North Wilkesboro, NC: Verenovo Energy, a North Carolina-based leader in sustainable industrial materials, has been awarded a $50,000 SEED Grant from the NC IDEA Foundation—marking a pivotal milestone in the company’s growth and momentum. This competitive grant recognizes innovative startups with the potential for scalable impact across the state and beyond.
The SEED Grant, awarded after a rigorous vetting process, will provide vital capital to fuel Verenovo’s next phase of development. Funds will be directed toward key initiatives including top-tier talent acquisition, certification and lab testing, and finalizing supply agreements with industry buyers.
“This award is more than just capital—it’s a validation of our mission and the momentum behind our work,” said Brewer Logan, Founder and CEO of Verenovo Energy. “We’re incredibly grateful to NC IDEA for their continued support, which allows us to accelerate commercialization, deepen our technical capabilities, and bring our purpose-engineered biochar to market at scale.”
To date, Verenovo has raised over $500,000 through a combination of grant funding and angel investment, and the company continues to seek aligned capital partners—particularly those with a strategic interest in clean tech, carbon markets, green steel, and advanced materials.
This latest recognition follows earlier support from NC IDEA through its MICRO and Rural Impact Grant programs, as well as a $300,000 Wood Innovations Grant from the U.S. Forest Service. With its patented pyrolysis technology, Verenovo’s biochar is optimized for industrial-grade performance—supporting high-impact use cases such as coking coal replacement, water filtration, and regenerative infrastructure.
“We’re building more than a product—we’re building the infrastructure for a decentralized, circular bio-economy,” added Logan. “This funding strengthens our position to meet increasing demand and fulfill multi-sector contracts already in negotiation. Scale is the only way we will be able to remove the “green premium” and build a cleaner future.”
For more information about Verenovo’s mission, technology, or investment opportunities, visit verenovoenergy.com.
For more information about this season’s NC IDEA SEED Grant recipients and process, read the full press release.
ABOUT
Verenovo: Verenovo Energy is a North Carolina-based green technology company specializing in biochar production, carbon sequestration, and sustainable solutions. Using patented pyrolysis technology, the company transforms biomass into high-quality biochar, serving industries ranging from agriculture and water filtration to construction and energy. Verenovo is positioned as a pioneering investment opportunity in biochar and carbon markets, delivering consistent, third-party validated products and advancing scalable climate solutions.
NC IDEA: NC IDEA is a private foundation committed to supporting North Carolina entrepreneurs through strategic grant programs, mentorship, and ecosystem development. The SEED Grant program provides $50,000 in non-dilutive funding to high-growth startups with the potential to scale significantly in North Carolina.
