SoarTriangle, an organization backed by Red Hat and SAS to mentor female-led startups, is becoming part of NC IDEA’s community and economic development efforts.

“SoarTriangle has become a leading voice for female entrepreneurs navigating the fundraising landscape in the Triangle,” said Thom Ruhe, CEO of NC IDEA. “This is deeply tied to NC IDEA’s mission to support entrepreneurial innovation and economic advancement in North Carolina and we are enthusiastic to expand this program’s efforts in our state.”

NC IDEA is a foundation focusing on economic development in North Carolina SoarTriangle will be directed by Reagan Reynolds, who is NC IDEA’s program manager.

“SoarTriangle has taken on a life of its own,” said Lauren Whitehurst, the lead principal and co-founder of the SoarTriangle program.She also is wife of Red Hat CEO Jim Whitehurst.

“It has grown to be a powerful initiative. Now we are delighted that NC IDEA has agreed to bring it under its umbrella so that it can benefit from the foundation’s infrastructure and ability to dedicate a program manager to the work,” Whitehurst added. “This move means SoarTriangle will remain a strong, viable entity for years to come.”

SoarTriangle recently is reviewing applications for its mentor program.

The group also is endeavoring to draw more attention to gender diversity issues.

“SoarTriangle’s success is the result of the involvement of leaders and entrepreneurs in our community who care deeply about diversity inclusion in entrepreneurship, which is key to NC IDEA’s mission of economic advancement in our state,” Reynolds said in the announcement. “I am thrilled to continue SoarTriangle’s good work as it contributes to the greater vision of NC IDEA.”

NC IDEA also provides non-dilutive grants up to $50,000 to emerging startup companies and is launching a new program it calls Ecosystem Partner Grants.