Entrepreneurship@NCSSM

Nine students from NCSSM’s Colopy Entrepreneurship Program volunteered at Grep-a-Palooza in Durham, gaining firsthand exposure to North Carolina’s startup scene. By supporting the event, they connected with entrepreneurs, investors, and tech leaders—transforming a day of service into a powerful opportunity for networking and real-world learning.

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Students from NCSSM’s Durham and Morganton campuses delivered a standout performance at the 2025 DECA International Career Development Conference in Orlando, earning top honors among 25,000 global participants. Joshua Chilukuri claimed 2nd place in Principles of Finance—one of NCSSM’s highest-ever finishes—while several others earned finalist and event medals across marketing, entrepreneurship, and finance categories. Beyond competition, students built global networks, explored career pathways, and celebrated their achievements with unforgettable experiences at Disney and Universal.

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As part of the lead-up to the Product Realization J-Term, students at NCSSM Morganton attended a Lunch & Learn with product developer Michael Taylor. Drawing from real-world experience, Michael shared insights on taking ideas from prototype to market—covering design, sourcing, manufacturing, and customer feedback. His candid stories of iteration, failure, and resilience resonated with students and sparked enthusiasm for turning ideas into tangible products.

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The Colopy Entrepreneurship Program (CEP) was pleased to host Steve Finch for a thought-provoking Lunch & Learn session focused on the complex world of healthcare operations. With extensive experience as a hospital executive and health systems leader, Steve offered students a rare behind-the-scenes look at how large healthcare organizations manage resources, prioritize patient outcomes, and navigate ever-evolving policy and technology landscapes.

Steve’s session explored the business side of healthcare, including hospital budgeting, supply chain management, workforce challenges, and the delicate balance between operational efficiency and compassionate care. He also shared personal stories from his time in leadership and invited students to consider how entrepreneurial thinking, especially around data, logistics, and systems design, can help solve some of the healthcare industry’s most pressing problems. The conversation opened students’ eyes to new opportunities for innovation and impact in one of the world’s most vital sectors.

As part of our Lunch & Learn series, the Colopy Entrepreneurship Program hosted Ryan O’Donnell, founder of SociCircle, for an inspiring session on storytelling for social good. Drawing from his journey as a social entrepreneur and creative director, Ryan shared how narrative and design can spark empathy, mobilize communities, and drive impact. Students explored how mission-driven ventures benefit from strong values, active listening, and compelling storytelling, encouraging them to think beyond traditional business models and harness creativity to tackle real-world challenges.

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NCSSM students had the opportunity to hear from Carson Jackson, co-founder of DuraVax Inc., during a Lunch & Learn session focused on biotech entrepreneurship. Carson, an Honors Scholar at UNCW, shared his journey from student researcher to startup founder, detailing how his team secured a $274,991 NSF Small Business Technology Transfer grant to develop novel mRNA vaccine stabilization technology.

With 23 students in attendance, the discussion highlighted the challenges of funding early-stage biotech ventures, the transition from academia to entrepreneurship, and the power of near-peer mentorship in shaping emerging innovators. Carson’s insights provided a firsthand look at balancing research, commercialization, and startup growth—all while still in college.

Thank you to Carson for an engaging and inspiring session!

In just 8 days, NCSSM students transformed ambitious ideas into real-world nonprofit proposals, tackling issues from food insecurity to maternal health. With guidance from industry experts, they gained invaluable insights on scaling impact, managing budgets, and staying focused on the mission.

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Student entrepreneurs in Chad Keister’s HU 4000 Entrepreneurship course recently held an Entrepreneurship Fair on the NCSSM-Durham campus.  The event, dubbed Innovate. Create. Disrupt.

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After enduring the social challenges of online school, Anika, a senior at NCSSM-Durham, longed for a way to rebuild her public speaking skills. What she didn’t know was that joining a DECA chapter would ignite a journey that would take her to the international stage—and lead her to victory. 

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