The third floor of the Campus Y will soon be devoted to innovative ideas for social change.
Beginning next semester, three teams of undergraduates will be selected to occupy the floor for the semester as part of the new Social Innovation Incubator.
The incubator is part of the Innovate@Carolina Roadmap, an initiative proposed by Chancellor Holden Thorp that promotes UNC’s plan to become a leader in launching innovations from University students.
Judith Cone, the special assistant to the chancellor for innovation and entrepreneurship, said the teams will not only have access to the physical space but will also be provided with outside resources such as tax and legal advice.
“We will be working closely with the Campus Y to bring assistance in funding, connections with those outside of the campus and other resources,” Cone said.
“We will also collaborate with speakers and work to share what our students are doing.”
Cone is on the selection committee for the incubator’s teams. To be selected, teams must make a presentation to the committee.
“This incubator will nicely harness the creative energy of students to launch ventures,” said Niklaus Steiner, director of the Center for Global Initiatives.
“I’m especially excited about it providing an intersection for global and local ventures by drawing upon the expertise of our global entrepreneur-in-residence,” Steiner said.
