Scott Kelly, the Triangle entrepreneur who launched Startup Madness, LaunchDay and other endeavors focused on giving a boost to new and emerging companies, is further expanding his efforts.

Kelly is now running Duke University’s student-focused InCube program.

And on Friday, InCube will showcase 15 of its best in new businesses. 

These student entrepreneurs are getting advice from four top Triangle entrepreneurs who serve as advisors:

  • Jesse Lipson of Sharefile (now part of Citrix)
  • Tobi Walker of Shoeboxed
  • Jud Bowman of Appia
  • Joe Davy, who is rolling out BuyStand and who founded EvoApp

Kelly tells The Skinny he took the Duke job as of Aug. 15, and he has his hands full.

“InCube is high octane, 24/7 student entrepreneurship at Duke University,” Kelly explains.

“All 20 of the students live in the same housing complex and are fully committed to launching something. While there are only a limited number of students living in the complex, the students have events that are open to all Duke students such as weekly workdays (Monday and Thursday nights), field trips to local companies, and Demo Day this Friday, Oct 26 at 4:30 p.m.”

InCube describes itself as “a student-run, enterpreneurial residential program determined to make a dent in the universe. We founded InCube to offer a place for the curious, a place for those that act.”

InCube is funded by Duke’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship program, and all Duke students are eligible to take part, Kelly notes.

One of the biggest benefits of the program is that those selected become part of “a community of like minded students, access to alumni who are veteran entrepreneurs.”

On Friday, 15 teams will be making their public debuts before a crowd of potential investors as well as other students and entrepreneurs.

“Startups range from carbonated tea to Google Chrome Extension to 3-D Mapping,” Kelly says.

“It will be similar to Shark Tank minus the money and rude comments. Our four advisors will listen to demos and give feedback.”

The event begins at 4:30 P.M. in Perkins Library. 

By the way, Kelly assures us that he won’t forget Startup Madness, which has developed into quite an event.

“Startup Madness will happen again this Spring,” he says.

That’s good to hear.