Entrepreneurial Spirit Takes Center Stage at Inaugural Pitch to the Pack Competition 

NC State has earned a reputation as a top university for entrepreneurship. The Wilson College of Textiles further solidified this position through its inaugural Pitch to the Pack competition, supported by Wells Fargo. 

“I believe NC State is on the cusp of being the global leader in innovation for any university,” David Hinks, dean of the Wilson College of Textiles, says. “Pitch to the Pack is an example of how we’re going to get there.” 

NC State students and Wilson College staff, faculty, and alumni were invited to propose their textile-related business ideas at Pitch to the Pack, which followed a Shark Tank-style format. Thirty-five entrepreneurs signed up for the competition. To start, they all received educational programming about how they could improve their pitches. They were also paired with a mentor to provide them with one-on-one support and guidance throughout the process. 

Next, each entrepreneur or pair of entrepreneurs presented their pitches to eight judges from across industry and academia in the preliminary round. Twelve finalists moved on to the final pitch competition in front of a new set of judges and a live audience in the Park Alumni Center. 

These finalists represented students, staff, alumni and faculty with backgrounds ranging from design to chemistry. The pitches themselves ran the gamut from 3D printed children’s footwear to textile filters that convert carbon dioxide, showing the interdisciplinary and non-traditional applications of textile knowledge. 

“I think the opportunities presented to new, young textile entrepreneurs today are vast, and I think it’s an incredibly exciting future,” Dean Hinks says. 

Unlocking valuable resources 

Pitch to the Pack finalists competed for five awards chosen by judges as well as four awards decided by the audience. All winners earned varying amounts of funding to be used for testing and prototyping within the Wilson College’s new, industry-grade W. Duke Kimbrell Flex Factory. 

In addition to these services, first and second place winners also received an Andrews Launch Accelerator sponsorship. The third place winners were awarded a First Flight Venture Center Propellor Pre-Accelerator Program sponsorship. 

Ph.D. student Reid Barnett won first place for his business, Ceretune LLC, which uses nonwoven textiles as the foundation for floating plant scaffolds with the ultimate goal of tackling nutrient pollution. 

Organizers of the event believe that even the contestants who did not win an award walked away with valuable experiences and opportunities.

“The main mission for Pitch to the Pack is to help entrepreneurs be connected to people that know about the industry, to support them in their ideas, and I think a big part of it is about learning,” Hinks says. 

Building valuable partnerships  

While this is the first year of Pitch to the Pack, the event feels far from new to Dean David Hinks. For years, he says, he had dreamed of the Wilson College hosting exactly this type of event to provide opportunities for budding entrepreneurs. 

“Wells Fargo, when they heard about our idea and our vision, were so excited to support us,” he says. “And we are so grateful to Wells Fargo for having trust in us.” 

Jay Everette, community relations director for Wells Fargo, says Pitch to the Pack presented a perfect opportunity for the company to connect with and support entrepreneurs and small business owners.

 “As The Bank of Doing, Wells Fargo aims to empower small businesses to grow and contribute to the local economy,” he says. “We all know small businesses are the backbone of our communities, and we are committed to making meaningful investments to help set them up for success.”

Pitch to the Pack also benefited from the support of NC IDEA, the North Carolina Textile Innovation and Sustainability Engine, and the North Carolina Textile Foundation.