Joan & Chester Luby Pitch Competition

Don't miss the Joan & Chester Luby Pitch Competition, where student teams will vie for a chance to win $95,000 in cash prizes in front of our esteemed panel of judges.

1789 Hub proudly presents the Joan & Chester Luby Pitch Competition, made possible by the generous support of the Joan and Chester Luby Charitable Trust. This premier student startup event will award up to $95,000 in cash prizes to outstanding UNC student entrepreneur teams.

This is an invitation-only opportunity recognizing some of the most inspiring ventures at UNC–Chapel Hill. These student teams have already been awarded 1789 Student Venture Fund, where their venture applications were reviewed by UNC faculty, staff and mentors in the community. After being invited to compete in the Joan & Chester Luby Pitch Competition, students prepared recorded video pitches for judges to evaluate. At our live event, finalist teams will pitch in front of our esteemed panel of judges. The live audience will also have the opportunity to vote for the Viewer’s Choice Award, selecting their favorite team of the evening.

This event celebrates the very best of UNC student innovation — bold ideas, real traction, and the next generation of founders building what’s next. Join us to cheer on these outstanding student founders, celebrate bold ideas, and show your support for innovation and entrepreneurship at Carolina.

• Bernard Bell, Executive Director of the Shuford Program (LinkedIn)

Bernard is Executive Director of the Shuford Program in Entrepreneurship at UNC-Chapel Hill, where he scaled the program from 150 to 600+ students, secured $35M+ in endowment support, and helped earn a Top 5 national ranking by U.S. News & World Report.

• Korey Keenan, Co-Founder & CEO at Consequent Solutions (LinkedIn)

Korey is the Co-Founder & CEO at Consequent Solutions, a proven startup leader with a track record of scaling companies from zero to exit and building disruptive, technology driven solutions for modern healthcare challenges.

• Alexis White, CEO at Zarû Systems (LinkedIn)

Alexis White is the Founder and CEO of ZARÛ Systems, a tech venture dedicated to creating $1 billion in entrepreneurial wealth by building and selling purpose built-businesses to marginalized entrepreneurs. Rooted in a deep belief that innovation andequity are inseparable, Alexis has spent her career designing systems and strategies that unlock human potential at scale.

• Melissa Carrier, Co-Founder, Radiate Works (LinkedIn)

Melissa is the founder and former executive director of the Center for Social Value Creation at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business.

• Alex Brandwein, owner, Brandwein's Bagels (LinkedIn)

Alex Brandwein is the owner/operator of Brandwein’s Bagels, a retail and catering shop located in downtown Chapel Hill, established as a “go-to” shop with over 50 team members.

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