Groundwork Labs opens applications for 2016 startup program

Groundwork Labs, a mentoring and advisory program from NC IDEA for startups, is accepting applications for its next group in sessions set to begin May 16.

The application deadline is March 29.

There is no charge for startups to participate.

However, to be selected, startups must be technology focused “with the potential to scale,” according to Groundwork.

NC IDEA is an economic development group that recently reorganized as the NC IDEA Foundation.

The Groundwork program is different than NC IDEA’s grant program which provides up to $50,000 in non-dilutive grants to selected startups in two rounds of a competitive process each year.

John Austin, director of Groundwork, notes that the program is going to be a bit different.

“We have made several changes to the program, the most visible of which is that we have shortened the program to two months. We believe the shorter, more intense experience will enable companies to move faster, as well as enable us to offer more sessions each year,” Austin said.

Groundwork noted that if a company is also applying for an NC IDEA grant, the NC IDEA grant application can serve as the Groundwork Labs application. The applicant must select that they intend to also apply for Groundwork Labs on the NC IDEA application.

The NC IDEA grant application deadline is March 11.

To offer more information about the program, Groundwork is hosting briefing sessions on the following dates and at these times: