Start Teams Program Concludes First Semester

​The Start Teams program launched this spring semester thanks to a grant from NC Idea that funded ECU and Campbell students to participate on high-growth startup teams. Interdisciplinary, intercollegiate teams were formed that brought needed skills for eight growing startups in rural communities. Students brought skills in entrepreneurship, marketing, finance, graphic design, and videography to companies in various industry sectors including two new food brands, an auto-diagnostic kiosk, a marketing company, a vegan infant formula, a medical device, and an innovative household good.

Early in the semester students identified the needs of each participating company and formed teams that would provide expertise for the duration of the semester. Some teams created and ran social media advertisements, some found suppliers, some created promotional videos, and some worked to interview customers to inform product development. Each company presented a unique challenge for the 16 participating students who worked collaboratively across disciplines to push innovative ideas forward.

The Start Teams program will continue in the fall semester with 8-10 new companies and 16-20 students from ECU and Campbell. An application has also been submitted to USDA for $200,000 in additional funding to extend the program for another year and to add more students and bring on a full-time Start Teams coordinator.

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• Miller School of Entrepreneurship