It's Almost March and You Know What THAT Means....Tweener Madness Is Back!! (and all of NC!)
Only one company will emerge champion, they will battle a gruelling 8-company bracket for that honor and the $25k investment prize. Apply Today! 🫵
Last year, we launched the first-ever Tweener Madness to shine a bright spotlight on the incredible startup talent in the Triangle. What started as a bold experiment in blending capital, entreptrenurship, and competition quickly became something bigger, a platform for founders to tell their stories, sharpen their pitches, and compete in front of real investors. In the year since Tweener Madness 25, we’ve heard from hundreds of founders that it was a huge resource for them to see how other founders pitch their companies and learn from the judges open and candidate feedback.
This year, we’re taking it up a notch by covering the entire state of North Carolina.
NC Tweener Fund, Powered by NC IDEA, is officially opening applications for Tweener Madness 2026, and founders from all across North Carolina are invited to apply.
Do you know a founder that would be a great candidate? Forward them this email and ask them to apply today - it’s a super easy and painless process.
Applications close March 5 at 12:00 PM. Apply NOW HERE!
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Special thanks to our friends at Walk West for partnering with us to produce Tweener Madness, and Raleigh Founded who donated the space for the championship recording studio.
What is Tweener Madness?
Tweener Madness is an 8-company, bracket-style startup competition with a $25,000 investment awarded to one winning startup. But this isn’t just a pitch competition. Each matchup is professionally recorded and released as long-form audio and video episodes on NC Tweener Talks, with ongoing coverage in NC Tweener Times. Over the course of seven episodes, founders compete head-to-head as the field narrows from the Exceptional Eight to the Fabulous Four, then to the Championship.
The winner receives a $25,000 investment from the NC Tweener Fund. But every participating company receives something valuable: exposure, thoughtful investor feedback, and a meaningful spotlight within the North Carolina startup ecosystem.
Applications are open from February 23 through March 5 at 12:00 PM. On March 6, companies will be notified of their selection status. On March 12, we’ll host a live-streamed Selection Show revealing the Exceptional Eight. From there, the tournament unfolds through recorded rounds, culminating in the April 16 Championship where the 2026 Tweener Madness winner will be announced.
Applications close March 5 at 12:00 PM. Apply NOW HERE!
How Does it Work?
Companies apply and must meet the eligibility criteria. The NC Tweener Fund team selects the top eight companies. A selection committee then seeds the Exceptional Eight, and traditional bracket-style matchups begin. In each round, two companies face off in front of three local startup investors who independently vote on who advances. The field narrows round by round until one company is crowned champion.
What Does the Competition Look Like?
Last year was the very first Tweener Madness to spotlight the Triangle startup ecosystem. By the end of the tournament, one company rose to the top.
The 2025 Tweener Madness Champion: InviteJet. A MarTech company founded by Paul Davis and Brian Watson, InviteJet advanced through a competitive field to win the $25,000 investment prize and earn the 2025 title.
The Exceptional Eight featured:
From there, the field narrowed to the Fab Four:
The Championship round came down to ZW ML vs InviteJet with InviteJet ultimately taking the crown.
Beyond the final result, every participating founder gained meaningful exposure, long-form media coverage, and investor feedback. The tournament showcased the depth and diversity of venture-scale companies building in the triangle.
If you’re considering applying this year, we encourage you to explore the Hall of Fame and watch the 2025 episodes. It’s the best way to understand the format, expectations, and level of preparation that goes into each round.
Who Can Apply?
Our priority at the NC Tweener Fund is supporting “Tweeners”, companies with 10 employees or $1M in annual revenue. However, both Pre-Tweeners (less than $1M in annual revenue) and Tweeners headquartered in North Carolina are welcome to apply.
Companies must own or develop proprietary technology and be building toward venture scale. We are not accepting life sciences or biotech companies requiring FDA approval, nor pure consulting or services businesses unless there is a standalone technology product component. Solopreneurs are absolutely welcome.
If you have specific questions, check out the tournament rules or go to the FAQs.
Final Thoguhts:
If you’re building in North Carolina, in the mountains, the Triad, the Triangle, the coast, or anywhere in between, this is your moment.
Applications close March 5 at 12:00 PM. Apply NOW!