Small Business and Technology Development Center
SBTDC is a North Carolina nonprofit, founded in 1984 and administered by NC State University under an SBA cooperative agreement, providing free one-on-one business counseling, cohort programs, and specialized advisory services to SMBs, pre-venture entrepreneurs, and technology startups across 16 statewide offices.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1984
- HeadquartersRaleigh, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Small Business and Technology Development Center does
The Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC) is a nonprofit business advisory service founded in 1984 and headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina. Administered by NC State University on behalf of the University of North Carolina System, SBTDC operates in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration under a cooperative agreement that provides 50% federal funding and requires a 50% non-federal match, totaling $8,260,911.62 in program funding for Program Year 2026. The organization delivers free, confidential one-on-one business counseling across 16 statewide offices to small and mid-sized businesses, pre-venture entrepreneurs, technology startups, manufacturers, government contractors, and international traders throughout North Carolina.
SBTDC's service portfolio is segmented by business life cycle (Launch, Grow, Optimize, Renew, Transition) and includes flagship programs such as Taking the Leap (a free cohort for pre-venture founders), the Government Contract Assistance Program (GCAP) for federal procurement, the Technology Commercialization Team for SBIR/STTR advisory work, and the International Business Team for export planning and trade compliance. Distribution is multi-channel: in-person counseling at 16 regional offices, virtual cohort delivery (notably in Charlotte), self-paced online learning modules, downloadable publications including the Business Start-Up Guide, and event-based engagement at conferences such as ConvergeSouth and the NC World Trade Association Annual Summit. The organization's GTM is sales-led and event-driven, executed through direct counselor engagement rather than digital self-serve funnels.
The revenue model is non-commercial: services are free to clients, and operating funds flow almost entirely from the SBA cooperative agreement and matching non-federal sources, supplemented by voluntary donations. In 2024, SBTDC reported $155M in client sales lift, 3,316 jobs created/retained, and $225M in client capital formation, and has cumulatively served more than 250,000 NC business owners since inception. The organization is governed as a public nonprofit with 51–100 employees and no private shareholders, operating within the constraints of state and federal oversight rather than commercial market dynamics.
Small Business and Technology Development Center firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Small Business and Technology Development Center
- Legal name
- NC Small Business & Technology Development Center
- Website
- https://sbtdc.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1984
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- SBTDC is a North Carolina nonprofit, founded in 1984 and administered by NC State University under an SBA cooperative agreement, providing free one-on-one business counseling, cohort programs, and specialized advisory services to SMBs, pre-venture entrepreneurs, and technology startups across 16 statewide offices.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Small Business and Technology Development Center industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Business Advisory Services
- NAICS
- Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services (541611), Other Management Consulting Services (541618)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Small Business & Entrepreneurship Community Education (EDAAAFAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- SBA/Government-Backed & Development Finance Loans (FSAKAGAI), Results-Based Financing (RBF) & Performance-Based Grants (BPADAOAF)
Keywords
Where Small Business and Technology Development Center is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Raleigh
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Small Business and Technology Development Center business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- SBA Cooperative Agreement Funding: Funded through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. Federal Share: 50% ($4,068,424.00). Non-Federal Match Share: 50% ($4,192,487.62). Total Program Funding: $8,260,911.62 for Program Year 2026.
- Donations and Support: Accepts donations from businesses and supporters who wish to expand SBTDC's capacity to serve North Carolina's small and mid-size businesses.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free Business Counseling Services |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Small Business and Technology Development Center product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The SBTDC provides free, confidential business counseling, educational programs, and specialized advisory services to North Carolina's small and mid-sized businesses and pre-venture entrepreneurs. Core offerings span the full business lifecycle across five stages — Launch, Grow, Optimize, Renew, and Transition — and include one-on-one management counseling, the Taking the Leap cohort program for pre-venture founders, Technology Commercialization support with SBIR/STTR guidance, Government Contracting Assistance Program (GCAP) services, and International Business/export counseling, delivered through 16 regional offices and virtual channels.
Product overview
The Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC) is a business advisory service offering management counseling and educational services rather than a unified software product. The organization provides a portfolio of free and low-cost programs including the Taking the Leap cohort program for pre-venture founders, a downloadable Business Start-Up Guide publication, and self-paced Online Learning courses covering SBIR/STTR funding and cybersecurity basics. Specialized services include Technology Commercialization support, Government Contracting Assistance (GCAP), and International Business counseling. Additional resources include cybersecurity guidance, disaster recovery resources, and one-on-one confidential business counseling services. The SBTDC serves as an advisory organization helping small and mid-sized businesses access capital, improve performance, and grow through various lifecycle stages (Launch, Grow, Optimize, Renew, Transition).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Taking the Leap: Free cohort program for high-potential startups and founders covering customer discovery, market research, business planning, and business formation
- GCAP - Government Contract Assistance Program
- Technology Commercialization Team
- International Business Team
Products and services
- One-on-One Business Counseling Free, confidential one-on-one management counseling provided across five business lifecycle stages — Launch, Grow, Optimize, Renew, and Transition — to existing small and mid-sized businesses and pre-venture entrepreneurs in North Carolina.
- Taking the Leap Cohort Program Structured multi-week cohort program designed for pre-venture aspiring entrepreneurs who have not yet started a business, helping them move from idea to viable business through curriculum, mentoring, and counseling.
- Online Learning Platform Web-based learning portal offering self-paced courses, on-demand webinars, and other instructional content covering all five lifecycle stages and specialized topics, serving as a remote delivery channel for SBTDC's educational programming.
- YouTube Resource Library YouTube channel hosting educational videos and recorded content that extend SBTDC's business education reach beyond live programming and in-office counseling.
- Technology Commercialization Services Specialized advisory services for technology-based small businesses covering intellectual property protection, technology commercialization, and access to federal non-dilutive funding through the SBIR/STTR programs.
- Government Contracting Assistance Program (GCAP) Dedicated government contracting advisory service that helps North Carolina small businesses identify government contracting opportunities and pursue certifications such as the SBA 8(a) program.
- International Business Counseling Specialized international business counseling for small businesses seeking to enter or expand in international markets, covering market entry, market research, risk assessment, and cultural adjustment.
- Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Counseling Specialized counseling for small manufacturers delivered through the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, supporting productivity, process improvement, and operational change for industrial engineering and quality management challenges.
- Business Start-Up and Resource Library Website-hosted resource library featuring business topic explainers and startup guidance, including a Business Start-Up Guide and other educational materials used by aspiring entrepreneurs in North Carolina.
- Cybersecurity Resources Educational resources on cybersecurity designed to help small businesses protect against cyber threats and adopt safer technology practices as part of SBTDC's broader business resilience programming.
- Recovery and Resiliency Resources Resources and counseling focused on helping small businesses prepare for, respond to, and recover from disruptions such as disasters, financial shocks, or public emergencies, supporting business continuity and operational resilience.
Quantifiable outcome
- $155M in sales increased for clients in 2024
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Small Business and Technology Development Center
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Small Business and Technology Development Center technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Small Business and Technology Development Center partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- U.S. Small Business AdministrationcoreSBTDC is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. SBA provides 50% of program funding ($4,068,424.00 for Program Year 2026). SBA is a key federal partner enabling SBTDC services to North Carolina small businesses.
- NC State UniversitycoreSBTDC is administered by NC State University on behalf of the UNC System. NC State provides institutional administration and support for the statewide business development center network.
- UNC SystemcoreSBTDC is a business advisory service of the UNC System. The UNC System oversees the SBTDC program through its university network.
- Innovate CharlotteminorLocal entrepreneurial ecosystem partner that collaborated with SBTDC to support MindRev startup, providing additional resources and support for Charlotte-based entrepreneurs.
- Duke UniversityminorQuellios is pursuing NIH grant funding through a collaboration with Duke University, with SBTDC providing guidance on nondilutive funding opportunities.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Small Business and Technology Development Center competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses1 record
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Small Business and Technology Development Center social profiles
Digital presenceSmall Business and Technology Development Center financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Small Business and Technology Development Center leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Small Business and Technology Development Center funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Small Business and Technology Development Center M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Small Business and Technology Development Center
What does Small Business and Technology Development Center do?
The SBTDC provides free, confidential business counseling, educational programs, and specialized advisory services to North Carolina's small and mid-sized businesses and pre-venture entrepreneurs. Core offerings span the full business lifecycle across five stages — Launch, Grow, Optimize, Renew, and Transition — and include one-on-one management counseling, the Taking the Leap cohort program for pre-venture founders, Technology Commercialization support with SBIR/STTR guidance, Government Contracting Assistance Program (GCAP) services, and International Business/export counseling, delivered through 16 regional offices and virtual channels.
Is Small Business and Technology Development Center a public or private company?
Small Business and Technology Development Center is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Small Business and Technology Development Center founded?
Small Business and Technology Development Center was founded in 1984. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Small Business and Technology Development Center based?
Small Business and Technology Development Center is headquartered in Raleigh, United States, in the North America region.
How does Small Business and Technology Development Center make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. SBA Cooperative Agreement Funding is the primary driver. The others are donations and Support.
Does Small Business and Technology Development Center have an API?
No public API is recorded for Small Business and Technology Development Center.
What industry is Small Business and Technology Development Center in?
Small Business and Technology Development Center's product category is Business Advisory Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAAFAK, Small Business & Entrepreneurship Community Education, with a secondary code of FSAKAGAI, SBA/Government-Backed & Development Finance Loans. Its NAICS code is 541611 and its SIC code is 8742.