Acceleration
Cultivating the Entrepreneurial Spirit
NCSSM’s Accelerator is a launchpad for student innovation, designed to bridge the gap between ideas and action. Tailored to the unique needs of high school students, the program fosters creativity, critical thinking, and leadership. Students working on real-world ventures receive support from mentors and industry experts as they develop the skills needed to take their ideas to the next level.
Our accelerator goes beyond building businesses—it builds leaders. By providing mentorship, hands-on learning, funding, and connections to the broader entrepreneurial community, we equip students with the tools and confidence to drive meaningful change.
I am a disruptor
Do you have an idea or need support? Do you want to be a part of the growing NCSSM Entrepreneurship Community? Contact entrepreneurship@ncssm.edu.
Atlas Lad
Embrace | GrandConnect
Atlas Lad
Embrace is the visionary product idea of Atlas Lad, designed to help families of palliative care patients preserve cherished memories. This application allows users to record and compile videos and other media of their loved ones, creating a meaningful emotional support tool with a strong foundation in neuroscience research. Atlas's work demonstrates that integrating simple yet sophisticated technologies can strengthen human connections, ease grief, and improve mental health for both families and patients in palliative care.
Embrace is a product of Altas' company, GrandConnect. They are currently working toward an MVP and have received support from the Bowman Brockman Fund as well as the Colopy Accelerator.
Julianna Jones
Project STEMKits
Julianna Jones
Project STEMKits, founded by Julianna Jones, is breaking down barriers to STEM education by providing circuit-making kits and essential materials to elementary classrooms. By making hands-on STEM learning more accessible, this initiative bridges the gap between innovation and equity in education.
Terrabyte Team
Terrabite
Innovating Sustainable Construction
Terrabite is a student-led team focused on revolutionizing the construction industry through sustainability. Their project explores the use of biochar to create carbon concrete, a material designed to reduce the environmental impact of traditional concrete production. By integrating biochar, a carbon-rich byproduct of organic matter, into concrete, Terrabite aims to develop a solution that not only sequesters carbon but also enhances material properties. This innovative approach showcases how entrepreneurship and environmental responsibility can converge to address critical challenges in sustainable development.
Jay Weaver
Jay's Mailbox
Service and Maintenance Simplified
Jay’s Mailbox Solutions is a dedicated service business specializing in high-quality mailbox repair and replacement across the Triangle. The idea began the summer before Jay’s 7th grade, during the COVID-19 pandemic, when he noticed many neighborhood mailboxes with rotten posts and rusty numbers. What started as a small side gig—painting and fixing mailboxes for friends and neighbors—quickly grew as homeowners began reaching out for reliable, affordable service.
Over the years, Jay’s business has expanded, generating five figures in lifetime revenue and becoming a trusted name in mailbox repair. He continues to grow, working to secure contracts with HOAs and communities that will help neighborhoods maintain curb appeal while ensuring compliance with guidelines.
