The NC IDEA MICRO grant program provides $10,000 in funding to early-stage startups in North Carolina that are actively validating their business models and testing key assumptions about their companies. These grants are designed to help innovative entrepreneurs move forward by providing financial support alongside mentorship and guidance. NC IDEA aims to support startups with high growth potential and the ability to attract institutional investment, such as venture capital or private equity, within five to seven years.

To be eligible for the MICRO grant, companies must be headquartered and conduct the majority of their operations in North Carolina. The program targets businesses introducing innovative products or business models with proprietary intellectual property or a sustainable competitive advantage. However, businesses with high capital requirements and long commercialization timelines, such as pharmaceutical companies, are not eligible. Other ineligible businesses include event venues, traditional staffing agencies, training companies, consulting agencies, publishing firms, franchises, trucking businesses, local service-oriented small businesses (e.g., restaurants, retail stores), and nonprofit organizations. Additionally, businesses that are illegal under North Carolina law are ineligible.

Competitive applicants should demonstrate progress in their business development through customer discovery, prototype development, early revenue generation, or similar activities. The funding must be used to validate critical business assumptions such as market readiness, customer needs, and revenue models. NC IDEA also prefers that at least one founder be a resident of North Carolina, and ideally, all founders should reside in the state. A strong applicant should have at least one founder committed to working full-time on the startup within six to twelve months of applying.

Financially, startups that have generated more than $50,000 in revenue in the last twelve months (excluding food and beverage startups) or have received more than $50,000 in equity investment or over $1 million in non-dilutive grant funding are less likely to be considered. However, funding from personal sources, such as founder contributions and friends and family investments, does not negatively impact eligibility. The intent of the MICRO grant is to help early-stage startups reach key milestones that will make them more competitive for further investment or the NC IDEA SEED grant.

The application process for the Spring 2025 cycle is currently open. While specific dates for information sessions, application deadlines, and award announcements are not provided, applicants should expect a competitive evaluation process. The selected recipients must agree to maintain their business operations in North Carolina for at least twelve months following the completion of the grant. The goal of the MICRO grant is to support startups in achieving measurable progress that will enable them to scale through additional funding sources, revenue growth, or future NC IDEA SEED grant eligibility.