel of 35–40 reviewers on November 7, 2025. The final 5–7 grant recipients will be announced on November 12, 2025. Grant funds are typically disbursed over 6–12 months in milestone-based tranches, with progress reporting required before each release. In addition to funding, recipients gain access to monthly seminars, workshops on key business topics, pitch feedback, and curated introductions to potential partners, mentors, advisors, customers, and funders. NC IDEA runs two SEED grant cycles each year, generally in February and August, making this a recurring opportunity for eligible North Carolina startups.