First business incubator comes to Chapel Hill

At first, freshman Taylor Robinette wasn’t going to come to UNC. Instead, he was going to forgo college and start his own social networking site.

But thanks to Chapel Hill’s first business incubator, opening next month, Robinette can now do both.

The incubator, LAUNCH Chapel Hill, is set to open at 321 W. Rosemary St. in a soft launch on Feb. 1. A formal dedication and opening will take place later this spring.

Formal applications for office space — which will have 10 offices and 15 desk spaces, hosting more than 20 ventures — will be accepted through Jan. 28.

But Ted Zoller, director of the Center for Entrepreneurial Studies at UNC, said the number of applications has already exceeded the number of available office spaces.

“LAUNCH Chapel Hill is looking for applicants that are focused by committed founders,” he said.

Robinette said he is excited about LAUNCH Chapel Hill because it would give him the opportunity to start LifeClickz — a social networking site that will work through smartphones to connect real life to social life.

“Obviously, for a bootstrapping college start-up, it’s hard to grab some office space,” he said.

LAUNCH Chapel Hill will function as a “venture lab” to provide networking opportunities, subsidized rent, mentors and fundraising assistance for budding entrepreneurs.

LAUNCH Chapel Hill is the first of its kind in Chapel Hill, and Dwight Bassett, economic development officer for the town, said he hopes it will show potential businesses the town cares about start-ups.

“It is a first step in helping to capture a lot more local talent and local business,” he said.

After years of discussion, the town of Chapel Hill, Orange County, 3 Birds Marketing and the University all committed to fund the incubator, said Bobby Funk, assistant director of the Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership.

“We’ve finally gotten all the partners together,” he said.

He said the town committed about $30,000 per year to the project for a time period of three-and-a-half years.

Orange County has pledged $40,000 a year, and 3 Birds Marketing has committed $10,000 a year.

The University committed to help cover costs of programming in addition to operations. Tenants will pay rent to help with the cost of the space.

“It’s a real community collaboration,” said Judith Cone, special assistant to the chancellor for innovation and entrepreneurship.

Zoller said LAUNCH Chapel Hill will give start-ups the tools to grow into successful, long-term businesses and help form networks among entrepreneurs.

“We’re not looking for start-up survival, but for growth and sustainability stories,” he said.

For Robinette, the incubator provides a unique service for his new business at location close to campus.

Robinette said he expects to move into LAUNCH Chapel Hill in February.

He said it will help students like him to work on academics — and on their start-up companies.

“It puts to rest the idea that you can’t do both,” he said.

Contact the desk editor at city@dailytarheel.com.