Resources

Established in 2012, SpringBoardNC was created to foster and support entrepreneurship in the I-95 / Hwy 64 Region of Eastern North Carolina, by serving as a resource hub to individuals looking to start or grow their business

Entrepreneurs are North Carolina’s economic engine. If you’re thinking about starting a business in North Carolina, we salute you! We’re here to help you navigate the state requirements. Find all the information you need to get your startup started.

The Small Business Center (SBC) is dedicated to the training of potential and existing small business owners. Training sessions are offered as free seminars as well as customized individual business training events. The Small Business Center offers more than 125 free seminars each year on various business topics including: Financing, Management, Marketing, and Accounting/Record Keeping. The SBC also offers free, confidential one-on-one business consulting services to assist you in the daily operation of your business. These services can include: a Financial Analysis of Your Company, Market and Industry Research, Loan Packages, Business Plans, Marketing Plans, and Strategic Planning.

East Carolina University’s Operation Reentry North Carolina (ORNC) is a national research support organization developing novel technologies and approaches that address the resiliency, rehabilitation and reintegration concerns of our nation’s service members, veterans, their families, as well as the civilian and military healthcare providers who care for them.

The state of North Carolina is home to more than 800,000 small businesses and Commerce is strongly committed to their success. Commerce serves as a one-stop resource for small businesses and start-up companies with big ideas. Many partners and allies support Commerce’s work in assisting North Carolina’s small businesses, but Commerce provides a centralized point of contact to assist them. Services include planning and feasibility assessment, licensing, individualized research-based products around change management, strategic performance and leadership development; help accessing and acquiring government contracts; and assistance in commercializing new technologies and accessing innovation research. Through marketing and outreach activities, Commerce reaches small business owners and those considering a start-up to offer services and support designed to ensure these businesses are afforded the best opportunity to Thrive in North Carolina.

Commercial lending office

ECU Technologies that are available for licensing

“The Pitt County Committee of 100, Inc. is a not-for-profit, charitable organization recognized by the IRS as a 501 (c) (3) corporation. Formed in 1995, the Committee was created to stimulate and provide a broader network of support for economic development throughout Pitt County. The Committee of 100 is a proactive organization that can provide insight and capital funding to help close development deals. The funds are obtained from membership dues and expertise comes from the diversity of its members, which include businesses, business leaders, entrepreneurs, professionals, citizens, and other stakeholders interested in Pitt County’s economic
development future.”

ECU’s Office of Innovation and Economic Development (OIED) delivers and supports regional transformation by fostering community enhancement & regional development, a regional innovation workforce, cluster-based economic development, and the proliferation of innovation, entrepreneurship and small business.

The Office of Economic Development works with citizens, neighborhood groups, business and property owners, local commissions and organizations, and elected officials to revitalize and preserve Greenville’s Center City and surrounding neighborhoods.

IMAF-RTP is one of the Inception Micro Angel Funds and is a member-managed 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, greater North Carolina and in selective areas of Virginia and South Carolina.

Our mission is to develop, promote and implement sound economic strategies to improve the quality of life of rural North Carolinians. We serve the state’s 80 rural counties, with a special focus on individuals with low to moderate incomes and communities with limited resources.

Thorough resource for the early stages of starting a business in NC. BLNC provides checklists and links to statewide services for entrepreneurs including help writing business plans, licensing, help determining business structures, financing options and taxes, among others.

NC IDEA serves as a catalyst for young, high-growth, technology companies in North Carolina. We help these innovative companies mainly by providing early financing in the form of grants. NC IDEA knows that money alone does not drive success. The management team at NC IDEA understands the needs of startups. The staff at NC IDEA has experience in building and advising young companies and is available as a resource for those companies that are awarded one of our grants.

Provide small business loans and financial training to start-ups and existing businesses along with lending services to community-based organizations.

NCBC connects the company and university researchers; the funders and the small companies; the job seekers and job providers. We provide funding when few others do. We keep an eye on emerging biotech sectors. And we make sure North Carolina leads the way.

NCBiotech research grant programs are designed to encourage innovation, support university infrastructure and help move technology toward commercialization. In addition, our grants fill in some critical funding gaps, stages where it is typically difficult to find funding.

The Innovation Design Lab (IDL) is a collaborative venue for leading edge research and design-driven innovation. A best-in-class facility, the IDL was one of three national finalists in the category of Community Connected Campus Awards of Excellence by the University Economic Development Association.

The N.C. Community Development Initiative leads North Carolina’s collaborative community economic development effort, driving innovation, investment and action to create prosperous, sustainable communities.