Thom Ruhe
CEO at NC IDEA
Thom Ruhe
CEO at NC IDEA
Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill Area
Overview
Work Experience
President and CEO
2016 - Current
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.
NC IDEA NC IDEA is an independent private foundation committed to supporting entrepreneurial ambition and economic empowerment.
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.
Entrepreneurial Learning Initiative provides training, development, resources, entrepreneurship programs, e-learning, and event services.
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.
Kaufman Foundation focuses on grant making and operations in the fields of education and entrepreneurship.
Chief Marketing Officer
2004 - 2007
Led the brand management, communications, community outreach and launch of new technology based economic development organization.
President
2001 - 2004
Led the growth of a nascent marketing agency into a nationally recognized thought leader in digital marketing.
Education
BS
1984 - 1988