Merrill M. Mason judges the commercial track at the Pitch Round and Semi-Final Round at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Kenan-Flagler Business School’s Carolina Challenge

UNC’s Carolina Challenge has three rounds to the competition, the Pitch round, Semi-Final round and Final round. Teams of entrepreneurial students, faculty and staff from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will compete for $50,000 in prizes. The Pitch Round took place on Wednesday, February 25. During the session, there were as many as 15 venture pitches, from which about half made it to the next round.

On Tuesday, March 17, during the Semi-Finals, there were as many as 8 venture pitches, from which about half made it to the Final Round. At the Challenge finals, four finalist teams — two with commercial ventures and two with social — will pitch their ideas. Audience members will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite to win the People's Choice Award. Grand prize winners will be announced at the celebration event on March 28.