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Innovation and Entrepreneurship
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Andrews Launch Accelerator

Where NC State entrepreneurs turn their visions into reality.

Visit the Accelerator Website 

The NC State Acceleration Fund is the product of a $1,000,000 donation from Lyn and Chip Andrews. Through the fund, the Entrepreneurship Clinic allocates equity-free seed capital to startups that complete the Andrews Launch Accelerator.

The purpose of the Accelerator is to give NC State founders the opportunity to jumpstart their entrepreneurial journey. Founders receive funding, resources and guidance to take their startups to the next level.

During the 12-week summer program, NC State startup founders work on their concepts and build their companies. The program is structured with learning modules that steer companies in the right direction.

Each module covers key entrepreneurial topics such as customer discovery, product development and fundraising. The modules end with Demo Day, where companies get to pitch to the top investors in the Raleigh-Durham area.

Build the Strongest Case

A core part of entrepreneurship is being able to communicate value to customers, stakeholders and others. When these moments come, a venture’s understanding of how best to showcase their value to the relevant audience is important.
The ALA: LAUNCH sessions help ventures articulate, validate and communicate their value.

Learn more

41 companies

Have participated in the Andrews Launch Accelerator

$15.2 million

Revenue accumulated by ALA companies.

$42.7 million

Raised since the beginning of the ALA program

Program Details and FAQs

The funding awarded to each team varies depending on the stage of the team in question and their needs. On average, teams receive between 5k and 10k in non-dilutive funding through the ALA.

Meetings are held on Tuesday mornings where teams work through modules that cover key entrepreneurial topics. Teams will also be assigned an Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) to serve as a coach.

The program concludes with a Demo Day, where teams present to the community and potential investors.

In addition to non-dilutive capital, grant recipients may receive the following:

  • Up to $10,000 in Amazon Web Services credits
  • Pro bono business services (legal and accounting) to support structure and formation
  • Access to banking relationships
  • Access to angel investment & venture capitalist networks
  • Mentorship
  • Talent acquisition/recruiting services
  • Access to the NC State Entrepreneurship Clinic space

Any startup that has a co-founding member who is either a current NC State student (undergraduate or graduate) or is a recent graduate (meaning they graduated 5 or fewer years ago) is eligible to apply.

Startups from any industry are welcome to apply — CPG< food, early-stage services, tech and more.

Yes. At least one of your founders must be in Raleigh for the in-person sessions that take place on Tuesdays from 9 AM to 1 PM.

Meet Our Entrepreneurs

Explore the start-up companies chosen to complete the 2025 Andrews Launch Accelerator summer program.

Meet the 2025 Cohort

Accelerator News

Wilson College of Textiles Sponsors a Team in the Andrews Launch Accelerator Sparking a New Partnership in Innovation

The purpose of the Accelerator is to give NC State founders the opportunity to jumpstart their entrepreneurial journey. This year, the accelerator is partnering with the Wilson College of Textiles to fund a textile Technology alumni,
Catalina del Risco, the founder of Modi, which solves gender-neutral fashion’s sizing problem.

Learn more about Modi 

Startups Pitch Plans at Andrews Launch Accelerator Demo Day

Trainees from NC State’s Entrepreneurship Clinic — housed in Poole College — had a chance to pitch their startups to a crowd of students, investors and innovators.

Learn more about student startups