Innovate Carolina

02/11/2026

Becca Wright turned her grandmother’s cheese biscuit recipe into Piedmont Pennies, an award-winning business.

08/11/2025

We’re excited to share Carolina's new innovation impact framework — a clear vision for how we’ll continue to support and grow innovation across University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill!

Led by our very talented Vice Chancelor of Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Economic Development Dedric A. Carter, we’ve made major strides: doubling IP-based startups, a four-year high in invention disclosures and earning a dramatic rise in our national rankings spot.

This new framework outlines how we’ll keep the momentum going by building, supporting, and connecting innovators across campus and beyond — all in service of the public good.

Learn more: https://innovate.unc.edu/driving-impact-together-uncs-new-innovation-framework/

05/09/2025

Innovate Carolina is your home for innovation.

We love building this community with all of you and watching your bold ideas shape the future.

There's tons of ways to stay connected with us this summer! ⬇️

🔹Grow your innovation ideas by using our Ecomap chat bot as a resource for all relevant programs/contacts within UNC innovation ecosystem
🔹Follow us on LinkedIn to stay informed about upcoming events and networking opportunities at The Junction
🔹Subscribe to our newsletter by signing up on our website for insights, funding opportunities and stories from changemakers leading innovation across disciplines

04/16/2025

Curious about the next generation of UNC-Chapel Hill student innovators?

Join us for the Joan & Chester Luby Pitch Competition on April 23, where Carolina's brightest student entrepreneurs will take the stage to pitch their ventures for a chance to win $95,000 in cash prizes. Hosted by Innovate Carolina's 1789 hub - UNC-Chapel Hill's student Innovation and entrepreneurship hub - this high-energy event will feature a panel of expert judges - and you! The live audience will vote to crown the Viewer’s Choice Award winner.

Don't miss this opportunity to witness bold ideas, creative problem-solving, and the future of entrepreneurship in action.

Reserve your free spot today: https://ow.ly/ilWm50VBFMq

04/09/2025

Innovate Carolina’s Design & Innovation for the Public Good (DIPG) team is still energized from the Human-Centered Design Outcomes Collaborative (HCDOC) retreat, where brilliant minds from across the design community gathered for a day of meaningful collaboration, prototype feedback, and vision-setting.

DIPG's working group convened HCD leaders to showcase their innovative work, gathering valuable insights that will help shape the future of human-centered design practices. The energy in the room was electric as HCDOC members, HCD practitioners, and researchers exchanged ideas over a day of collaboration and divergent thinking.

The energy continued at Elon University’s Design Forge, where DIPG’s team presented: “Cultivating Relational Design Networks: The Human-Centered Design Outcomes Collaborative.” Special thanks to presenters Bill Romani, Stacy Grau, Montana Cherney, Liz Royea, Liz Chen, Saad Shehab, and Aashka Dave!

The team is excited to refine their prototypes based on the valuable feedback received, as they work toward their mission to:

🔹 Articulate HCD’s return on investment
🔹 Create tools to integrate HCD into projects
🔹 Enhance standards in HCD application
🔹 Elevate HCD through strategic communication

Stay tuned for more updates as the HCDOC community continues to grow!

04/03/2025

Have you heard the news? Launch Chapel Hill and KPMG are collaborating to introduce Launch, Powered by KPMG, an AI-enabled, next-generation accelerator program that redefines how startups transition from ideation to commercialization.

The collaboration is an opportunity for ambitious founders to fast-track their growth, gain industry validation, and build the next generation of AI-powered solutions. The five-week accelerator program kicks off in May, and the curriculum will equip founders with commercialization strategies, provide tailored mentorship and enterprise connections, offer an AI-enabled pathway to KPMG’s innovation resources and client network, and help startups secure pilot projects.

Learn more: https://ow.ly/koAE50VtW3f

03/28/2025

Introducing the Carolina Innovation EcoMap!

Innovation at UNC-Chapel Hill thrives on collaboration and access but navigating a fragmented landscape to find the right resources can be a challenge. That’s why we’re thrilled to introduce the Carolina Innovation EcoMap - a game-changing platform designed to seamlessly connect innovators, entrepreneurs, and community changemakers with the tools, networks, and opportunities they need to turn ideas into impact.

With the Carolina Innovation EcoMap, you can:

🔷 Explore a dynamic, up-to-date database of innovation resources
🔷 Chart your unique founder journey with tailored guidance
🔷 Connect with UNC’s vibrant innovation ecosystem and beyond
🔷 Access expert insights and funding opportunities—all in one place

Whether you're a faculty founder, student innovator, or community changemaker, this platform is built to empower you at every step of your innovation journey.

Ready to explore? https://ow.ly/k1qi50Vqwqq

03/20/2025

KickStart Venture Services has awarded $326,000 in commercialization grants to seven University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill affiliated startup companies. The KickStart Commercialization Grant Awards play a crucial role in advancing Carolina-based innovations, helping early-stage startups translate university-developed intellectual property into market-ready technologies.

Over the past 15 years, the program has provided more than $3.1 million in early-stage funding, contributing to the success of more than 76 startups that have collectively raised more than $1 billion in follow-on funding.

Learn more about the 2025 grant recipients: https://ow.ly/2YJR50VlUkR

03/13/2025

Join us March 20 for the Carolina Innovations Seminar Series, where we'll hear from Dr. Ned Sharpless, Co-founder and Managing Director of Jupiter BioVentures and Professor of Cancer Policy and Innovation at the UNC School of Medicine.

He'll share his entrepreneurial journey from spinning out a company from his academic lab to his current role with Jupiter BioVentures to identify and develop the next generation of innovations arising from research into thriving biotech companies. Dr. Sharpless will also share insights gained serving with NCI and the FDA and his thoughts on the current climate in biotech.

Networking to follow.

Register (for free!): https://lnkd.in/eFQhnwJN

03/12/2025

Don’t miss this opportunity next Tuesday to engage with industry leaders and learn how technology is accelerating the future of agriculture and plant-based sweeteners.

Hosted by Innovate Carolina in partnership with RTP AgBio+AgTech Networking, this event will showcase how emerging technologies are reshaping the Stevia industry and accelerating its growth in the US market. Join us for this engaging session, followed by a Q&A and networking.

Spots are limited so register today!

Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/innovation-at-scale-powering-stevias-future-in-the-us-market-tickets-1259566089079?aff=oddtdtcreator

Join us for an exciting deep dive into the future of an exciting new crop plant, Stevia, powered by cutting-edge technology.

03/11/2025

Exciting news! The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has been named to the top 100 list of worldwide universities granted U.S. utility patents for the eleventh consecutive year. In its newly released annual Top 100 Worldwide Universities List, the National Academy of Inventors spotlights top universities holding U.S. utility patents to showcase the important research and innovation taking place within academic institutions.

Read more: https://ow.ly/nWXK50Vg3CY