Thom Ruhe is the President of NC IDEA, a North Carolina based private foundation that aids startup ecosystems and entrepreneurs to strengthen and develop their business ideas. NC IDEA offers a variety of free and low-cost programs to entrepreneurs and business owners, such as NC IDEA SEED, NC IDEA ECOSYSTEM, and NC IDEA ENGAGE to help them learn how to take their idea to the next level, raise capital, and find mentorship. Thom is frequently quoted in business publications such as The New York Times, Forbes, and The Wall Street Journal and has worked with several major companies such as Jumpstart Inc and the Kauffman Foundation.

 

Thom re-joins me on today’s episode to share the role that entrepreneurship plays in the economy and why it is critically important to support entrepreneurs. He shares the lessons he has learned throughout his career and explains the critical role entrepreneurs and their startups play in building and maintaining a healthy economy.

 

“You can have world peace through entrepreneurship.”- Thom Ruhe

 

 

This week on the Supportedly Podcast:

 

• The mistakes that Thom wishes he could have avoided and the lessons he learned.
• The secret to good economic development.
• What happens if we don’t support entrepreneurs and the decline of startup activity.
• How the rate of startups and entrepreneurship affects how the economy is rejuvenated.
• The effects of corporate concentration and how 1-in-4 North Carolinians are living with economic uncertainty.
• Why Thom believes we can find world peace through entrepreneurship.

 

 

Resources Mentioned:

 

• 020 NC IDEA: Supporting Entrepreneurs Through Grant Funding, Mentorship, and Programming with President and CEO, Thom Ruhe

 

 

Free & Low-Cost Programs at NC IDEA:

 

• NC IDEA ECOSYSTEM
• NC IDEA SEED
• NC IDEA MICRO
• NC IDEA LABS
• NC IDEA SOAR
• NC IDEA ENGAGE

 

 

Connect with Thom Ruhe:

 

• NC IDEA
• LinkedIn
• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: (919) 941-5600

 

 

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