Merrill Mason Judges the 2012 Semi-Final Round of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Carolina Challenge

RALEIGH, N.C. – Merrill Mason, Smith Anderson Partner, served as a judge for the semi-final round of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s 2012 Carolina Challenge held on March 21-22.

The Carolina Challenge is a student-led Business and Social Venture Competition designed to promote entrepreneurship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, including the emerging area of social entrepreneurship, among faculty, staff, and students from all schools and departments throughout the University.

Each Challenge team included at least one UNC student, faculty or staff member. Activities span the academic year, beginning in the fall with recruitment and team-formation activities to attract the best ideas and demonstrate the value of participating in and winning the competition.

Emphasis is placed on forming multi-disciplinary teams that have the right combination of skills and knowledge to successfully implement the venture idea. Once teams officially enter the competition in January, they gain access to a wide range of resources to help them learn how to turn their ideas into viable business plans.

Finalists compete for top prizes provided by the John Stedman Endowments at the final round of competition by presenting their plans to a panel of judges made up of successful entrepreneurs and business people as well as community and university leaders.