“This cycle brought one of our larger applicant pools, reflecting the strength and breadth of North Carolina’s entrepreneurial ecosystem,” said Amy Bastian, Vice President of Grants & Programs at NC IDEA. “We are excited that eight of our previous MICRO grant recipients are represented, and look forward to learning more about the full group in this next phase of the grant cycle,” Bastian added.

Selected from a competitive pool of 184 applicants, the four Spring 2026 NC IDEA SEED Semi-Finalists from the WNC area include:

·       Beiing Human  

·       BeneDoc  

·       League Linq 

·       Shuttlebee Dispatch Solutions  

NC IDEA has invited the semi-finalists to submit a full proposal with greater details by early April. Finalists will then be selected to present before a review panel of ecosystem partners, industry experts, entrepreneurs, and experienced investors. Grant recipients will be announced in mid-May. The $50,000 grants are intended to support business activities that validate target markets, reduce the risk associated with early stage companies, and help companies reach the point of suitability for growth through investment or revenue.

Source: NC IDEA.