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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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

Relevant Websites