Editor’s note: WRAL TechWire’s Startup Monday includes a variety of features and news about North Carolina’s entrepreneurial community.
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RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK – Ilyas Colie and his friend and colleague Manas Takalpati spent their last couple of summers in San Francisco, working for start-ups in the very robust California start-up community. Those experiences stayed with the pair, and now they’re delivering that access to the Triangle higher education community.
“We got to see what an incredibly supportive community and start-up and venture ecosystem could provide for people interested in start-ups,” said Colie. “It inspired us.”
Colie and Takalpati are now leading a team of young leaders to put on the Trivent 2023 Start-up Competition, taking place this month.
Members of the Trivent team.
A resource for entrepreneurial students
Trivent, short for “Triangle Ventures” is a fully student-run organization aiming to create a community of undergraduate and graduate entrepreneurs across North Carolina. The group hopes to connect entrepreneurial students across institutions, and share resources.
Colie says lots of graduate and undergraduate students have ideas and are interested in – or already starting – their own companies.
“We want to figure out how to best link them to the best resources that are available locally: the venture ecosystem, mentors, other successful entrepreneurs, and job and internship opportunities at other start-ups.”
Ramp-up to the competition
The TriVent competition kicked off April 1, with an online event announcing competition details and offering a judge Q&A. Then, throughout the month of April, the TriVent team is offering resources to those interested in pitching, including speaker panels, networking sessions, mentor office hours, and slide deck reviews. Applications to pitch are due by April 25.
The top prize is up to $500,000 in funding from prize contributor, Chris Klaus with Fusen VC. But Colie says there’s potential for more.
“There’s no limit on the number of teams that can win,” Colie said. “Fusen is ready to write a check for each qualifying team. Our goal is to get as many teams as possible to qualify.”
The TriVent teams desire to encourage student development means there are no restrictions on pitch ideas, but there are still logistical hurdles. Colie anticipates a max of 100 pitches based on available time and space.
The competition itself will take place April 30 at the Friday Center in Chapel Hill.
And after the event? Colie’s already looking forward.
“We’re really interested in talking with community stakeholders about how we can expand the support system between the venture ecosystem and talented undergrads, said Colie. “We want to host this every year at least, if not every semester.”
