NC State Innovation and Entrepreneurship

NC State Innovation and Entrepreneurship NC State Entrepreneurship | We empower students to create meaningful change by turning ideas into action.

At NC State, we are dedicated to creating unique learning opportunities for our students to grow into the leaders and job creators of the next generation. As a program, we take an interdisciplinary approach to learning. Our faculty and staff come from a variety of backgrounds and industries, and we actively recruit students from all areas of campus. Our desire is to build a community both within and beyond the university that thrives on a creative, immersive entrepreneurial experience for all.

Meet the person behind ALA 2026 team, DentalHold! ๐ŸฆทSaif Saleh is the founder and engineer behind this company. DentalHol...
06/02/2026

Meet the person behind ALA 2026 team, DentalHold! ๐Ÿฆท

Saif Saleh is the founder and engineer behind this company. DentalHold uses AI voice agents to verify patientsโ€™ insurance for dental practices, automating the manual phone calls that tie up front-desk staff every day.

Meet the people behind the ALA 2026 team, Climbit! ๐Ÿง— Kyle Tomek and Josh Alger are the co-founders of Climbit, a platfor...
05/26/2026

Meet the people behind the ALA 2026 team, Climbit! ๐Ÿง—

Kyle Tomek and Josh Alger are the co-founders of Climbit, a platform that helps climbers decide where to climb, when to go and whether conditions are worth the trip.

Climbit turns hyper-local weather, crag-specific terrain data and user preferences into clear recommendations on the best places and times to climb. The program serves a growing community of climbers through our app and powers partner forecast experiences across climbing organizations and commercial platforms.

Meet the 2026 Miller Fellows! ๐Ÿบ ๐ŸŽฎ Benjamin Rimon | Frontline Interactive is a game studio focused on building interactiv...
05/22/2026

Meet the 2026 Miller Fellows! ๐Ÿบ

๐ŸŽฎ Benjamin Rimon | Frontline Interactive is a game studio focused on building interactive video games for government organizations and NGOs.
๐Ÿ“ฒ Gabe Huntsman | Afuse is a mobile app helping students find roommates and friends.
โ˜•๏ธ Kenza Tekil | Kasbah Koffee serves coffee with an Arab, Algerian and Palestinian twist with bold flavors, authentic ingredients and a touch of home in every sip.
๐ŸŽง Max McKee | SPRTN Technologies has built the worldโ€™s first wireless earbuds with 1-mile range, underwater audio, and live AI coaching.
๐ŸŒณ Megan Aljian | Forest Found Products produces and sells patent-pending Bite & Sting Relief naturally with local plants.

Over the next six months, these recent grads will receive funding, guidance and resources to grow their businesses. Learn more ๐Ÿ‘‰ https://buff.ly/6hgUe4I

NC State University | NC State Poole College of Management | NC State Engineering | NC State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

We are excited to introduce the 2026 Andrews Launch Accelerator cohort! Building on an initial gift, Lyn and Chip Andrew...
05/14/2026

We are excited to introduce the 2026 Andrews Launch Accelerator cohort!

Building on an initial gift, Lyn and Chip Andrews have renewed their support for the NC State Acceleration fund, providing an endowment to power future generations in the Andrews Launch Accelerator (ALA) with a transformative gift.

The 2026 ALA cohort ranges from early idea-stage companies to those with rapidly scaling revenue across a variety of industries. As support for this program spreads across NC Stateโ€™s campus and throughout the startup ecosystem, this yearโ€™s cohort will feature six sponsored teams across NC State Wilson College of Textiles, Social and Sustainable Innovation and Entrepreneurship and NC State Engineering - Engineering Entrepreneurs Program, in addition to those directly funded by ALA.

Meet the teams ๐Ÿ‘‰ https://buff.ly/5Stophl

NC State Poole College of Management

One Make-A-Thon, countless possibilities and a career that followed. ๐Ÿš€ Nick Sischo, a 2020 environmental technology grad...
05/12/2026

One Make-A-Thon, countless possibilities and a career that followed. ๐Ÿš€

Nick Sischo, a 2020 environmental technology graduate, returned to support the competition that helped shape his own path as an undergraduate. Now, he works as a systems engineer at Cisco, applying a blend of technical skill and systems thinking that first took root during his time at NC State University.

Through Make-A-Thon, he and his teammates identified sustainability challenges, sketched solutions and built prototypes under tight time pressure. The late-night work sessions and final pitch to judges became a formative experience in collaboration and rapid problem-solving.

Now working as a systems engineer at Cisco Systems, he applies the same approach to complex technical systems every day. His time at NC State showed him the value of showing up, testing ideas and learning through iteration. Today, he encourages students to take that first step and trust where the experience can lead. ๐ŸŒŸ ๐Ÿ’ผ

Learn more about Nick and Make-A-Thon ๐Ÿ‘‰ https://buff.ly/R5ps7ME

NC State College of Natural Resources | NC State Alumni | NC State Sustainability

More than a campus clip ๐Ÿคณ Indio Skinner, a graduating business administration major with a concentration in marketing at...
05/08/2026

More than a campus clip ๐Ÿคณ

Indio Skinner, a graduating business administration major with a concentration in marketing at NC State University, is known for a lighthearted tradition of asking students their favorite ice cream flavor and returning with it. Behind that is a much longer journey shaped by an early drive to build, sell and turn ideas into something real. ๐Ÿš€

Growing up, he was already selling gum, lemonade and later terrariums to local businesses, but college expanded that drive. Surrounded by ambitious peers, he leaned into NC State's entrepreneurship ecosystem, where experiences like Minute to Pitch It, VenturePack Challenge, LaunchPad and a Silicon Valley trip helped him learn what it takes to bring ideas to life. ๐Ÿ†๏ธ

What shaped him most was the community around him. Professors, mentors and fellow students opened doors to events, travel and opportunities that pushed his perspective far beyond the classroom. As he reflected, โ€œMaking genuine connections everywhere you go is one of the most powerful skills you can develop.โ€ ๐Ÿง‘โ€๐Ÿคโ€๐Ÿง‘

After graduation, he plans to use social media and content creation to help others live more intentionally and lead with love. He aspires to become a speaker, host retreats and travel globally to inspire others to rethink how they approach life. ๐ŸŒŽ๏ธ

Read more about Indio's journey ๐Ÿ‘‰ https://buff.ly/ckcr9G4

NC State Alumni | NC State Poole College of Management

Research with real-world reach ๐Ÿง‘โ€๐Ÿคโ€๐Ÿง‘ ๐ŸŒ๏ธ After gaining international experience in Shanghai and completing her masterโ€™s, ...
05/07/2026

Research with real-world reach ๐Ÿง‘โ€๐Ÿคโ€๐Ÿง‘ ๐ŸŒ๏ธ

After gaining international experience in Shanghai and completing her masterโ€™s, Arianna Minzoni began her Ph.D. in chemical engineering at NC State University Stefano Menegattiโ€™s lab, where she develops peptide ligands that improve purification of gene therapy vectors while protecting their stability and effectiveness. ๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿ”ฌ

Alongside her research, she strengthened her business expertise through the Technology Entrepreneurship and Commercialization (TEC) program through NC State Poole College of Management. She applied those skills during a STEM-MBA internship with TOSOH Bioscience GmbH, gaining experience in product strategy, supply chains and commercialization for AAV technologies. ๐Ÿงฌ

As she graduates from the TEC program, Arianna reflects on the perspective guiding her work: โ€œUltimately, what matters is not how elegant the solution is, but whether it works โ€” and having the vision to understand why it matters.โ€ ๐Ÿ‘

Read more about Arianna's journey in the TEC program ๐Ÿ‘‰ https://buff.ly/25a4M3s

NC State Engineering

Engineering the future ๐Ÿ‘จ๐Ÿ› ๐Ÿ“‹ At NC State University, Park Scholar Cole Malinchock is graduating with a degree in mechanica...
05/06/2026

Engineering the future ๐Ÿ‘จ๐Ÿ› ๐Ÿ“‹

At NC State University, Park Scholar Cole Malinchock is graduating with a degree in mechanical engineering with minors in computer programming and environmental science. During his time on campus, he became deeply involved in research, contributing to projects in medical robotics, drones, computer vision and autonomous systems that shaped his technical skills and leadership. ๐Ÿ’ผ

Through the Engineering Entrepreneurs Program and the Albright Entrepreneurship Garage, he co-founded Sylva Systems, an autonomous drone service that inspects tree farms and was selected to represent NC State at the ACC InVenture Prize.

A trip to Silicon Valley further expanded his perspective on startups and innovation, reinforcing his advice: โ€œDonโ€™t be afraid to form connections with people you meet.โ€ ๐Ÿง‘โ€๐Ÿคโ€๐Ÿง‘

This fall, he will begin a Ph.D. in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering at the University of Michigan, where he plans to explore marine robotics and continue pursuing the creativity and innovation he built through research and entrepreneurship. ๐Ÿš€

Read more about Cole ๐Ÿ‘‰ https://buff.ly/NU0KcM6

NC State Engineering | NC State Alumni | Park Scholarships | University of Michigan | NC State College of Natural Resources | ACC InVenture Prize

From Raleigh roots to global routes ๐ŸŒ๏ธ โœˆ๏ธ Juliana Romero-Cortes began her journey at NC State University searching for h...
05/05/2026

From Raleigh roots to global routes ๐ŸŒ๏ธ โœˆ๏ธ

Juliana Romero-Cortes began her journey at NC State University searching for her โ€œwhy.โ€ The College Community Collaborative, campus leadership and her studies in business administration with minors in entrepreneurship and international studies helped her find it. Through roles in the Sales Club, American Marketing Association (AMA), Women in Business and more, she embraced the โ€œprocess of everyday pursuitโ€ while building connections, confidence and professional growth. ๐Ÿ‘ฉ๐Ÿปโ€๐Ÿ’ป

Juliana's time at the Albright Entrepreneurship Garage and involvement in Innovation and Entrepreneurship opened doors to global experiences, including projects in Moldova and a life-changing trip to Silicon Valley. These opportunities deepened her passion for travel, collaboration and innovation while shaping the entrepreneurial mindset she now carries forward. ๐ŸŒŸ

Looking ahead, she hopes to scale ventures in technical, textile and manufacturing industries while continuing to explore the world. As she reflects on her journey, her advice captures the spirit of her story: โ€œThere are no limits to what you can do, truly.โ€ ๐Ÿš€

Read more about Juliana's story ๐Ÿ‘‰ https://buff.ly/nhVssLI

NC State Alumni | NC State Poole College of Management

Ready to bloom after graduation ๐ŸŽ“๏ธ ๐ŸŒฑ Megan Aljian, a graduating senior in biological and agricultural engineering with m...
05/04/2026

Ready to bloom after graduation ๐ŸŽ“๏ธ ๐ŸŒฑ

Megan Aljian, a graduating senior in biological and agricultural engineering with minors in biology and plant biology, arrived at NC State University with a passion for ethnobotany and quickly immersed herself in campus life.

While working as a summer camp counselor in the Appalachian Mountains, she created a bug-bite remedy using oak leaves that quickly became a favorite among campers. What started as a simple solution soon sparked a deeper curiosity about entrepreneurship. ๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿ”ฌ

Encouraged by the response to her product, she attended an open house at the Albright Entrepreneurship Garage and joined LaunchPad, where she began developing Forest Found. The program provided the community and accountability she needed to turn her idea into a real venture and her confidence grew even more after winning the Seed2Grow startup competition. ๐Ÿš€

After graduation, Megan plans to continue growing Forest Found while beginning her career as a stream restoration engineer. Looking back on her growth at NC State, she offers advice to her younger self: โ€œI would tell her: you are a lot. And that is great. Never try to make yourself less for other people. You need you: every epic, unusual and unique part of you. Be too much, unrepentantly.โ€ ๐ŸŒŸ

Read more about Megan's journey ๐Ÿ‘‰ https://buff.ly/k6crpjk

NC State Alumni | NC State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

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