It was inspiring to see CEO Thom Ruhe honor the entrepreneurs, funders, and partners gathered for the NC IDEA Ecosystem Partner event last week. I had the chance to speak with rural entrepreneurs who are actively transforming North Carolina’s rural communities. It was also enlightening to learn about NC IDEA’s unique partnerships, shared by Suzie Koonce, Senior Consultant for Social Impact and Sustainability at Wells Fargo, and Lee Lilley, North Carolina’s Secretary of Commerce. A true highlight was hearing Reginald Speight, Assistant Secretary of Rural Economic Development at NC Commerce, reflect on his upbringing in rural North Carolina and emphasize the vital role of rural entrepreneurship in driving economic growth and community well-being.

“According to the latest numbers, NC IDEA, which traces its roots to the late Charlotte entrepreneur Dave Rizzo, has now helped launch:
🎉 615 companies
🎉 Made $24 million in grants
🎉 Helped create more than 5,000 jobs

How successful have these startups proved to be? NC IDEA portfolio members have collectively raised $816 million from investors. Thirty-six firms raised $5 million or more. Forty-one have been acquired. Perhaps most impressively, 71% are still in business.”