Free Office Hours this Fall with Experts at the Innovate Carolina Junction

Experience Office Hours at the Innovate Carolina Junction, where coworking members and community participants can access expert advice and support from leading organizations such as SBTDC, Hutch Law, 1893 Brand Studio, and more. These open sessions offer a unique opportunity to receive personalized guidance on a range of topics, from business strategy and legal matters to branding and marketing. Whether you’re seeking insights to advance your startup or looking for solutions to specific challenges, our office hours are designed to provide valuable, actionable advice in a collaborative and supportive environment. Don’t miss this chance to connect with industry experts and enhance your business endeavors. 

For more information about the free office hours or the Innovate Carolina Junction, feel free to contact our Community Manager, Julia Lutz, at julia.lutz@unc.edu

Office Hours:

• Legal (Hutchison PLLC): Every Second Monday from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. 
  • Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/office-hours-legal-tickets-1007762453627
• Creative (1893 Brand Studio): Every Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. 
  • Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/office-hours-creative-tickets-1007747709527
• Business (SBTDC): Every Tuesday from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m 
  • Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/office-hours-business-tickets-1007772965067
• Value Proposition and Competitive Positioning: Every Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
  • Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/office-hours-value-proposition-and-competitive-positioning-tickets-1027194134307
• Emerging Technology (Brian): Every Wednesday from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.  
  • Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/office-hours-emerging-tech-tickets-1007770908917
• Alumna Insights (Rida): Every Thursday from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
  • Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/office-hours-alumna-insights-tech-social-ventures-tickets-1007777267937
• Intellectual Property: Every Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
  • Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/office-hours-intellectual-property-tickets-1037193763467

Meet Our Experts:

Meet Anna Tharrington!

Anna is a managing partner and counsels entrepreneurial clients through various stages of their life cycle, including corporate formation, financings (debt, seed, angel and venture capital financings), mergers and acquisitions and other general corporate and contract matters. She works primarily with clients in the technology and biotechnology industries. Anna also represents angel investors and venture capital funds who invest in entrepreneurial companies across the region.

Meet Brian Moynihan!

Brian is a recognized leader in several emerging tech industries including spatial computing, digital health, and generative AI. He has years of experience deploying transformative solutions for education and training. He designed and led immersive learning solutions for Lenovo and UNC Chapel Hill, with a focus on harmonizing business, tech, and user needs for initiatives that scale. Brian’s expertise encompasses all stages of emerging tech projects – from ideation to execution, and from product development to scaleable go-to-market efforts.

Meet Collin Pruitt!

Collin Pruitt is the Director of the 1893 Brand Studio, which skillfully merges traditional storytelling values with today’s modern marketing strategies. 1893 Brand Studio is committed to educating students, serving the community and providing marketing services to the local businesses that make Chapel Hill home to many. We train our staff to tell captivating stories, uncover future-proofing insights and connect brands with their audience. Together, 1893 storytellers determine the best way to communicate your business’s story and solve all of your marketing problems.

Meet Joel Harper!

Joel Harper serves as regional director with the Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC), a no-cost, confidential small business counseling service​ affiliated with Kenan Flagler Business School and the Small Business Administration. Previously, Harper assisted small business owners as executive director of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce. Overall he has been helping business owners launch, grow and prosper for 20+ years. In his spare time, Harper enjoys growing vegetables and Dutch oven cooking.

Meet Sheila Dalton!

Sheila Dalton is a General Business Counselor for the Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC), a collaboration between the Small Business Administration and the UNC System. She is the co-founder and previous owner of Neal’s Deli in Carrboro. She has 25+ years in small business, with extensive experience in the Triangle’s local food system. Dalton is an avid trail runner, a YA fiction fan, a trained cook, and a certified nutrition coach with a private practice. She lives in Carrboro with her two kids, one cat, and a loving community of friends.

Meet Bill Rollinson!

Bill Rollinson is a General Business Counselor with the Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC). Before moving to North Carolina in 2020, he spent most of his career in Silicon Valley as an entrepreneur and product manager. He helped to create some of the first software for the Apple Macintosh in 1984 and co-founded the first online retailer on the web, Internet Shopping Network in 1994. He’s been involved in numerous start-ups as an operating executive, founder, investor, and board member. He received a Design degree from UCLA.

Meet Lindsay Hinger!

Lindsay Hinger is an entrepreneur, Air Force Veteran, and business counselor. She is a two-time small business owner, and works as a Business Launch Specialist with the Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC). Lindsay is also a Board member of NC Vet Biz, and is a mentor to veterans and military spouses through American Corporate Partners (ACP).

Meet Liel Maala!

Liel graduated from Brigham Young University-Hawaii with a degree in Business Management and a minor in Accounting. He brings a wealth of experience working for a private organization for the past 10 years in capacities ranging from administrative, training, and management positions. His exposure to diverse settings having lived and worked in international areas has provided him rich insight and perspective. He is excited to be part of the Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC) team and contribute to the center’s mission. Liel loves hiking and mountain biking on his free time.

Meet Rida Bayraktar!

Rida Bayraktar is a software engineer, social entrepreneur, and AI ethics advocate passionate about advancing women’s education in tech. In 2018, she founded Pink STREAM, a nonprofit that empowers young women globally in STREAM fields, impacting over 1,500 students and earning numerous awards. At Bast.ai, she helps develop transparent and sustainable AI technologies. Rida also speaks internationally on AI ethics, women’s education, and diversity in tech. A top graduate from UNC with a 3.9 GPA, she has received accolades including the Clinton Global Initiative University Award and the Generation Google Scholarship.

Meet Jaap Schut!

Jaap Schut has 22 years of experience in global consultancy, industrial new product development, materials research, and higher education as an innovation strategy consultant, startup coach/mentor, venture partner, polymer materials scientist, speaker, and expert witness with roles at UNC and beyond. As EIR at Kickstart, he is enabling UNC entrepreneurs and startups to commercialize research by deploying effective commercialization/innovation tools, improving pitch decks, and mentoring participants in the I-Corps and Venture Catalyst programs. As CEO & Founder of 4E Innovation Consulting he is accelerating and de-risking the path to growth and impact for startups and corporate clients by refining innovation strategies and commercializing novel materials/products to meet unmet market needs across various industries. He also supplies technical expertise in litigation cases.

Meet Nathan Letts!

Nathan is a patent attorney with the Olive Law Group PLLC and works with a wide variety of clients and specializes in biotechnology, chemistry, green energy, diagnostics, and pharmaceuticals. Previously, he was the founding CEO of a UNC-CH biotech spinout, KinoDyn, Inc. and Vice President of Intellectual Property and Licensing for diaDexus, Inc. (South San Francisco, CA). Nathan helps his clients get patent protection worldwide. He also has experience in licensing agreements, patent litigation, and trademarks.