Resources

Organizations in Western North Carolina and across the state that help founders with money, advice, space and people.

Funding

  • America's Seed Fund (SBIR/STTR)

    Federal research-and-development funding for small technology companies, run through eleven agencies, with no equity taken. Each agency sets its own topics and deadlines; North Carolina's One NC Small Business Program can help with proposal costs and match awards.

    Tech and Manufacturing

  • Carolina Small Business Development Fund

    Statewide nonprofit lender to start-ups and existing businesses. Applicants first request a counseling session with its business solutions team, and it has an Asheville office through the Western Women's Business Center.

    Every track

  • Mountain BizWorks

    Asheville-based lender to small businesses in Western North Carolina. Founders can apply for business loans, take classes such as Foundations and ScaleUp, and sign up for one-on-one business coaching.

    Every track

  • NC Biotechnology Center, Western Office

    Asheville office of NCBiotech, the statewide life sciences development organization. Founders in biotech, medical devices, ag-tech or fermentation can use it for local introductions and to learn about NCBiotech's company loans and grants.

    Tech and Manufacturing

  • NC IDEA

    Statewide grant program for North Carolina startups. MICRO gives small project-based grants to young companies, and SEED gives larger grants to companies with a working concept and a path to scale. Both are competitive and run in application cycles.

    Tech, CPG, and Manufacturing

  • One North Carolina Small Business Program

    State program that reimburses part of the cost of preparing federal SBIR and STTR Phase I proposals and matches federal SBIR and STTR awards, for North Carolina businesses. Applications open when the state posts each year's solicitation.

    Tech and Manufacturing

  • Optimist Ventures

    An Asheville fund and 12-week accelerator, started by Venture Asheville, for established WNC companies that use technology to grow and already have $150,000 to $2 million in revenue. Each selected company gets a mix of grant money and a note repaid from a share of profit instead of equity. Applications open in cohort rounds.

    Every track

  • U.S. Small Business Administration loans

    The federal agency's loan programs back loans made by banks and nonprofit lenders, including 7(a) loans and microloans. Founders apply through a lender, and its Lender Match tool helps find one. The SBA does not give grants for starting or growing a business.

    Every track

  • Venture Asheville

    The startup program of the Asheville Chamber and the Economic Development Coalition for Asheville-Buncombe County, aimed at companies that plan to grow fast. It runs the Elevate incubator for Buncombe and Haywood County startups, an angel investor network, a startup job board and local events.

    Every track

Advising

  • A-B Tech Small Business Center

    Counseling by appointment and no-cost seminars for people starting or running a small business, offered through A-B Tech's Enka campus. It also runs a business incubator, food and beverage production and testing services, and the Startup Asheville guide to local support programs.

    Every track

  • Hatch Innovation Hub

    Asheville hub run by a group of WNC startup-support organizations, for founders headquartered in the region. Founders can apply for its mentoring program, rent coworking and office space, and pitch at its recurring events.

    Every track

  • NC Manufacturing Extension Partnership

    Statewide program for small and mid-size manufacturers, run through NC State. It offers a no-cost one-day on-site review that ends in an improvement plan, and links companies to training and other services.

    CPG and Manufacturing

  • NC SBTDC (Asheville office at UNC Asheville)

    Free one-on-one business counseling from the UNC system's small business advisory service, through its Asheville office. Counselors help with start-up planning, financing, marketing and strategy, and the network has specific help for manufacturers and for commercializing technology.

    Every track

  • SCORE Asheville

    Free business mentoring across Western North Carolina, matched to a mentor on request. The chapter also runs workshops on planning, finances and finding customers, in person in Candler and online, most of them free.

    Every track

  • The Industrial Commons

    Morganton-based organization that supports local manufacturers, especially sewn goods and textile firms, and helps owners convert a business to employee ownership. It also runs workforce training and is developing an industrial campus in Burke County.

    CPG and Manufacturing

  • WCU RAPID Center

    Engineering team at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee that does product design, prototyping, industrial 3D printing and testing for startups and inventors. Projects are quoted at a flat fee, or a startup can sponsor a student engineering capstone team.

    Tech, CPG, and Manufacturing

  • Western Women's Business Center

    Western North Carolina business center run by Carolina Small Business Development Fund, with an Asheville office. It offers free one-on-one coaching and workshops, and can connect founders to capital.

    Every track

Workspace

  • Asheville Makers

    Nonprofit makerspace with 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC machines and soldering stations, open to members around the clock. New members attend an orientation before they get access.

    Tech, CPG, and Manufacturing

  • Blue Ridge Food Ventures

    Shared commercial kitchen and production facility in Candler where food, beverage and natural-product makers rent time by the hour. Staff help with regulations, product development and labeling, and new clients start with an application and a phone consultation.

    CPG

  • The Collider

    Coworking desks and private offices in downtown Asheville, from day passes to dedicated desks, in a building centered on climate-related work. It also rents meeting and event rooms.

    Tech and Services

  • WNC FoodWorks

    Smaller shared kitchen at the WNC Farmers Market in Asheville, rented by the hour for catering and small-batch packaged foods. It also offers food truck commissary services and a training kitchen, and it is the sister facility to Blue Ridge Food Ventures.

    CPG

Community

  • 1 Million Cups Asheville

    Weekly Wednesday morning meetup in the Hatch building where local founders present their business to peers and get feedback. It is free to attend, and founders can apply to present.

    Every track

  • Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce

    The local business association, which works alongside the Economic Development Coalition for Asheville and Buncombe County. Its small business page points to local counseling and funding providers, and the chamber offers research requests and a member business directory.

    Every track

  • Asheville Tech Guide

    Directory of Asheville-area tech companies with a map, local events calendar, job listings and regional news. A starting point for finding the local tech community.

    Tech

Hiring

  • Mountain Area Workforce Development Board

    Regional workforce board for Buncombe, Henderson, Madison and Transylvania counties. Its business services team helps employers recruit and screen candidates, read local labor market data, and learn about apprenticeships, mostly at little or no cost.

    Every track

Know an organization that belongs here? Tell us at [email protected].