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Office of Research and Innovation
NC State Office of Research Commercialization

Build Services

Use our programs, partnerships, and resources to establish a strong foundation for your startup as you build a fundable company.

Startup Guidance

Refine Your Business Model

The National Science Foundation I-Corps Teams Program instructs university innovators and founders in how to establish a validated business model through customer discovery interviews.

Participating teams receive $50,000 in NSF grant funding that can be used for stipends and team travel.

Plan Your Next Steps

As you seek to acquire funding and grow your company, you will meet with our New Ventures team to refine a strategy to accomplish your goals.

This strategy session will include:

  • The development of research milestones that will enhance the commercial viability of the innovation
  • A funding strategy to support completion of the planned milestones
  • Non-research activities that should be prioritized to move the startup forward and programs that can leveraged to complete these activities
Connect with Us

Connect with a Business Lead

NC State startups are able to leverage our ORC Advisors network to recruit an Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR), a seasoned founder or industry expert who can help accelerate the growth of a startup through mentorship, networking, and commercialization strategy.

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Grow Your Brand

Our Creative Services team is made up of professional designers who work with NC State research-based startups to create a logo, produce branded materials, and launch a website.

  • Strengthening Your Brand Identity
  • Pitch Deck Development
  • Product Flyers and Printed Materials
Get In Touch

Leverage Build Funding

NC State Funding

Secure funding from one of our internal startup support programs to effectively build your company.

SparkPlug Funds

Awards of up to $5,000 to startups seeking professional support for SBIR/STTR grant writing.

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Company receiving award on stage

Daugherty Endowment

Annual business plan competition providing $50,000 to startups launched within the last year.

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SBIR/STTR Funding

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs are federal programs that provide non-dilutive grant funding to small business in the United States who are developing and commercialization innovative technologies with high potential impact.

Phase I Funding

Phase I SBIR/STTR awards are designed to provide $150,000 to $300,000 in funding to support research and development around a new innovation. This funding for technical feasibility work positions startups to access Phase II awards of $750,000 or more.

Ecosystem Funding

Leverage funding from one of our ecosystem partners to support your growing startup.

NCIDEA Micro

$10,000 in grant funding to early-stage North Carolina startups seeking to validate their assumptions and develop a business model around a new market opportunity.

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One North Carolina Small Business Program

Provides reimbursement that covers the cost of preparing a Phase I SBIR/STTR proposal or matches grant funding for startups that have received a Phase I award.

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Ready to get started?

Connect with a member of our team to begin your startup journey.

Reach Out