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Funding opportunities

Find startup funding you can apply for

Compare live applications, eligibility requirements, sector and stage constraints, geography, and investor selection models in one place.

Entries last checked Jul 15, 2026.

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mapped paths
31
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Selection models at a glance

31 source-checked paths grouped by how access is determined. Up to three paths can be viewed side by side.

31 paths

  • Public application

    NC IDEA MICRO

    Grant · North Carolina

    $10K non-dilutive

    Typical fit
    An NC startup still validating customer demand, proof of concept, or a scalable business model.
    Constraints
    NC headquarters and operations, a credible path to scale, and company-specific evidence rather than a generic idea pitch.

    Tracked recipients

    Search directory
    EEnsembledLukera EnergyLukera EnergyQuelliosQuellios+6 more

    From reviewed funding rows; not a complete historical cohort.

    Official source
    Checked 2026-07-15

  • Public application

    NC IDEA SEED

    Grant · North Carolina

    $50K non-dilutive

    Typical fit
    An NC startup with an MVP, meaningful customer discovery, and early traction that is ready to scale.
    Constraints
    A full-time NC founder, visible market validation, and a specific plan for gaining customers or attracting follow-on capital.

    Tracked recipients

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    PhaseshiftPhaseshiftRooted-in-techRooted-in-techVer CoachingVer Coaching+6 more

    From reviewed funding rows; not a complete historical cohort.

    Official source
    Checked 2026-07-15

  • Public application

    CED GRO Incubator

    Accelerator · North Carolina

    12-week incubator

    Typical fit
    A technology or life-sciences founder moving from concept toward traction.
    Constraints
    A company that can benefit from an intensive cohort, coaching, strategic tools, and a public Demo Day.

    Tracked recipients

    Search directory
    Carolina InstrumentsCarolina InstrumentsEEnsembledSensibleSensible

    From reviewed funding rows; not a complete historical cohort.

    Official source
    Checked 2026-07-15

  • Public application

    Launch Powered by KPMG

    Accelerator · Triangle and beyond

    6 weeks, no cost or equity

    Typical fit
    An MVP-stage frontier-technology company ready to pilot with an enterprise customer.
    Constraints
    Enterprise readiness and fit with KPMG's innovation frontiers; UNC affiliation is not required.
    Official source
    Checked 2026-07-15

  • Public application

    RIoT Accelerator Program

    Accelerator · NC and Virginia cohorts

    12 weeks, no cost or equity

    Typical fit
    A technology-based startup with a scalable model, market validation, and a committed team.
    Constraints
    At least one full-time founder and active participation in the cohort's required in-person sessions.
    Official source
    Checked 2026-07-15

  • Public application

    First Flight Propeller

    Accelerator · North Carolina

    6-week pre-accelerator

    Typical fit
    A science or technology innovator translating an early idea into a customer and business case.
    Constraints
    Willingness to test market value, founder readiness, and a path to commercialization; standard program cost is $1,000 with scholarships available.
    Official source
    Checked 2026-07-15

  • Public application

    Y Combinator

    Accelerator · National application; San Francisco batch

    $500K standard deal

    Typical fit
    A high-growth startup that can compress product, customer, and fundraising progress into an intensive batch.
    Constraints
    A company application and interview strong enough to win a batch slot, plus in-person participation in San Francisco.
    Official source
    Checked 2026-07-15

  • Public application

    Entrepreneurs First

    Accelerator · National application; San Francisco program

    Up to $250K

    Typical fit
    An exceptional individual at the pre-company stage, including applicants without a cofounder or fixed idea.
    Constraints
    Founder potential and commitment to the in-person U.S. program, rather than an established company's traction alone.
    Official source
    Checked 2026-07-15

  • Public application

    Techstars Accelerators

    Accelerator · Program-specific

    Program-specific investment

    Typical fit
    An early-stage company that matches a specific city, industry, corporate, or remote accelerator.
    Constraints
    The fit and application window belong to the individual accelerator, not Techstars in the abstract.
    Official source
    Checked 2026-07-15

  • Eligibility-gated

    NC IDEA Bold Path Fellowship

    Grant · Durham and the Triangle

    $120K over two years

    Typical fit
    An under-resourced founder who is ready to pursue entrepreneurship full time with sustained mentorship.
    Constraints
    The fellowship's background, credential, residency, and full-time participation requirements come before pitch quality.
    Official source
    Checked 2026-07-15

  • Eligibility-gated

    Launch Local

    Accelerator · Chapel Hill and Carrboro

    10 weeks, no equity

    Typical fit
    A local resident exploring an idea, testing a first product, or validating early demand across tech and non-tech businesses.
    Constraints
    A real commitment to building in Chapel Hill or Carrboro and participating in weekly in-person work.
    Official source
    Checked 2026-07-15

  • Eligibility-gated

    Launch Student Accelerators

    Accelerator · Triangle student teams

    3 weeks, free and no equity

    Typical fit
    A student-led team moving an early concept through customer discovery, business modeling, and go-to-market work.
    Constraints
    At least one current university student or recent May graduate on the founding team, plus full participation in the summer session.
    Official source
    Checked 2026-07-15

  • Eligibility-gated

    NC State Andrews Launch Accelerator

    University program · Raleigh

    $5K-$10K equity-free

    Typical fit
    A startup in any industry with an NC State student or recent graduate on the founding team.
    Constraints
    A current NC State student or graduate from the last five years, plus one founder available for the Raleigh sessions.
    Official source
    Checked 2026-07-15

  • Eligibility-gated

    Duke I&E founder funding

    University program · Duke University

    $1K-$110K+ across programs

    Typical fit
    A Duke student founder who can use staged grants, an accelerator, fellowship support, or the Startup Showcase.
    Constraints
    Most programs require current Duke enrollment, a prior Duke I&E pathway, nomination, or continued full-time student status.
    Official source
    Checked 2026-07-15

  • Eligibility-gated

    UNC FastTraCS

    Research funding · UNC-Chapel Hill

    Medtech incubation and translational support

    Typical fit
    A UNC clinician or researcher developing a medical device or technology around a defined patient-care need.
    Constraints
    A UNC translational-science pathway and a medical technology that needs clinical, engineering, or commercialization support.
    Official source
    Checked 2026-07-15

  • Eligibility-gated

    Eshelman Translational Academy

    University program · UNC-Chapel Hill

    Research support, funding, and advisory team

    Typical fit
    A UNC healthcare innovator or early-career researcher advancing a specific technology toward commercialization.
    Constraints
    A UNC research and healthcare-innovation pathway; this is not an open general-purpose startup accelerator.
    Official source
    Checked 2026-07-15

  • Eligibility-gated

    NCInnovation grants

    Research funding · North Carolina public universities

    Non-dilutive applied-research grants

    Typical fit
    A public-university applied researcher moving a proof of concept toward commercial viability.
    Constraints
    The applicant is a researcher at an NC public institution; private companies are not eligible recipients.
    Official source
    Checked 2026-07-15

  • Eligibility-gated

    One North Carolina Small Business Program

    Grant · North Carolina

    SBIR/STTR incentive and matching funds

    Typical fit
    An NC small business preparing a federal Phase I application or holding a Phase I award.
    Constraints
    The state money stacks on a qualifying federal SBIR/STTR path; it is not a standalone general startup grant.
    Official source
    Checked 2026-07-15

  • Eligibility-gated

    New Majority Capital bETA

    Accelerator · Raleigh-Durham cohort

    10-week acquisition accelerator

    Typical fit
    An underrepresented entrepreneur who wants to buy and operate an existing small business rather than start one from zero.
    Constraints
    The program is built for entrepreneurship through acquisition and underrepresented prospective owners, not a venture-startup fundraising process.
    Official source
    Checked 2026-07-15

  • Thesis-constrained

    First Flight LiftOff

    Funding support · First Flight members

    Subsidized grant strategy and writing

    Typical fit
    A science-focused company with enough technical evidence to compete for NIH, NSF, DoD, or other non-dilutive funding.
    Constraints
    First Flight membership and evidence that the company can become a competitive SBIR/STTR applicant.
    Official source
    Checked 2026-07-15

  • Thesis-constrained

    NCBiotech company funding

    Loan · North Carolina

    $150K-$650K loans

    Typical fit
    An NC life-sciences company reaching technical and commercial milestones before or alongside venture capital.
    Constraints
    Life-sciences R&D or manufacturing, significant NC operations, a dedicated management team, and stage-appropriate technical proof.

    Tracked recipients

    Search directory
    PPersistence TherapeuticsCaidyaCaidyaBiomasonBiomason+2 more

    From reviewed funding rows; not a complete historical cohort.

    Official source
    Checked 2026-07-15

  • Thesis-constrained

    First Flight Wheels UP

    Accelerator · RTP

    12-week sector accelerator

    Typical fit
    A science startup developing biotechnology or health-security solutions relevant to BARDA's mission.
    Constraints
    A health-security or biotechnology thesis with a credible path to scale; this is a sector program, not First Flight's general on-ramp.
    Official source
    Checked 2026-07-15

  • Thesis-constrained

    Cofounders Capital

    Venture fund · Southeast U.S.

    Seed equity

    Typical fit
    A seed-stage B2B software company in the Southeast seeking its first institutional investor.
    Constraints
    B2B software, seed stage, regional fit, and a team that wants hands-on company-building support.
    Official source
    Checked 2026-07-15

  • Thesis-constrained

    Bull City Venture Partners

    Venture fund · Mostly East Coast

    $250K-$2M initial checks

    Typical fit
    A high-growth software company raising Seed or Series A and looking for an active institutional lead.
    Constraints
    Software economics, institutional-round readiness, East Coast fit, and a team BCVP can support in a focused portfolio.
    Official source
    Checked 2026-07-15

  • Thesis-constrained

    Hatteras Venture Partners

    Venture fund · Triangle based; national portfolio

    Early-stage healthcare equity

    Typical fit
    A biotech, medtech, diagnostics, or healthtech company with a credible path to patient and enterprise value.
    Constraints
    Healthcare only, with stage-specific evidence: quality science and team, an early device prototype, or post-revenue healthcare IT.
    Official source
    Checked 2026-07-15

  • Thesis-constrained

    Pappas Capital

    Venture fund · Durham based; national portfolio

    Seed through later-stage equity

    Typical fit
    A life-sciences company with proprietary technology, a clear market, and a value-creating clinical or development path.
    Constraints
    Life sciences exclusively; strong IP and management are required, with Phase I or Phase II products described as the sweet spot.
    Official source
    Checked 2026-07-15

  • Thesis-constrained

    Cape Fear BioCapital

    Venture fund · North Carolina

    Pre-seed and seed therapeutics equity

    Typical fit
    An NC-rooted therapeutics company with differentiated biology and a credible path from early science toward the clinic.
    Constraints
    North Carolina roots, therapeutics focus, compelling science, and a development plan that can reach an IND filing on a venture timeline.
    Official source
    Checked 2026-07-15

  • Thesis-constrained

    Parexel Biotech Incubator

    Accelerator · Raleigh based; therapeutics companies anywhere

    Clinical expertise, regulatory support, and workspace

    Typical fit
    An early therapeutics company shaping its development, regulatory, and clinical-trial strategy.
    Constraints
    Therapeutics only and selective program access; the inaugural pathway connects Cape Fear BioCapital companies to Parexel expertise.
    Official source
    Checked 2026-07-15

  • Relationship-led

    NC Tweener Fund

    Venture fund · North Carolina

    About $50K average initial investment

    Typical fit
    An NC-headquartered Tweener or Pre-Tweener that fits a high-coverage index strategy across sectors.
    Constraints
    NC headquarters and fit with the Tweener List cohort; broad sector coverage does not mean every early idea is investable.
    Official source
    Checked 2026-07-15

  • Relationship-led

    Bullhouse

    Venture fund · Durham

    $5K-$10K first checks; SPVs up to $100K

    Typical fit
    A post-product local founder seeking an early check plus a close operator and founder community.
    Constraints
    A product and founder relationship strong enough for a small first check; this is intentionally personal, local, and low-volume.
    Official source
    Checked 2026-07-15

  • Relationship-led

    24 and Up

    Venture studio · Raleigh

    Co-founder model plus build resources

    Typical fit
    An experienced software founder who wants a studio to co-create the company through its first 24 months.
    Constraints
    Mutual conviction on the founder and problem; the studio creates a small number of companies and takes an operating role.
    Official source
    Checked 2026-07-15

Live applications

Deadlines and rolling paths

These are the paths with a current, upcoming, or rolling entry point. Expired deadlines leave this section automatically.

10 funding paths

North Carolina

Start close to home

State and statewide programs available to eligible North Carolina companies, including grants, matching funds, and founder-friendly loans.

  • Open · rollingState program

    $50K

    NCBiotech Company Inception Loan

    North Carolina Biotechnology Center

    New NC life-science ventures at company formation, typically university spinouts; NC registration and operating presence required.

    Purpose-built for the Duke/UNC/NC State spinout path; NCBiotech is headquartered in RTP.

    Apply or view detailsChecked Jul 9, 2026
  • Open · rollingState program

    $150K–$350K

    NCBiotech Small Business Research Loan

    North Carolina Biotechnology Center

    Early-stage NC life-science companies advancing commercially viable R&D; NC registration and significant operating presence required. Cyclical deadlines; check the current cycle.

    The standard first institutional check for Triangle life-science startups between grant funding and a priced round.

    Apply or view detailsChecked Jul 9, 2026
  • Open · rollingState program

    Up to $650K

    NCBiotech Strategic Growth Loan

    North Carolina Biotechnology Center

    NC life-science companies further along than the Small Business Research Loan stage; NC registration and operating presence required.

    The largest rung on NCBiotech's loan ladder before institutional venture rounds.

    Apply or view detailsChecked Jul 9, 2026
  • UpcomingState program

    FY2026 supported ~25 matching grants from ~$1.88M; FY2027 amounts announced at cycle open

    One North Carolina Small Business Program · SBIR/STTR Phase I matching funds (FY2027 cycle)

    NC Department of Commerce (OSTI)

    NC small businesses holding a federal Phase I SBIR/STTR award; bridges the Phase I to Phase II funding gap. FY2026 window closed June 30, 2026.

    State match that stacks on the federal SBIR/STTR awards Triangle companies already win; watch for the FY2027 opening.

    Apply or view detailsChecked Jul 9, 2026
  • UpcomingState program

    Reimburses eligible costs of preparing a federal Phase I SBIR/STTR application; ~$200K pool supported ~25 grants in FY2026

    One North Carolina Small Business Program · Incentive funds (FY2027 cycle)

    NC Department of Commerce (OSTI)

    NC small businesses preparing a federal Phase I SBIR/STTR application. FY2026 window closed June 30, 2026.

    Pays back part of the cost of writing the federal application itself; the on-ramp entry to the SBIR ladder.

    Apply or view detailsChecked Jul 9, 2026

National and federal

Go beyond the Triangle

Federal research programs and national accelerators that Triangle founders can enter through the same public application path as companies elsewhere.

  • Open · deadlineSBIR/STTR

    Phase I and Phase II budgets vary by institute; Phase I typically low six figures, Phase II seven figures

    NIH SBIR/STTR omnibus · September standard due date

    NIH (America's Seed Fund at HHS)

    Sep 5, 2026· closing soon

    US small businesses; Phase I, Phase II, Direct-to-Phase-II, and Fast-Track under the parent solicitations across NIH, CDC, and FDA. STTR requires a research-institution partner.

    The single largest non-dilutive channel for Triangle life-science and health companies; standard due dates recur September 5, January 5, April 5.

    Apply or view detailsChecked Jul 9, 2026
  • Open · deadlineFederal contract

    Parent announcement; scope, value, and response date vary by individual call

    Combat Identification Automated Target Recognition Technology (CATCH)

    Air Force Research Laboratory

    Mar 14, 2030

    Active parent research announcement for automated target recognition, multimodal sensor fusion, modeling and simulation, integration, and test and evaluation. Applicants must respond to an active call under the announcement and follow that call's requirements and deadline.

    Relevant to Triangle defense and dual-use teams working across target recognition, sensor fusion, autonomy evaluation, and model assurance.

    Apply or view detailsChecked Jul 15, 2026
  • Open · rollingSBIR/STTR

    Gateway step; no funding attached to the pitch itself

    NSF Project Pitch (SBIR/STTR entry point)

    NSF (America's Seed Fund)

    Short pitch, up to two submissions per company per year; windows of roughly three weeks open several times a year (resumed June 2, 2026 after the reauthorization pause).

    The required first step before any NSF SBIR full proposal; costs a founder an afternoon.

    Apply or view detailsChecked Jul 9, 2026
  • Open · rollingAccelerator

    $500K

    Y Combinator batch application

    Y Combinator

    Startups may apply to a current or future batch. Accepted companies join the in-person San Francisco program, and YC begins the investment process upon acceptance.

    Triangle companies can apply nationally; participation requires time in San Francisco.

    Apply or view detailsChecked Jul 15, 2026
  • Open · rollingAccelerator

    Up to $250K

    Entrepreneurs First U.S. Funding & Fellowships

    Entrepreneurs First

    Individuals may apply before they have a cofounder, company, or fully formed idea. U.S. applications are reviewed on a rolling basis for programs centered in San Francisco.

    Triangle-based individuals can apply, but the U.S. program is built around in-person participation in San Francisco.

    Apply or view detailsChecked Jul 15, 2026