2023 Andrews Launch Accelerator Cohort Announced
Meet the founders who will receive equity-free seed capital for their startups.
The NC State Acceleration Fund, operated by the Entrepreneurship Clinic, is the product of a $1,000,000 donation from Lyn and Chip Andrews. The purpose of the Accelerator is to give NC State founders the opportunity to jumpstart their entrepreneurial journey. We provide founders with the funding, resources, and guidance to grow their company.
During the 14-week summer program, NC State startup founders get to work on their concepts and build their companies. The program is composed of 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 our Demo Day where companies get to pitch to the top investors in the Triangle.
The 2023 Cohort
Rampart Crop Defense
Rampart Crop Defense is a plant pathogen surveillance tool that equips farmers with the knowledge of when, where, and how to protect their crops from disease.
Samuel Brown | Poole College of Management
Ramya Vijapurapu | College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Taylor Vickers | College of Engineering
Austin Ladner | College of Engineering
Rampart Crop Defense’s novel genetic tests enable growers to detect disease onset, identify which crops need protection, and select which fungicides will be most effective. With pre-infection identification, farmers reap a 10% boost in crop yield, 4-6 fewer fungicide applications, and reduced resistance spread through better-rationed fungicide applications. When paired with the latest advances in autonomous robotics, farmers receive high-impact, low-labor insights into disease management.
Wolfe Cravings Food Co.
Decadent gluten-free CPG desserts.
Anna Petrova | College of Design
Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye, and it can cause gastrointestinal distress, skin rashes, headaches, and other uncomfortable symptoms in people. By providing GF tiramisu and ice cream sandwiches, Wolfe Cravings Food Co. is allowing individuals to indulge in sweets without sacrificing their health or comfort. Our gluten-free desserts solve several customer frustrations, dissatisfactions, and unfulfilled desires, including gluten intolerance, health concerns, social responsibility, and lack of variety.
Nature’s Throne
Experience the outdoors without sacrificing the comforts of home.
Marko Sun | Poole College of Management
The Nature’s Throne outdoor camping chair addresses the frustrations of using the restroom in outdoor settings (camping, etc.) by providing the option to switch between a chair and a functional toilet in no time. Their core product, a 2 in 1 camping chair and portable toilet combo is a simple yet innovative product that eliminates the user’s need to waste time and energy digging a hole or walking to the non-ideal public bathhouses typically available in these areas.
LetsGoRaleigh
We create memorable date nights for busy couples, delivered over text weekly or bi-weekly.
Parker Mayes | Poole College of Management
Using a combination of human curation and AI recommendations, LetsGoRaleigh sends personalized date plans to users on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. These date plans include recommendations for activities, dining, and other experiences that match the users’ preferences and budget. By sending regular reminders and encouragement, we help couples prioritize their relationships and make time for each other in their busy lives.
SonoVoice, Inc.
SonoVoice is developing science-based voice training and voice evaluation tools.
Sandeep Bhatt | College of Design
SonoVoice’s technology improves the accessibility and accuracy of evidence-based voice evaluation and training. We are developing an affordable, portable, patent-pending digital device and smartphone app to enable professional and amateur voice users seeking proactive evaluation and training as well as patients seeking rehabilitation for voice disorders to independently measure and track the success of vocal training and rehabilitation.
TutorSmith
BetterHelp group therapy for tutoring.
Austin Ketola | College of Engineering
TutorSmith is a completely online tutoring company that hosts small group summer refresher courses in math led by college students with the goal of being as affordable and accessible as possible. These sessions last 10-12 weeks over the summer for 1-2hrs a week and help reinforce concepts learned in school while introducing new ones to help prevent summer learning loss.
Congratulations to the founders and good luck on their journey through the Andrews Launch Accelerator!
