The Office of Innovation and New Ventures
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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.
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.
Community and Regional Development (CRD) takes an innovative approach to program development that focuses on building a comprehensive menu of products and services that fosters strong regional partnerships around community and economic development priorities and projects. CRD programs include the Municipal Management and Innovation initiative, the Talent Enhancement and Capacity Building program and the Rural Community Consortium.
The Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC) has helped North Carolina businesses grow and create new jobs since 1984. We provide management counseling and educational services to small and mid-sized businesses.
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 Middle School Innovators Academy, the Innovators Design Academy, and the Global Innovation Workshop demonstrate the culture of innovation that ECU is creating on campus and in the community. Through these academies, ECU teaches participants, particularly the younger students, that it values innovation, creative thinking and risk-taking and realizes the integral role of design in successful innovation for economic growth.
The Greenville SEED @ ECU is a business incubator providing flexible space and support on a fee basis to qualified entrepreneurs and start-up companies. Programs exist for students (college and high school), start-up companies, and emerging technology businesses. Office space is designed to encourage collaboration and networking. The Greenville SEED @ ECU provides space, mentoring, technical support, access to 3D printing for rapid prototyping (subject to review, training, and availability), and networking events. Facilities include: turn-key offices; co-working space; large conference room; large auditorium; idea room; and entrepreneurs’ lounge. The Greenville SEED @ ECU collaboration space is a project of City of Greenville, ECU, and Greenville-Pitt County Chamber of Commerce.
Provide small business loans and financial training to start-ups and existing businesses along with lending services to community-based organizations.
The U.S. Small Business Administration has delivered millions of loans, loan guarantees, contracts, counseling sessions and other forms of assistance to small businesses.
Connect entrepreneurs with mentors
The N.C. Small Business Credit Initiative is helping make capital available for business startups and expansions across the state.
The North Carolina Lawyers for Entrepreneurs Assistance Project (NC LEAP) is a public service program of the North Carolina Bar Association to provide legal assistance to low wealth entrepreneurs and small business owners.
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.
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.
We’re well known for making connections that create biotech jobs statewide. But we also offer two popular funding programs to make sure people with big ideas mix and mingle.
Our event sponsorships, for example, provide up to $3,000 to help bring biotech people together within North Carolina.
Meanwhile, our meeting grants provide non-profits up to $10,000 to help them bring major life science meetings to the state. Bringing in thought leaders from across the U.S. and around the globe puts a great spotlight on North Carolina and its life science leadership.
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 North Carolina Biotechnology Center understands the importance of emerging entrepreneurial companies to the state’s biotechnology industry. Through the Business and Technology Development Program, the Center awards low-interest loans to promising emerging life science companies across the state. These loans are designed to help recipients meet meaningful research and commercial milestones.
The NCEast Alliance (The Alliance) is a regional, private, not-for-profit,economic development agency serving more than 1 million residents within several small metropolitan and micropolitan areas from the fringe of the Research Triangle to the Atlantic Coast. The Alliance provides community capacity building and assists companies with site location and expansion decisions.
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.
Business Link North Carolina (BLNC) is a free resource for anyone seeking to start a small business in the state. We offer one-on-one phone consultations to hundreds of individuals interested in establishing a business start-up, small business owners in need of general support, and small-business entrepreneurs interested in moving to North Carolina. Our team of business counselors offers straightforward, easy-to-understand guidance in both English and Spanish on topics including regulatory requirements, licensing stipulations, small-business training and more.