Print
Entrepreneurs

Wilmington Startups Receive Nods From NC IDEA

By Johanna Cano, posted Oct 25, 2022
A Wilmington startup with a solution for toe walking has received a grant from NC IDEA Foundation, according to a press release Tuesday.

Project Heel was named one of 15 startups in the state selected as winners of the ninth NC IDEA MICRO grant cycle.

The grant is designed for small projects by young companies looking to “validate and advance their ideas,” the release stated. The winners received $10,000.

Project Heel was developed by PJ Morrison, who has a doctorate in physical therapy and is licensed to practice in the state. On the startup’s website, Morrison writes that he got the idea for Project Heel after he had a child patient who was walking on their toes and Morrison began to search for a solution. Finding out that what was in the market did not work for many, he designed a prototype for an orthotic.

According to its website, the Project Heel External Shoe Orthotic helps a child stop toe walking with the orthotic placed in front of where the toes flex, helping to extend it and allowing gravity to keep the child from going on their toes. Users have the option of installing the orthotic themselves or sending it to Project Heel to have it installed.

“We have seen yet another competitive cycle and a continued need for funding and support from all parts of the state,” Thom Ruhe, president and CEO of NC IDEA said in the release. “These young companies speak to the economic potential of North Carolina, and they represent the great work of our ECOSYSTEM partners to level the playing field for all promising startups with 13 of the 15 grant recipients representing under-served communities.”

In addition, NC IDEA also announced finalists of the latest cycle of NC IDEA SEED, offering $50,000 grants. Among the finalists is OpiAID, a Wilmington-based startup tackling the issue of opioid addiction and overdose. The solution is a cloud-based, customized data science product that Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) rehab centers can use that collects patient data and seeks to improve shared clinical decision-making.

OpiAID was selected from 158 applicants and will present before a review panel after which about five to seven grant recipients will be announced live at NC IDEA’s 2022 Ecosystem Summit on Nov. 14-15.
Ico insights

INSIGHTS

SPONSORS' CONTENT
Screenshot2022 01 06at338 162234623

The GIN at Castle: Connecting Communities to Prosperity

Girard Newkirk - Genesis Block
Cfss headshots parker robert webversion 21422121214

23 Reasons to Go Solar in 2023

Robert Parker - Cape Fear Solar Systems
Jasonpathfinder3

Finding Success in Succession Planning

Jason Wheeler - Pathfinder Wealth Consulting

Trending News

Avelo Plans New Florida Nonstops Out Of ILM

Miriah Hamrick - Mar 30, 2023

Wawa Gas Station Proposal On City Planning Agenda

Staff Reports - Mar 30, 2023

Despite Banking Headwinds, NCino Reports Steady Growth In Sales

Jenny Callison - Mar 29, 2023

Riverfront Farmers’ Market Returns To Dock Street For 20th Season

Miriah Hamrick - Mar 29, 2023

Tech Roundup: New Software Platforms, STEM-ILM Event And Tech Awards Deadline

Johanna Cano - Mar 29, 2023

In The Current Issue

Brunswick Owners Receive New Tax Values

Brunswick County property owners have received their new tax values as a result of this year’s required revaluation process....


Brunswick Rides Wave Of Tourism Boost

This spring, new TV advertisements for Brunswick County’s island beaches will run in markets across the mid-Atlantic region, including citie...


Info Junkie: Hoop Morgan

Book and media recommendations from Info Junkie Hoop Morgan, founder of The Forte Institute....

Book On Business

The 2023 WilmingtonBiz: Book on Business is an annual publication showcasing the Wilmington region as a center of business.

Order Your Copy Today!


Galleries

Videos

2023 Power Breakfast: Major Developments