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18 student startups win UNC 789 Student Venture Fund awards

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October 16-17, 2025 / Seattle, WA

The annual summit for research institution gap fund and accelerator programs, including proof of concept programs, startup accelerators, and university venture funds

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The Story

A low-cost, lab-free diagnostic device for cervical cancer. A data-driven digital marketplace that matches you with the perfect puppy to adopt. An AI-powered search engine that saves you hours of manually weeding through LinkedIn and the web for business contacts.

These are just three of 18 student startups announced by Innovate Carolina during the fall 2025 cycle of 1789 Student Venture Fund awardees.

The winning ventures received $27,000 in combined support during a highly competitive and active fall 2025 award cycle that included applications from 48 student entrepreneurial teams. The fund, which is managed by Innovate Carolina, provides early seed dollars to help Carolina students advance their earliest-stage ventures.

The program is made possible by a UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School entrepreneurship course whose students donate the revenue they earn creating and running pop-up businesses to help fund and jumpstart other student ventures.

Source: 18 student startups win 1789 Student Venture Fund awards | UNC-Chapel Hill

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