Brett Nicol

Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Launch Chapel Hill

Brett Nicol is an entrepreneur-in-residence at Launch Chapel Hill. He is a successful entrepreneur, proven growth leader, avid coffee consumer, trivia junkie, wanna-be Civil War historian, and former NCAA football and baseball player. Recognized as a top entrepreneur by Bloomberg Businessweek, he has also founded and sold two startups.

In addition to his entrepreneurial exploits, Nicol earned an MBA from a rival ACC school (don’t hold it against him) and has brought his spirited leadership to dozens of high-growth businesses, ranging from private equity-backed initiatives to bootstrapped startups to management consulting clients. Through these experiences, he has gained expertise across marketing, sales and business development.

He excels at launching products and services, building brands and experiences that consumers love, as well as strategically expanding ventures in high-growth environments. Bringing a values-driven and customer-centered focus to his businesses, Nicol is devoted to the entrepreneurial journey, even more so after a few cups of coffee. He cites his dad, a Bay Area-based small-business owner of 35 years, as his favorite entrepreneur.