Biotechnology Entrepreneur and Startup Resources

NCBiotech provides loans of up to $650,000 with low interest rates and small business-friendly terms for life sciences companies based in North Carolina.

NCBiotech's Venture Challenge is a biennial statewide pitch competition with monetary awards of up to $100,000, as well as access to mentoring and other assistance.

NCIDEA provides micro and seed grants for young, growth-oriented companies.
 
 

The U.S. SBIR and STTR programs offer grants to innovation-driven small businesses.
 

Diverse angel investors and venture capital firms in North Carolina provide seed and growth funding for biotechnology companies.
 

OneNC is a cash-grant program that awards matching funds to SBIR/STTR awardees and/or reimburses costs incurred in submitting SBIR/STTRs.

I-Corps provides university-affiliated research teams and startups with entrepreneurial and commercialization training. There are now I-Corps programs at NC State University, UNC-Chapel Hill and UNC-Charlotte.

Greater Winston-Salem's BioNest Fund helps attract and grow life sciences companies in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County. This funding fills a critical gap for companies that do not qualify for publicly-funded economic development incentives.

The Council for Entrepreneurial Development (CED) empowers high-growth startups in the Southeast by providing connections, capital, and resources to help them scale and succeed.

The Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC) helps small and mid-sized businesses increase sales, create jobs, and access capital.
 

NCLifeSci delivers policy and advocacy leadership, future-focused workforce development programs, industry connections and mission-driven member services.

NCMBC is part of the North Carolina Community College System, based at Fayetteville Technical Community College. Its mission is to enhance the economy, create jobs, and improve the quality of life in North Carolina by leveraging military and federal business opportunities.

NC IDEA is an independent private foundation that supports the entrepreneurial ecosystem by providing a combination of grants and programs.

 
 

FFVC aids early-stage businesses by offering affordable lab and office space, management guidance, and shared business and technology support services to foster innovation and economic growth.
 
 

RIoT is a Raleigh-based organization that drives economic development by accelerating startups in emerging technologies like IoT, AI, and data.
 

LaunchBio’s North Carolina chapter, based in Durham, connects life science entrepreneurs with experts, investors, and talent through events, workshops, and community-building programs.

Academic, industrial and corporate research parks suitable for life sciences companies for leased space in North Carolina.

Listing of academic and nonprofit research facilities open to researchers from outside their home institutions.