Financial Resources
Venture Capitalists (VC’s), Seed Investors, Angel Funds
501 North Salem St., Suite 202, Apex NC 27502
(919) 362-4889
Acorn Investment Strategies is a fund management company. Acorn offers corporate partnerships and investment rigor to their portfolio in order to help young acorn-stage ventures grow into healthy, mature oak-stage companies.
201 West Main Street, Suite 100, PMB 28 Durham, NC 27701
Invests in technology companies throughout the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic region.
Bull City Venture Partners
122 E. Chatham St., Suite 301, Cary NC 27511
Provide free lab space to entrepreneurs who receive expert help modeling and vetting their startup ideas. Cofounders Capital Lab helps with prototyping, vetting, and lining up beta customers. Early-stage seed fund focused on software ventures in the Triangle.
280 S. Mangum St., Suite 350, Durham, NC 27701
(919) 484-0730
Hatteras’ mission is to build transformational human medicine companies that benefit patients and the professionals who serve them.
719 Angelica Circle Cary, NC 27518
(919) 467-3533 or (919) 369-7031
An existing seed stage angel capital fund designed to capitalize on the growth in entrepreneurial activity and venture financing, primarily in the Research Triangle Park area of North Carolina, in syndication with other IMAF groups and in selective areas of Virginia and South Carolina.
1415 W NC Hwy 54, Suite 206, Durham, NC 27701
(919) 808-4000
One of the most active seed and early stage venture investors in NC and throughout the Southeast. IDEA typically provides the first institutional money for the companies in which it invests. IDEA likes to make small initial investments and set aside plenty of follow-on capital for future rounds.
4711 Hope Valley Road Suite 4F – 632, Durham, NC 27707
(919) 493-6640
Intersouth Partners seeks a broad range of investment opportunities in the technology and life science sectors. Their experienced team has full-cycle experience in the complex matters associated with investing in fledgling companies, including technology assessment and transfer, management team development, corporate partnering, sales growth and successful exits.
PAN is a committed capital angel fund that focuses on investment opportunities in early-stage companies that present high growth opportunities.
Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC)
5 West Hargett St., Suite 600, Raleigh, NC 27601
(919) 715-7272
(800) 258-0862 (NC Only)
The SBTDC is actively engaged in two equity capital initiatives. The first of these involves SBTDC support for Inception Micro-Angel Funds (IMAF) across the state. Eight funds have been established over the last decade; one has successfully concluded operation and closed. The current IMAF funds are in Asheville, the Cape Fear region, Charlotte, Greenville, Research Triangle Park, the Triad and Rocky Mount. These IMAF funds provide $50,000 to $125,000 in early seed stage capital (first money in) to emerging technology-based businesses.
6002 Meadow Run Ct., Chapel Hill, NC 27516
An angel fund based in the Research Triangle Park area of North Carolina.
1011 South Hamilton Rd., Suite 400, Chapel Hill, NC 27517
(919) 442-5201
Identifies and invests in high-performing, access-constrained venture capital opportunities that generate premium value for its partners. The firm is recognized for its data-driven approach to investing in both venture funds and venture-backed companies.
Loans
Carolina Small Business Loans & Carolina Small Business Development Fund
3128 Highwoods Blvd., Suite 170, Raleigh, NC 27604
(919) 803-1437
Provides small business loans and financial training to start-ups and existing businesses along with lending services to community-based organizations.
5800 Faringdon Place Raleigh, NC 27609
(919) 838-9950
Capital needed to keep operations going and to pay bills and access to capital remains a major barrier to many minority-owned firms. Let MBDA help you better position your company. Visit one of our Minority Business Centers for more in depth one-on-one financial counseling for growth and success of your business. Get started by gathering together some basic loan documentation. MBDA does not provide loans or grants to start or expand your business. The grants MBDA does provide are to organizations that operate MBDA’s Minority Business Centers throughout the United States. These organizations provide business consulting, procurement matching and financial assistance to minority-owned firms.
Raleigh Alternate Work Site, 6600 Louisburg Rd., Room 351, Raleigh, NC 27616-6328
(919) 532-5525
The SBA works with lenders to provide loans to small businesses. The agency doesn’t lend money directly to small business owners. Instead, it sets guidelines for loans made by its partnering lenders, community development organizations, and micro-lending institutions. The SBA reduces risk for lenders and makes it easier for them to access capital. That makes it easier for small businesses to get loans.
7029 Harps Mill Rd Raleigh, NC 27615
(984) 233-7838
Small business and nonprofit loans - Boost your business or nonprofit with a loan - from $15,000 and up, depending on your next project. Use the loan to expand, purchase equipment or a building, or undertake renovations. Our goal is to support your vision with financing that makes good business sense. Please note that to be considered for a loan, your business must have cash flow.
Crowdfunding
2 South Salisbury Street Raleigh, NC 27601
(919) 814-5400
North Carolina has enacted its own intrastate crowdfunding law, the PACES Act. Visit the crowdfunding section of North Carolina Secretary of State’s securities site to learn more about this new option for your business venture.
Localstake NC is the first investment crowdfunding platform exclusively serving North Carolina. Startups and existing businesses ranging from technology startups to retail shops and restaurants can use the platform to raise money to get a company started or to help it grow. This means that your faithful customers, family, friends, and others in your network can serve as your investors.
511 W 25th St., New York, New York 10001
iFund Women is a crowdfunding platform for women-led startups and small businesses.
Tax Credit
Small Business Healthcare Tax Credit
7751 Brier Creek Pkwy, Raleigh, NC 27617
(919) 850-1100
A federal tax credit created in 2010 to assist in offsetting the rising cost of health insurance. Starting in 2014, the maximum credit is 50 percent for small business employers and 35 percent for small tax exempt employers. For more information on the Small Business Healthcare Tax Credit, please contact the Small Business Technology Development Center.
Work Opportunity Tax Credit / Welfare-to-Work Tax Credit
The Work Opportunity Tax Credit is a federal tax credit program available to all private-sector employers who hire new employees from nine “targeted” groups, which have historically experienced high rates of unemployment and have had difficulty in securing employment due to a variety of employment barriers. Due to the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006, this tax credit program now includes the Welfare-to-Work Tax Credit.
North Carolina Department of Commerce
Division of Employment Security
700 Wade Ave. Raleigh, NC 27605
Customer Call Center: (888) 737-0259
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Line: (866) 847-7209
Employment and Training Administration
(866) 487-2365