NC IDEA Foundation Announces Second Quarter Statewide Investments and Continues to Expand Access to Early Stage Capital Across North Carolina with $475,000 Invested During Q2.

NC IDEA, a private foundation committed to supporting entrepreneurial ambition and economic empowerment in North Carolina, announced today the second quarter investment activity by NC Tweener Fund, Powered by NC IDEA. During the second quarter of 2026, the Fund invested $475,000 across twelve companies, including eight new investments and four follow-on investments, further advancing its mission to support high-growth startups across North Carolina.

Since announcing its strategic partnership earlier this year, NC IDEA’s five-year, $4 million commitment has enabled the NC Tweener Fund to build on years of success and expand beyond its Triangle roots, now actively investing in innovative startups across the state. The second-quarter portfolio reflects the growing statewide reach, with investments spanning Charlotte, Wilmington, and the Western part of the state.

"These recent investments demonstrate what we envisioned when we partnered with the NC Tweener Fund," said Thom Ruhe, President and CEO of NC IDEA. "We are seeing more companies across North Carolina gain access to the capital they need to build and scale, including several prior NC IDEA grant recipients. By reaching founders in every corner of North Carolina, we are helping to ensure innovation and opportunity are not limited by geography," Ruhe added.

Q2 2026 New Investments: 

·       AIXI – Raleigh, NC

·       Amissa – Charlotte, NC

·       Druid – Charlotte, NC

·       NextPower360 – Weaverville, NC

·       Pellucid Network – Raleigh, NC

·       RCOAST – Wilmington, NC

·       RoundUp – Durham, NC

·       Smart Family Tech, Inc. – Charlotte, NC

Q2 2026 Follow-On Investments:

 ·       HighArc – Durham, NC

·       OOGA Technologies – Cary, NC

·       Protect3D – Durham, NC

·       ReFiBuy – Raleigh, NC

We’re seeing strong momentum across North Carolina’s startup ecosystem," said Scot Wingo, General Partner of NC Tweener Fund. “Our partnership with NC IDEA has meaningfully expanded our reach, connecting us with outstanding founders in communities throughout North Carolina while also generating increased interest from potential investors (LPs). We're excited about the trajectory of the portfolio and the opportunity to continue backing North Carolina’s most promising startups," Wingo added.

About NC IDEA Foundation

NC IDEA is an independent private foundation committed to equitably empowering North Carolinians to achieve their entrepreneurial potential. Through a powerful combination of competitive grants and programs and a network of strategic partners, the organization helps entrepreneurs when they need it most. NC IDEA’s resources are highly competitive, enabling the Foundation to support North Carolina’s most ambitious entrepreneurs. NC IDEA believes entrepreneurs transform communities and views their work as a catalyst for positive change. Learn more at www.ncidea.org.

About NC Tweener Fund, Powered by NC IDEA

The NC Tweener Fund is a rolling fund that focuses on building an index of early-stage, high-tech, startups in North Carolina that meet the "Tweener" criteria. NC Tweener Fund invests in approximately 10-15 early stage companies every quarter since launching in 2022, and has now expanded its investment footprint statewide. Their portfolio has over 170 companies making them the most active VC fund in the Southeast. Learn more at www.tweenerfund.com.

Source: NC IDEA Foundation Press Release

About NextPower360
Launched in September of 2022, NextPower360 is pioneering a radically new class of electric generators built from electromagnetic first principles — delivering ultra-high power density, black-start capability, and solid-state simplicity in a compact, scalable package. Their platform redefines power for AI datacenters, microgrids, and distributed energy systems — without relying on rare earths. Source: NextPower360.com