Student startups: Apply for 1789 venture funding and Launch summer accelerator

makeathon-students
January 25, 2022
By Brock Pierce
Photography by Sarah Daniels

Are you a Carolina student who’s working on a commercial or socially driven startup? Now is your chance to apply to two of UNC-Chapel Hill’s top student venture programs at the same time. Applying for startup funding and mentorship has never been quicker or easier.

On February 3, Innovate Carolina will open a combined application for its 1789 Student Venture Fund and Launch Chapel Hill summer accelerator programs. The application deadline is February 13 at 11:59 p.m. This partnership between Innovate Carolina’s 1789 and Launch Chapel Hill programs provides student entrepreneurs funding for early-stage startups plus an award-winning summer accelerator program that will help them scale their ventures faster. Typical funding ranges from $200 to $2,500 for each of these programs.

All Carolina students working on entrepreneurial ventures are eligible to apply. Student ventures at different stages may benefit from a different combination of funding, mentorship, workspaces and educational programming. Students may choose to apply for either or both programs from a single application. However, Innovate Carolina strongly encourages students to apply for both the 1789 Student Venture Fund and Launch summer programs because the combined application offers a more cohesive experience for growing startups.

Information session

February 9 @ 11 a.m.
View on-demand recording

Interested in applying for this year’s 1789 Student Venture Fund? Or maybe you’re a key advisor who is working with 1789 to review award applications? This information session is designed to provide helpful information to all involved. The 1789 team will provide an overview of this year’s venture fund award, discuss the joint application process with the Launch Chapel Hill summer accelerator, and answer questions that are key to submitting and reviewing successful applications.


What is the 1789 Student Venture Fund?

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The 1789 Student Venture Fund is a fund that provides students at UNC-Chapel Hill with the necessary seed funding to explore new venture ideas and test and launch startups at their earliest stages. Student participants must use funding to develop some aspect of their actual ventures, not for purely educational, skill development or career preparation purposes.

  •  Currently enrolled undergraduate and graduate students at UNC-Chapel Hill who have an existing venture or novel idea and a passion for pursuit.
  • Students who have completed some market research and customer discovery and can discuss how these findings support their ideas.
  • Ventures or ideas who have a compelling need for funding in order to take the next step.
  • Awards range from $200-$2,000 and are dispersed as student award checks.
  •  All applications receive feedback in the areas of idea, proof of concept and team.
  • Special funding opportunity: All 1789 Student Venture Fund applicants whose projects include an engineering componentwill automatically be considered for a KEEN student development grant in addition to a 1789 award. Your project includes engineering if there is an aspect that uses the principles of science and mathematics to design and develop a solution that addresses a problem. Read more about the KEEN supplement on the 1789 Student Venture Fund page.

All applicants should:

  • Join the 1789 Hub community to access mentors, competitions and other funding.
  • Meet with mentors regularly.
  • Use the award as intended and provide simple quarterly updates to the 1789 team.

What is the Launch Chapel Hill summer cohort?

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The Launch Chapel Hill summer accelerator is a separate program designed specifically for students that offers a customized summer program designed to help students achieve key business milestones and accelerate their ventures to the next level. By joining this summer program, student entrepreneurs will take their ventures through deep learning and mentorship from the Launch Chapel Hill team.

  • Currently enrolled undergraduate and graduate students at UNC-Chapel Hill who have already launched early-stage commercial or social ventures.
  • Students who want to work extensively and intensely over the summer to scale their businesses.
  • The accelerator plans to accept 10 teams, and typical funding ranges from between $200 to $2,500 per team.
  • Mentoring and intensive educational programming provided by Launch Chapel Hill and its team of entrepreneurs-in-residence.
  • Value-add: the chance to learn from the Launch team and from fellow student innovators in-person within Launch’s space in downtown Chapel Hill, where you will have desk space and access to Launch facilities. Note: students should fully commit to the accelerator program, even as some aspects might occur virtually.

All applicants should:

  • Commit to completing the entire 10-week summer program.
  • Be fully engaged and participate in mentor meetings, educational opportunities, and Launch community sessions.