Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or have already started your own company, there are tons of programs in North Carolina that are dedicated to supporting, funding and helping to develop your ideas.

Right now on our calendar, there are several NC-based accelerators, venture funds, pitch competitions and university-run programs currently accepting applicants for their latest cohorts.

Here is a roundup of upcoming application deadlines in January and February. If we missed something on this list, please feel free to email your suggestions.

January Application Deadlines:

2020 Capital Connects
January 10

Capital Connects (held March 4 in Union Square) provides education opportunities for investors and connections to entrepreneurs seeking capital for their company. Startups will present eight-minute pitches, competing for a $7,500 award package.

NCSSM Entrepreneurship Fellowship
January 10

The NC School of Science and Mathematics‘ Entrepreneurship Fellowship program places a cohort of rising NCSSM seniors into local startups for a five-week internship in summer 2020. During the program, fellows live at the school and will be provided transportation to/from their startup. They’ll also participate in events that expose them to tech entrepreneurship. NCSSM is seeking startups that are interested in hiring fellows for the program.

2020 UNC Health Innovation Pilot Awards
January 14

UNC’s Center for Health Innovation is offering internal pilot funding to UNC Health Care and UNC School of Medicine employees for innovative technologies serving care delivery models and pathways, workforce development, translational research and other applications.

NC Entrepreneur Corps Challenge
January 15

In this work-based learning program, NC-based community college and university students will work with mentors from the Governor’s Entrepreneurship Council and NCDIT to develop an innovative concept, get customer feedback and create a product to improve services for citizens across the state. The program runs in the spring 2020 semester (February to April). More TechWire coverage here.

2020 FAST Cohort
January 15

First Flight Venture Center’s first FAST cohort will include up to 30 science-focused companies who will receive an extensive grant-readiness evaluation bootcamp in February 2020, as well as expert coaching and mentoring on developing a competitive SBIR/STTR phase 1 application.

NC IDEA Internship Program for Under-Represented Student Entrepreneurs
January 17

In summer 2020, NC IDEA will be offering a paid internship for under-represented students. The goal of the program is to create a more diverse group of future entrepreneurs in North Carolina.

Incubatenergy Labs
January 17

During this program, early-stage companies will work with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and a group of leading utilities to deploy innovative solutions in targeted areas. Up to 20 applicants will be invited to a kickoff pitch event and expo at EPRI’s Electrification 2020 International Conference and Exposition, held April 6-9 in Charlotte.

Carolina Challenge Makeathon
January 19

Makers and innovators are invited to apply to UNC’s Carolina Challenge Makeathon, which runs from January 26 to February 9. Participants will attend several workshops and mentor meetings, all culminating in a final pitch competition with $11,000 in prizes up for grabs.

IdeaFest Pitch Competition Applications Open
January 20

At The Launch Place’s 7th annual IdeaFest on April 2, a group of 20 startups will get to present their pitches to a live audience and panel of judges, competing for a total of $10,000 in prizes. Pitch applications are due March 2.

Duke Student Founders Program
January 22

Open to all Duke students, this program provides experiential education, mentoring, community, resources and even grants to individuals who are interested in creating a product or service, testing a pilot, and someday launching their own startup.

UNC KickStart Commercialization Grant Awards
January 31

From UNC’s Office of Technology Commercialization, this quarterly grant program offers non-dilutive funding—from $5,000 to $50,000—to assist UNC faculty-led startups in commercializing their products.

Duke MEDx & FastTrack Medical Device Development RFA
January 31

FastTrack, a collaborative medical device engineering resource in Duke University’s Pratt School of Engineering, in conjunction with MEDx, has a new funding opportunity for Duke faculty members, staff or students who are developing medical devices. Selected projects will receive prototyping services, project management and market analysis, IP and regulatory guidance and support for finding industry partnerships.

ScaleUp WNC 2020 Program
January 31

This highly competitive program, presented by Mountain BizWorks, provides mentorship and technical assistance to 15 western North Carolina-area startups who are interested in establishing strategy and implementation for their growth.

February Application Deadlines:

Kinetic Creative Boot Camp
February 2

Winston-Salem’s Center for Creative Economy recently launched Kinetic, a four-week startup boot camp for creatives who are ready to turn their idea into a business. In-person workshops will be held twice a week in March 2020. More TechWire coverage here.

NC IDEA MICRO & NC IDEA SEED Applications Open
February 3

NC IDEA is seeking applicants for its upcoming spring 2020 SEED and MICRO grant programs:

  • The NC IDEA SEED grant program offers a select group of early-stage startups $50,000 in funding for validating target markets, growing and scaling before they seek future investments. Recipients will also receive mentorship from NC IDEA and access to its network.
  • The NC IDEA MICRO grant program offers funding of up to $10,000 for early-stage companies seeking to validate and further develop their ideas. Recipients will also receive mentorship from NC IDEA and access to its network.

NC IDEA MICRO and NC IDEA SEED grant applications are due March 2 at 5 p.m. ET.

Duke MEDx Biomechanics of Injury or Injury Repair RFA
February 3

Duke MEDx has announced a call for proposals for faculty-led interdisciplinary research in the biomechanics of injury and injury repair. Grant applicants should request up to $50,000 in direct costs.

Duke MEDx Colloquia Series
February 10

Duke MEDx is offering funding and support for interdisciplinary colloquia that bring together physicians, engineers, computer scientists, data analysts, and basic and/or clinical researchers who are combining medicine and engineering to solve complex problems.

1789 Student Venture Fund
February 10

UNC Chapel Hill’s new 1789 Student Venture Fund provides small, targeted funding to help undergraduate and graduate students get their commercial and social startups off the ground.

NCBiotech Translational Research Grant (Cycle 2)
February 26

The NC Biotech Center’s Translational Research Grant program provides funding for projects exploring/developing commercial applications for university-held life science inventions. Applications for cycle 2 are due at 12 p.m. EST.