The Innovate Carolina Junction is proudly hosting its annual Carolina Innovators Connect Meet and Greet at the Carolina Junction. This unique event connects UNC-Chapel Hill students with high-growth startup companies, social ventures and innovative opportunities in the Research Triangle region in a casual environment. Interested in attending? Then stop by the Carolina Junction on November 12 at 4 p.m. to network with innovative companies across RTP as well as UNC’s top talent! Reserve your spot here.
On Nov. 12, Innovate Carolina will host its seventh annual Carolina Innovators Connect Meet and Greet at the new Carolina Junction. This event fosters relationships between UNC-Chapel Hill students and startups in the Research Triangle Park (RTP) area. The event bridges a critical gap between students eager for experiential learning and small businesses in need of support.
Anise Robinson, the Student Engagement and Events Program Manager for Innovate Carolina, said the idea for this meet and greet came about seven years ago, when the organization recognized that smaller startups often struggle to gain visibility at large fairs. Small businesses are high-growth and rich in potential, yet they may have limited resources that make participation in typical career fairs challenging.
Innovate Carolina sought to address this issue by creating a space where startups can connect directly with students, providing a mutually beneficial environment in the heart of Chapel Hill. This event is no typical career fair– no suits or resumes are required. Instead, Innovate Carolina fosters a casual and inviting atmosphere, where students and startups can engage in meaningful conversations without the pressure of most recruitment settings.
“This event is for both students and companies,” said Robinson. “For students, it’s about finding opportunities at growing companies because experiential learning is so important. The outcome for companies is to gain some of the new knowledge the students have.”
The event will feature a panel discussion followed by a networking session. At the panel, speakers from a range of industries and will provide students with a broad perspective on what it takes to build and grow a company. Further, the panel will feature inspiring panelists from diverse fields. Following the panel, students will have the opportunity to mix and mingle with the startup founders.
“The primary goal of this event is to provide students with valuable insights into entrepreneurship and startup culture,” Robinson shared.
The Carolina Junction, a 20,000-square-foot co-working space that opened in August 2023, serves as the perfect backdrop for this event. The Junction is designed to bring together different facets of the entrepreneurial ecosystem, from startup accelerators like Launch Chapel Hill to co-working spaces for hybrid and remote professionals.
“The Junction is all about collaboration,” Robinson explained. “And this event is a great example of how we can leverage that collaborative spirit to benefit both students and startups.”
One of the key outcomes Innovate Carolina hopes to achieve through this event is to offer students hands-on experience with startups. By nature, startups require a dynamic approach to problem-solving, and students working with these companies often gain exposure to multiple aspects of business operations. For students considering launching their own ventures or simply seeking to understand how startups function, this event offers an invaluable learning opportunity.
“Experiential learning is so important,” Robinson noted. “By working with a startup, students can apply their classroom knowledge in a real-world setting, gaining experience that will benefit them in their future careers.”
For startups, the benefits are equally compelling. Many of these companies are led by individuals with expertise in engineering, science, or product development, but who may lack marketing or business strategy experience. By connecting with students from diverse academic backgrounds, these startups can tap into fresh perspectives and new skill sets. Innovate Carolina also works to help startups secure funding for internships, making it possible for smaller companies to offer competitive internship opportunities.
UNC-Chapel Hill, through Innovate Carolina, is positioning itself as a key player in this ecosystem, helping to drive economic development while providing students with opportunities to engage with cutting-edge businesses. Innovate Carolina’s commitment to supporting the entrepreneurial community, combined with the talent of UNC’s student body, makes the Carolina Innovators Connect Meet and Greet an event that continues to flourish each year.
On Tuesday, Nov. 12 at 4 p.m., Innovate Carolina invites UNC-Chapel Hill students interested in innovation and entrepreneurship to explore internships with local companies across tech, healthcare, sustainability, finance, and more. Companies will have the chance to meet creative students that are eager to contribute to these growing industries. Register here today to network with UNC students and connect with local companies driving the future.
