Thom Ruhe
Equitable Economic Development w/ Entrepreneurship
Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill Area
Invests in
Sectors:
Locations:
Min Investment:
$0.00Max Investment:
$0.00Target Investment:
$0.00
Skills
Education
- BG
Lists including Thom
Investments
Salus
Total Funding: $5.1M
BCombs
Total Funding: $60K
Vetletics
Total Funding: $50K
Home for Life Designs
Total Funding: $10K
Tromml
Total Funding: $50K
Boreas Monitoring Solutions
Total Funding: $50K
LoPo Diveskins
Total Funding: $10K
NANEXPURE
Total Funding: $10K
ForesightCares
Total Funding: $10K
Druid
Total Funding: $10K
Beeloo
Total Funding: $10K
Tempo Brew
Total Funding: $10K
Southern Snack
Total Funding: $10K
Leantime
Total Funding: $130K
HeirShares
Total Funding: $10K
Verenovo
Total Funding: $10K
Joyntly
Total Funding: $10K
Matcha Nude
Total Funding: $10K
Just Her Rideshare
Total Funding: $10K
S.I.T. Seniors In Transition
Total Funding: $10K
GoghNow
Total Funding: $10K
Flasky Labware
Total Funding: $10K
Dojo Fresh
Total Funding: $10K
Embrew Tea
Total Funding: $10K
Connecticut Zoological Society
Total Funding: $10K
Pinnacle Medical Products
Total Funding: $10K
CopyForward
Total Funding: $50K
Essential Personnel
Total Funding: $50K
WH Farms
Total Funding: $50K
CICIL Home
Total Funding: $50K
Green Solutions Group
Total Funding: $50K
Cybershield Security
Total Funding: $50K
Nurtured Nest
Total Funding: $50K
Botanical Bones
Total Funding: $50K
Well Seasoned Table
Total Funding: $50K
DEI Directive
Total Funding: $10K
ROSA
Total Funding: $10K
Secure Living
Total Funding: $10K
CalicoSol
Total Funding: $10K
Flexie Inc.
Total Funding: $15K
Oncotect
Total Funding: $60K
Ponybox Clothing
Total Funding: $10K
R.A.W. Plastic
Total Funding: $10K
DivySci
Total Funding: $10K
BLK Resumes
Total Funding: $10K
Coyle Solar
Total Funding: $50K
MESKA Solutions
Total Funding: $50K
Sister Girl Collection
Total Funding: $50K
Hot Route Analytics
Total Funding: $60K
Wholistics.Health
Total Funding: $50K
West End Learning
Total Funding: $60K
Gatherware
Total Funding: $50K
Drink Sarilla
Total Funding: $50K
Buzy
Total Funding: $50K
Kind Cultures
Total Funding: $50K
LoanWell
Total Funding: $75K
BatteryXchange
Total Funding: $75K
Courtroom5
Total Funding: $130K
Renaissance Fiber, Inc.
Total Funding: $430K
Freeman Capital
Total Funding: $75K
Davos Guaranty
Total Funding: $130K
Smart Girls HQ
Total Funding: $75K
Flux Hybrids
Total Funding:
Piedmont Pennies
Total Funding:
Beam Dynamics
Total Funding: $50K
Acta Solutions Inc.
Total Funding:
Without A Trace Foods
Total Funding:
CliniSpan Health
Total Funding: $10K
SnapPicFix
Total Funding: $10K
Sani
Total Funding: $10K
ResolveX
Total Funding: $50K
Wishful
Total Funding: $10K
Mapt
Total Funding: $10K
Worxstr
Total Funding: $10K
No Mess SPF
Total Funding: $10K
Armada IQ
Total Funding: $10K
Wallwerx
Total Funding: $10K
Content Commanders
Total Funding: $10K
MyMatR
Total Funding: $10K
Flow Phantom
Total Funding: $10K
Sure!
Total Funding: $10K
iEdapts
Total Funding: $10K
Jabin Beverage Co.
Total Funding: $10K
Bristles
Total Funding: $10K
BattleBuggies To Go
Total Funding: $10K
Padeo
Total Funding: $10K
Fun Mom Band
Total Funding: $10K
Three Strands Recovery Wear
Total Funding: $10K
Floor Health
Total Funding: $10K
Vitality Robotics
Total Funding: $10K
Mycologics
Total Funding: $10K
Stemz
Total Funding: $10K
Darë Vegan Cheese
Total Funding:
Your Minute Mechanic
Total Funding:
Active Defender
Total Funding:
Couplet Care Bassinet
Total Funding:
Protect3d
Total Funding: $410K
Sankofa Farms
Total Funding: $10K
Brunswick Community College
Total Funding: $10K
Young Urban Professionals
Total Funding: $10K
Work Experience
2016
President and CEO
2016
NC IDEA is an independent Private Foundation managing a strategic portfolio of Grants AND Programs to advance more equitable and inclusive economic development best practices. Initiatives include: * Our SEED ($50K) & MICRO ($10K) grants for founders of diverse (race, gender, and geographic) backgrounds pursuing opportunities with high economic potential. * #Ecosystem grants and partner network of 200+ funded organizations * NC Black Entrepreneurship Council directing our priorities to advance Black #Entrepreneurship * #Entrepreneurial Mindset programming to empower anyone w/ entrepreneurship * Annual Statewide (GEW) Ecosystem Summit Millions ($) deployed, thousands convened, hundreds accelerated. A national model for equitable economic practices that invest in the intrinsic entrepreneurial potential of everyone regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, orientation, or geography. We operate at the nexus of philanthropic ambition and equitable economic development impact. We are biased to action, empowering others likewise while remaining true to measuring impact and outcomes. We welcome ALL that share these values while understanding that this work is a labor of love with an elusive endpoint.
2024
Founding Advisory Board Member
2024
Carry Venture Capital is a seed-stage venture firm dedicated to delivering capital, mentorship, and new networks to founders in North Carolina. We identify and invest in underrepresented growth-minded entrepreneurs building and scaling disruptive technologies.
2014 - 2016
CEO
2014 - 2016
Expanding human potential through an entrepreneurial mindset.
2007 - 2014
Vice President of Entrepreneurship
2012 - 2014
Thom Ruhe was Vice President of Entrepreneurship at the Kauffman Foundation and President of Kauffman Labs for Enterprise Creation. In this capacity, he directed the Foundation's programs addressing entrepreneurial education, mentoring, access to capital, and fostering entrepreneurial ecosystems.
Director of Entrepreneurship
2007 - 2012
Oversaw collaborative projects with innovative groups such as the Entrepreneurial Learning Initiative, FastTrac, Startup Weekend, the Angel Resource Institute, and Invent Now; parent organization of the National Inventors Hall of Fame, Camp Invention and the Collegiate Inventors Competition. Thom also curates the online curriculum, resources and communities for Kauffman’s flagship resource for entrepreneurs: www.entrepreneurship.org.
2004 - 2007
Chief Marketing Officer
2004 - 2007
Led the brand management, communications, community outreach and launch of new technology based economic development organization.
2001 - 2004
President
2001 - 2004
Led the growth of a nascent marketing agency into a nationally recognized thought leader in digital marketing.