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Entrepreneurial and Small Business Assistance

The Council for Entrepreneurial Development (CED) identifies, enables and promotes high-growth, high-impact entrepreneurial companies and accelerates the entrepreneurial culture of the Research Triangle and North Carolina. CED provides programs and services in four major areas: education, capital formation, outreach and communications. CED-Coastal, CED's divisional office in Wilmington, serves eastern and southeastern North Carolina.
http://cednc.org

The Blue Ridge Entrepreneurial Council (BREC) helps entrepreneurs and small businesses in western North Carolina succeed. BREC focuses on these core areas: education, mentoring, networking, and communications capital formation and preparation.
http://www.ncmtns.biz

The Business Innovation and Growth Council (BIG) and its predecessor MEC have supported Charlotte-area entrepreneurial businesses for decades. BIG leads development of "high-impact, high-growth entrepreneurs" in the Charlotte region and proactively grows their businesses by providing resources, leadership and visibility.
http://www.bigcouncil.com

The North Carolina Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC) helps small business owners (and those interested in starting a business) grow and create new jobs within the state. SBTDC provides management counseling and educational services (most are free of charge) from its 17 offices across the state.
http://www.sbtdc.org

Technology

North Carolina Technology Association (NCTA) is the primary voice for information technology industries in North Carolina. NCTA provides its members with the opportunity to network with other industry leaders, share information on critical technologies, and promote their companies. Homeland security is an increasingly important focus of NCTA.
http://www.nceita.org

Southeast TechInventures (STI) is a technology accelerator for rapid conversion of university scientific breakthroughs into products, services and new technology companies. STI works in the areas of (1) bioengineering, (2) photonics and communications, (3) information technology, (4) materials science, and (5) surveillance and security networks.
http://www.southeasttechinventures.com

HiTEC @ NC State uses graduate students from business and technical disciplines to transform new technology platforms into successful businesses.
http://hitec.ncsu.edu/index.html?welcome.html

Early Stage Funding and Angel Investors

Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) is the federal government's R&D funding program for small businesses.
http://www.sba.gov/SBIR/

The North Carolina SBIR/STTR Phase I Incentive Program reimburses qualified North Carolina firms for a portion of the costs incurred in preparing and submitting Phase I proposals for the U.S. Government's SBIR Program and Small Business Technology Transfer Program.
http://www.ncscienceandtechnology.org/SBIRProgramGuidelines.htm/

NC IDEA assists entrepreneurial companies with seed and early-stage funding through traditional venture capital, as well as pre-venture stage funding via a grants program.
http://www.ncidea.org

North Carolina Angel Networks and Funds

Blue Ridge Angel Investment Network (BRAIN)
Asheville

Charlotte Angel Forum
Charlotte

Eastern North Carolina - Investor Network (ENC-IN)
Greenville

Angels for Moore
Pinehurst

Contact: Ray Ogden, Executive Director, Moore County Partners for Progress
Phone: (910) 246-0311
Email:angels@angelsformoore.org
Website:www.angelsformoore.org

Wilmington Investor Network, LLC (WIN)
Wilmington

Charlotte Angel Partners (CAP)
Charlotte

Piedmont Angel Network (PAN)
Greensboro

Inception Micro Angel Fund (IMAF)
Greensboro

Tri-State Investment Group (TIG)
Chapel Hill

The Atlantis Group
Durham

Doing Business with the Military

The North Carolina Military Business Center (NCMBC) http://www.ncmbc.us has more than 53 locations at community colleges across the state and provides services to North Carolina companies. The NCMBC mission is to:

• Increase military business for existing North Carolina companies
• Integrate transitioning military personnel and family members into the workforce
• Support recruitment and development of defense-related businesses in North Carolina