RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK – With weekly updates to keep content fresh, WRAL TechWire’s Triangle Startup Guide offers a timely resource package for anyone looking to start or grow a business in the Triangle area.

We started 2022 by recapping every update made to the guide last year, and now we’re back with another new resource for local entrepreneurs. The latest update comes to the ” Competitions, Grants & Other Funding Sources” section of the guide, which features a mix of pitch events and grant programs that offer startups more funding and exposure beyond traditional VC or angel funding rounds.

Today, we updated the listing for NC State University’s eGames pitch competition, adding new information about the program’s scope. eGames, which first launched in 2009, divides student pitches into a “think” category (idea-stage ventures) and a “do” category (startups that already have a product and customers). Judges evaluate the startups’ market feasibility, design, prototype and other aspects. Every year, the program grants about $100,000 to the winning companies.

A separate track of the competition, the Daugherty Endowment Track, targets established startups that have licensed NC State intellectual property in the past three years. This program generally awards about $50,000 to the winning teams each year.

Applications are currently open for this year’s edition of eGames, scheduled for April 18. The deadline for the first round of applications is Feb. 20, and finalists will be revealed on March 10.

Read more and find out how to apply here.

Other recent additions to the Triangle Startup Guide

Every week, we update the guide with new resources for local entrepreneurs for our exclusive Triangle Startup Guide. If we missed something, please feel free to suggest it for inclusion. You can email me directly or use this contact form. In case you missed it, check out this recap of all the updates we made in 2021. And here’s a review of the additions from recent weeks:

  • In the “Accelerators & Mentorship Programs” section, we added Wake Technical Community College’s Main Street Entrepreneurs Accelerator Program (or MSEA), which launched earlier this month to support entrepreneurs and small business owners across Wake County. Starting in late-February, participants will attend five training sessions covering everything from attracting customers to planning financial projections. Those who attend all sessions and complete the required materials will submit their business pitches for the chance to win awards ranging from $2,000 to $8,000. Read more information about the program here.
  • In the “Competitions, Grants & Other Funding Sources” section, we added the upcoming Duke Cyber Pitch Competition, a program from Duke University’s Sanford Cyber Policy Program. The competition, held on Feb. 26 from 12–5 p.m., targets students with business ideas in the fields of cybersecurity, data protection, privacy and online safety. Selected individuals or teams will pitch their ventures to investment experts for a chance to win $25,000 and other prizes. Winners will also receive a grant from Paladin Capital, an investment firm headquartered in Washington, D.C. Pitch applications are due on Feb. 1.
  • In our list of COVID relief programs, we added a line about an upcoming informational webinar covering the NC Department of Revenue’s new Business Recovery Grant for businesses dealing with pandemic-related losses. The Downtown Raleigh Alliance, an organization serving local small businesses, hosted an informational webinar earlier this month to discuss the program’s provisions, eligibility criteria and how to apply. We added a link to the webinar in our COVID relief program list.
  • In the “Venture Capital and Angel Groups” section of the guide, we added the Triangle Tweener Fund, a sort of “index” targeting early-stage startups in the Triangle. The fund launched in December with support from more than 20 local entrepreneurs.
  • In the “Inspiration, Advice & More Resources” section of the guide, we added the Tech Innovation Index, a new report from the North Carolina Technology Association (NC TECH). The annual publication provides a detailed snapshot of how the state’s metro areas compare to other top metros nationwide, measuring tech innovation across three broader categories: talent supply, talent demand and innovation. The inaugural report, released in December, ranked two Triangle metro hubs—Durham-Chapel Hill and Raleigh-Cary—within the top 10 metro areas in the U.S.
  • In the “COVID-19 Funding, Assistance & Resources” section, we added a few Small Business Administration programs with deadlines on Dec. 31: Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL), Targeted EIDL Advance and Supplemental Targeted Advance.