Innovate Carolina

This year, Innovate Carolina, the university’s campuswide initiative for innovation, entrepreneurship and economic development, is highlighting our student innovators. Your gift to the Innovate Carolina Student Fund (081407) directly supports all of Innovate Carolina’s student programs like startup internships, 1789 venture fund, Luby pitch competition and more.

The 1789 Student Innovation Community and Incubator, operated by Innovate Carolina, is UNC-Chapel Hill’s campuswide hub for student innovation and entrepreneurship. It helps undergraduate and graduate students solve entrepreneurial problems, launch ventures, participate in pitch competitions and events, and pursue careers in innovation.

Your past support has led to…

1,270+ UNC-affiliated startups launched by students, faculty, staff and recent alumni (since 1950)
131,000+ jobs created by 682 active UNC startups (FY25)
$22.6 billion in annual revenue earned by UNC startups (FY25)
$48.9 billion in total capital raised by UNC startups (cumulative)

Student Innovation

Student innovation community. 507 active student members in FY25, 1,394 student memberships since 2018.
Student startups. 1789 incubator members founded 244 startups, raising $47.2 million in total funding. 100 startups are active and earned $37.4 million in annual revenue, creating 5,346 jobs.
Student venture fund. As of FY25, the fund has provided 163 funding awards to 137 student startups. Of these startups, 67 remain active and earned $7.9 million in annual revenue and created 5,676 jobs in FY25.
Pitch competition. Established in 2024 and funded through the Joan and Chester Luby Charitable Trust, it has distributed $187,000 in total funding to 16 student startups, which have raised $836,000 in total funding.
Student-startup career development. The Carolina Innovators Connect program helps UNC-Chapel Hill students explore startup careers and gain professional experience. Since 2021, it has connected 850 students to 190 startups for career development, including 33 student interns funded by Innovate Carolina to support startup growth in North Carolina.

Creating Startups and Impact

Carolina startups begin with the passion that student, faculty and alumni founders have for solving hard problems, such as devastating diseases, environmental hazards, economic hardship, hunger & poverty, technological quandaries, and energy challenges. With more than 1,200 UNC-affiliated startups launched—and over 680 ventures remaining active—the human and economic impact of Carolina startups is significant. For instance, the 537 active UNC startups headquartered throughout 32 North Carolina counties generate economic and employment impact across the state and within local communities.

$4.29 billion in value added to North Carolina’s GDP (FY25).
$7.96 billion in total economic activity generated by UNC startups in North Carolina (FY25).
33,643 total jobs supported by UNC startups in North Carolina (FY25).