TR

Thom Ruhe

Equitable Economic Development w/ Entrepreneurship

Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill Area

Invests in

Stages:

Locations:

  • Min Investment:

    $0.00
  • Max Investment:

    $0.00
  • Target Investment:

    $0.00

Skills

Entrepreneurship Education
Private Equity
Community Engagement
Grant Making
Program Design
Entrepreneurship
Leadership
Nonprofits
Strategy
Public Relations
Start-ups
Marketing
Program Management
Business Strategy
Non-profits
Strategic Communications
Venture Capital
New Business Development
Community Outreach
Marketing Strategy

Education

Investments

Salus

Grant

Total Funding: $5.1M

BCombs

Grant

Total Funding: $60K

Vetletics

Grant

Total Funding: $50K

Home for Life Designs

Grant

Total Funding: $10K

Tromml

Grant

Total Funding: $50K

Boreas Monitoring Solutions

Grant

Total Funding: $50K

LoPo Diveskins

Grant

Total Funding: $10K

NANEXPURE

Grant

Total Funding: $10K

ForesightCares

Grant

Total Funding: $10K

Druid

Grant

Total Funding: $10K

Beeloo

Grant

Total Funding: $10K

Tempo Brew

Grant

Total Funding: $10K

Southern Snack

Grant

Total Funding: $10K

Leantime

Grant

Total Funding: $130K

HeirShares

Grant

Total Funding: $10K

Verenovo

Grant

Total Funding: $10K

Joyntly

Grant

Total Funding: $10K

Matcha Nude

Grant

Total Funding: $10K

Just Her Rideshare

Grant

Total Funding: $10K

S.I.T. Seniors In Transition

Grant

Total Funding: $10K

GoghNow

Grant

Total Funding: $10K

Flasky Labware

Grant

Total Funding: $10K

Dojo Fresh

Grant

Total Funding: $10K

Embrew Tea

Grant

Total Funding: $10K

Connecticut Zoological Society

Grant

Total Funding: $10K

Pinnacle Medical Products

Grant

Total Funding: $10K

CopyForward

Grant

Total Funding: $50K

Essential Personnel

Grant

Total Funding: $50K

WH Farms

Grant

Total Funding: $50K

CICIL Home

Grant

Total Funding: $50K

Green Solutions Group

Grant

Total Funding: $50K

Cybershield Security

Grant

Total Funding: $50K

Nurtured Nest

Grant

Total Funding: $50K

Botanical Bones

Grant

Total Funding: $50K

Well Seasoned Table

Grant

Total Funding: $50K

DEI Directive

Grant

Total Funding: $10K

ROSA

Grant

Total Funding: $10K

Secure Living

Grant

Total Funding: $10K

CalicoSol

Grant

Total Funding: $10K

Flexie Inc.

Grant

Total Funding: $15K

Oncotect

Grant

Total Funding: $60K

Ponybox Clothing

Grant

Total Funding: $10K

R.A.W. Plastic

Grant

Total Funding: $10K

DivySci

Grant

Total Funding: $10K

BLK Resumes

Grant

Total Funding: $10K

Coyle Solar

Grant

Total Funding: $50K

MESKA Solutions

Grant

Total Funding: $50K

Sister Girl Collection

Grant

Total Funding: $50K

Hot Route Analytics

Grant

Total Funding: $60K

Wholistics.Health

Grant

Total Funding: $50K

West End Learning

Grant

Total Funding: $60K

Gatherware

Grant

Total Funding: $50K

Drink Sarilla

Grant

Total Funding: $50K

Buzy

Grant

Total Funding: $50K

Kind Cultures

Grant

Total Funding: $50K

LoanWell

Grant

Total Funding: $75K

BatteryXchange

Grant

Total Funding: $75K

Courtroom5

Grant

Total Funding: $130K

Renaissance Fiber, Inc.

Grant

Total Funding: $430K

Freeman Capital

Grant

Total Funding: $75K

Davos Guaranty

Grant

Total Funding: $130K

Smart Girls HQ

Grant

Total Funding: $75K

Flux Hybrids

Grant

Total Funding:

Piedmont Pennies

Grant

Total Funding:

Beam Dynamics

Grant

Total Funding: $50K

Acta Solutions Inc.

Grant

Total Funding:

Without A Trace Foods

Grant

Total Funding:

CliniSpan Health

Grant

Total Funding: $10K

SnapPicFix

Grant

Total Funding: $10K

Sani

Grant

Total Funding: $10K

ResolveX

Grant

Total Funding: $50K

Wishful

Grant

Total Funding: $10K

Mapt

Grant

Total Funding: $10K

Worxstr

Grant

Total Funding: $10K

No Mess SPF

Grant

Total Funding: $10K

Armada IQ

Grant

Total Funding: $10K

Wallwerx

Grant

Total Funding: $10K

Content Commanders

Grant

Total Funding: $10K

MyMatR

Grant

Total Funding: $10K

Flow Phantom

Grant

Total Funding: $10K

Sure!

Grant

Total Funding: $10K

iEdapts

Grant

Total Funding: $10K

Jabin Beverage Co.

Grant

Total Funding: $10K

Bristles

Grant

Total Funding: $10K

BattleBuggies To Go

Grant

Total Funding: $10K

Padeo

Grant

Total Funding: $10K

Fun Mom Band

Grant

Total Funding: $10K

Three Strands Recovery Wear

Grant

Total Funding: $10K

Floor Health

Grant

Total Funding: $10K

Vitality Robotics

Grant

Total Funding: $10K

Mycologics

Grant

Total Funding: $10K

Stemz

Grant

Total Funding: $10K

Darë Vegan Cheese

Grant

Total Funding:

Your Minute Mechanic

Grant

Total Funding:

Active Defender

Grant

Total Funding:

Couplet Care Bassinet

Grant

Total Funding:

Protect3d

Grant

Total Funding: $410K

Sankofa Farms

Grant

Total Funding: $10K

Brunswick Community College

Grant

Total Funding: $10K

Young Urban Professionals

Grant

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.

  • 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.

  • CEO

    2014 - 2016

    Expanding human potential through an entrepreneurial mindset.

  • 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.