North Carolina has rapidly emerged as one of the Southeast’s most dynamic destinations for startup founders seeking venture capital, mentorship, and growth opportunities. With record-breaking funding rounds, a thriving innovation ecosystem, and a diverse network of investors, the state is home to some of the nation’s most active and founder-friendly VC firms.
In this guide, we’ll introduce you to the top venture capital firms fueling North Carolina’s startup boom, highlight the state’s sector strengths and innovation hubs, and share actionable resources to help you connect with the right investors and accelerate your fundraising journey.
Top VCs in North Carolina
IDEA Fund Partners
About: As one of the most active early-stage investment firms in the Southeast, we seek to serve the underserved through capital and guidance.
Sweetspot check size: $ 750K
Traction metrics requirements: $0 - 2 million of revenue
Thesis: As one of the oldest and most active early-stage investment firms based in the Southeast, our investment philosophy has been honed from years of experience. We fund entrepreneurs who are applying technology and business model innovations to industries in the earliest stages of digital disruption with an emphasis on underserved places and stages.
SJF Ventures
About: We are experienced venture capital investors who have been at the forefront of impact investing since 1999. We are passionate about generating extraordinary results, creating positive changes, and partnering with visionaries who combine these two.
Sweetspot check size: $ 5M
Thesis: SJF Ventures invests in high-growth companies creating a healthier, smarter and cleaner future. Our mission is to catalyze the development of highly successful businesses driving lasting, positive changes.
Salem Investment Partners
About: Salem Investment Partners is an investment firm based in North Carolina with over $350 million under management. We specialize in mezzanine debt and equity investments in privately-held businesses with $10-$75 million in revenue. We invest across a wide range of industries primarily in the eastern half of the US.
Charlotte Angel Fund
About: We are a large group of experienced, committed investors in early stage companies in a wide range of industries. Charlotte Angel Fund (CAF) is one of North Carolina’s most active angel investor groups and represents Charlotte's largest source of capital for high aspiration startups.
Good Growth Capital
About: Early stage VC firm known for its exceptional expertise in finding, cultivating and assessing complex science and deep-tech start-ups.
Pamlico Capital
About: Pamlico Capital seeks equity and buyout investments in growing businesses that serve the communications, healthcare, services and software industries. We are committed to developing successful partnerships with management teams and entrepreneurs and helping companies reach their full potential. For more than thirty years, the Pamlico Capital team has generated consistently high returns, investing approximately $4 billion.
Capitala Group
About: Capitala Group is an asset management firm that has been providing private credit and private equity capital to lower- and middle-market businesses throughout North America for over twenty-five years. Since our inception in 1998, Capitala has invested over $2.2 billion into small businesses utilizing our flexible capital mandate which provides creative financing solutions to companies. We seek to partner with strong management teams to create value and support growth through strategic partnerships, operational expertise, and a shared vision for success.
Falfurrias Capital Partners
About: Falfurrias Management Partners is a Charlotte-based private equity investment firm that acquires or invests in lower, middle-market businesses. The firm was founded in 2006 by Hugh McColl, Jr., the former Chairman and CEO of Bank of America, and Marc Oken, the former CFO of Bank of America.
Plexus Capital
About: Plexus Capital invests across the United States in a variety of transaction types, including acquisitions, buyouts, recapitalizations, and growth capital. Since 2005, Plexus has raised over $2.2B* across seven committed funds and funded over $2.4B in over 189 companies. Plexus has built an institutional platform with a team of ~45 professionals based in Raleigh and Charlotte, NC. Our transaction experience has resulted in active working relationships with numerous third party due diligence providers, ensuring a smooth and efficient transaction process for management and the Company. We are value-add, long-term, patient investors who are committed to excellence in everything we do.
RevTech Labs Foundation
About: RevTech Labs Foundation is the bridge to growth and success for Founders. Maximizing the probability of success for high-potential startups is at the heart of everything we do. We leverage our broad networks of support to provide what we believe to be the most crucial needs for Founders when growing and scaling their startup - funding, mentorship, and visibility.
Sweetspot check size: $ 20K
The North Carolina Startup Ecosystem
Record Funding and Venture Capital Growth
From 2019 to 2023, the Charlotte region alone saw $1.5 billion raised across 261 venture capital deals, a dramatic increase from the minimal investment seen just a decade ago. This surge is mirrored across the state, with more startups successfully raising capital at all stages, from seed to late-stage growth. The region’s momentum is further highlighted by Charlotte’s leap into the top 10 of the Milken Institute’s Best-Performing Cities in 2024, and a record number of local companies making the Inc. 5000 list, including eight in the top 500—more than any year this century. Founders cite North Carolina’s strong business climate and high quality of life as key reasons for staying and building their companies locally.
Sector Strengths
North Carolina’s startup strengths are especially pronounced in software (SaaS), life sciences, fintech, and climate tech. The Research Triangle (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) is a national leader in biotech and health innovation, supported by world-class research universities and a robust talent pipeline. Charlotte, meanwhile, is emerging as a fintech powerhouse, leveraging its status as a major U.S. banking center. The state is also seeing rapid growth in climate tech, with more than 140 startups now active in this sector—up from 120 last year—spanning sub-sectors like sustainable agriculture, alternative proteins, clean energy, and water technology. The annual UNC Cleantech Summit and the updated North Carolina Climate Tech Market Map underscore the state’s leadership in this spac..
Research and University Impact
UNC Charlotte’s record $92 million in research expenditures and its new Carnegie R1 status (top research institution) are fueling innovation and commercialization. The opening of the Wake Forest University School of Medicine and the development of The Pearl, a new life sciences innovation district, are further cementing the region’s reputation as a hub for health and biotech startups.
Notable Cities and Innovation Hubs in North Carolina
Raleigh-Durham (The Research Triangle)
Home to three major research universities (Duke, UNC Chapel Hill, NC State), this region is a magnet for biotech, SaaS, and healthtech startups. The Triangle’s collaborative culture, access to top-tier talent, and strong investor presence make it a top destination for founders.
Charlotte
Charlotte’s startup ecosystem is thriving, with strengths in fintech, insurtech, and enterprise SaaS. The city’s financial sector roots, combined with a growing number of innovation districts and increased federal and private funding, are driving new company formation and scale-up success.
Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, anchored by UNC, is a key player in the Triangle’s innovation ecosystem, particularly in healthtech, edtech, and university spinouts. The town’s proximity to both Durham and Raleigh allows founders to tap into a broad network of investors, mentors, and research resources.
Wilmington and Beyond
Wilmington is experiencing notable small business and tech growth, with key sectors like information technology and real estate projected to expand. The city’s job growth rate stands at 8.8% over the last five years, with small businesses accounting for two-thirds of net new jobs.
Emerging Hubs
Other cities such as Greensboro, Asheville, and Winston-Salem are also nurturing vibrant startup communities, often with a focus on health innovation, advanced manufacturing, and creative industries.
Key Events for North Carolina Startup Founders
North Carolina’s startup ecosystem thrives on a robust calendar of events, pitch competitions, and networking opportunities that connect founders, investors, and industry leaders. These gatherings are essential for building relationships, gaining exposure, and accessing resources that can accelerate your startup’s growth. Here are some of the most impactful events and opportunities for founders in 2025:
CED Venture Connect
CED Venture Connect is the Southeast’s premier capital summit, organized by the Council for Entrepreneurial Development. This multi-day event in Raleigh brings together high-growth tech and biotech companies, investors, and industry experts. Selected startups pitch live on multiple stages, gaining visibility and potential financial backing. The summit also features pre-conference networking and educational sessions, making it a must-attend for founders seeking capital and connections in North Carolina’s innovation economy.
NC TECH State of Tech Startup Showcase
The State of Tech Startup Showcase by NC TECH features five innovative North Carolina startups selected to demo and pitch to a virtual audience of business and technology leaders. This event is a unique opportunity for founders to present their ventures, receive feedback, and connect with potential investors and partners. Attendees can vote for their favorite startups, adding a competitive edge to the showcase.
RevTech Labs Accelerator Demo Day
RevTech Labs Accelerator in Charlotte is a leading program for fintech and insurtech startups. Its Demo Day is a high-profile event where participating startups pitch to a curated audience of investors, mentors, and corporate partners. The accelerator also offers a 12-week roadmap and extensive mentorship, making it a valuable resource for early-stage founders.
NC IDEA Micro and Seed Grant Pitch Events
NC IDEA is a cornerstone of North Carolina’s entrepreneurial support, offering Micro ($10K) and Seed ($50K) grants to early-stage, growth-oriented companies. The grant process includes pitch events where founders present their business models to a panel of judges. These events are not only funding opportunities but also excellent venues for networking and feedback.
Duke Startup Showcase
Hosted by Duke Innovation & Entrepreneurship, the Duke Startup Showcase is a flagship event featuring over 30 ventures and a main-stage pitch competition. The event draws more than 500 attendees from the Duke and broader Triangle community, offering founders a platform to pitch, network, and gain recognition.
LAUNCH Conference
LAUNCH is a dynamic event in Concord, NC, designed to empower startups with resources, mentorship, and networking. It features expert talks, hands-on workshops, and opportunities to connect with industry leaders—ideal for entrepreneurs looking to scale and build relationships.
The Blueprint Tour
Held in Charlotte, The Blueprint Tour offers actionable insights on branding, strategy, and growth. The event includes expert talks, networking sessions, and workshops, making it a valuable stop for founders seeking to refine their business approach and expand their network.
Devopsdays Raleigh
Devopsdays Raleigh is a key event for tech founders, offering hands-on insights into cloud, CI/CD, and continuous deployment. It’s a great opportunity to connect with Raleigh’s vibrant tech community and stay ahead of industry trends.
Health Innovation Pitch Party
This event, often held in Durham or Chapel Hill, brings together healthtech founders, investors, and industry professionals for a night of pitches, panel discussions, and networking. It’s a hotspot for those building in the life sciences and digital health sectors.
Connect With Investors in North Carolina Using Visible
At Visible, we often times compare a fundraise to a B2B sales and marketing funnel. At the top of your funnel, you are finding new investors. In the middle, you are nurturing and pitching potential investors. At the bottom of the funnel, you are working through diligence and ideally closing new investors.
With the introduction of data rooms, you can now manage every aspect of your fundraising funnel with Visible.
- Find investors at the top of your funnel with our free investor database, Visible Connect and find a filtered list of North Carolina's investors here.
- Track your conversations and move them through your funnel with our Fundraising CRM
- Share your pitch deck and monthly updates with potential investors
- Organize and share your most vital fundraising documents with data rooms
Manage your fundraise from start to finish with Visible. Give it a free try for 14 days here.
