Student entrepreneurs vie for $35K, ‘Shark Tank’-style
For three years now, Innovate Carolina’s high-stakes Luby Pitch Competition has awarded real money to teams’ bold ideas.
Press the play button above to watch the video
UNC-Chapel Hill students have a shot to secure real startup funding during an annual pitch competition at Innovate Carolina.
Now in its third year and backed by a $300,000 gift from the Joan & Chester Luby Charitable Trust, the Luby Pitch Competition puts real money behind bold student ideas. Carolina entrepreneurs face nerves to give five-minute pitches, seeking to impress judges and beat other teams to secure key funding.
Since launching, the competition has funded 16 student teams who’ve gone on to secure over $819,000 in total funding, a testament to what community-backed student entrepreneurship can achieve.
Watch the video above to go behind the scenes of this year’s competition, with pitches from startups like KAIRS, an artificial intelligence-powered rehabilitation sleeve for at-home physical therapy, and PlugVerse, a booking marketplace for local musicians and venues.
