Our startup scene is on a roll this month. Local accelerator Venture Asheville recently received a gold medal for its innovative programming, and now four WNC-based startups have made the final list of NC IDEA’s prestigious grant program.
Three of those startups — Undecided, Wallwerx, and Edison Marks — have each received a $10,000 micro grant from the Triangle-based entrepreneurial support foundation. Additionally, Aluminati Guitar Company has made it to the final round of NC IDEA’s $50,000 seed grant competition.
Let’s take a closer look at each of these up-and-coming businesses, and learn what makes their sauce so special.
Undecided | This mobile app uses guided journaling prompts, a chat feature, and “intuitive admissions checklists” to provide private, personalized guidance for high school students on their post-graduation goals. Check out this essay to learn more about why the founders decided to launch it.
Wallwerx | Say goodbye to messy, cluttered spaces. This organizational system makes an affordable, tidy setup possible for homes, workshops, and beyond. Think: if someone combined peg boards, command strips, and mason jars.
Aluminati Guitar Co. | Forged from a team of dedicated craftsmen, this company builds sustainable guitars from nontraditional materials such as aluminum and carbon fiber.
Edison Marks | This tech company distills the ins and outs of cybersecurity into personalized, easy action steps, a service that’s ideal for small businesses that want to reduce their risk of attacks without developing expertise in the subject.
Feeling invested in the outcome of the seed grant competition? Winners will be announced on Fri., Nov. 12 at the virtual NC IDEA Summit 2021. Register to attend.