Launching the Venture
Launching the Venture is a series of courses that help faculty, staff and students from across the UNC campus to turn new ideas into viable ventures. Since its inception in 1999, Launch has aided in the creation of fifty startups. The mission of the program is to equip aspiring UNC entrepreneurs with the tools to successfully launch their venture. MBAs may explore ventures of their own or join teams as “free agents”. The Launch curriculum comprises four distinct phases: Opportunity, Feasibility, Business Planning and Financing. Launch teams undergo weekly coaching sessions in which they receive invaluable feedback from successful entrepreneurs and domain leaders. Learn more about Launching the Venture.
Carolina Challenge
The Carolina Challenge is an annual startup competition open to all UNC students, staff and faculty, awarding $50K in prize money each year. Entrants compete in one of four tracks (traditional, social, high tech and scientific) and undergo several rounds of competition, including an elevator pitch round. Activities surrounding the Carolina Challenge span the academic year, including a campus-wide idea competition in the fall. Learn more about the Carolina Challenge.
Venture Capital Investment Competition (VCIC®)
Founded at Kenan-Flagler in 1998, this renowned competition now attracts 1,200 students, 150 venture capitalists and 100 entrepreneurs each year from three different continents. The VCIC competition gives MBA student teams the unique opportunity to learn about venture funding by acting as venture capitalists and evaluating the viability of five real startup ventures. VCIC’s 40 events are like a network of mini-venture fairs in which MBAs and VCs get an early peek at viable startups, ¼ of which go on to raise venture funding. Learn more about VCIC.
Student-Run Private Equity Fund
The Kenan-Flagler Private Equity Fund is a student-run fund with more than $4.4 million of committed capital under management. The fund, launched in 2007, is the first and only student-run fund associated with a top-tier global business school that seeks to provide real returns to its limited partners. Kenan-Flagler also boasts two student-run real estate funds and a fund dedicated to investing in publically-traded companies. The private equity fund management team comprises nine Kenan-Flagler students, five second-year MBAs and four BSBAs. All students serve a three-semester term with the program. In addition to active investment activities, the students participate in a series of private equity courses, lectures and events. Students manage all aspects of the investment cycle: raising capital, sourcing deals, performing due diligence, making investment decisions and presenting decisions to the Board of Directors. Learn more about the Student-Run Private Equity Fund.
Best Practices Speaker Series
In addition to the many guest speakers who visit entrepreneurship classes, the Center for Entrepreneurial Studies offers a Best Practices Speaker Series featuring keynote speakers and symposium panels on various topics of interest.
Coffee for Eight
This unique program brings together a handful of students from various entrepreneurial programs at UNC with local entrepreneurs and venture capitalists. In this intimate setting, students have the opportunity to get to know a successful business leader as well as network with like-minded students from other departments.