Social Innovation: CUBE

As UNC’s only accelerator focused on social innovation, CUBE provides UNC students and faculty with the support they need to turn their best entrepreneurial ideas into triple bottom line businesses addressing some of our most pressing challenges, including public health, education, clean energy, and food security.

BY THE NUMBERS

MEET THE VENTURES

TACKLING ENVIRONMENTAL WASTE:

Ana Soule and her team at the Phoenyx Project are giving new life to vinyl billboards that would otherwise end up in the dump. Watch here.

TACKLING FOOD INSECURITY:

See how an award-winning company with a social mission to provide frozen, local produce to communities with low access to healthy food began in a UNC-Chapel Hill classroom. Watch here.

TACKLING EDUCATIONAL INEQUITY:

NC-Chapel Hill Ph.D candidate Ronda Taylor Bullock created an organization that is addressing systemic and ideological racism with the hope of providing anti-racist education. Watch here.

TACKLING GLOBAL WARMING:

Phyla plans to revolutionize seaweed farming in temperate waters to create jobs, reduce plastic pollution and clean carbon from the atmosphere. Watch here.

TACKLING ACCESS TO COLLEGE:

Cecilia Polanco found her passion and purpose on a pupusa food truck that awards scholarships to undocumented college students. Watch here.

TACKLING YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND EMPOWERMENT:

Musical Empowerment, hundreds of children across NC and beyond who would not otherwise have access to music lessons. Watch here.

SUPPORT CUBE: THE CAMPUS Y’S SOCIAL INNOVATION ACCELERATOR

In 2011, the Y established CUBE, a social innovation accelerator. CUBE offers 24/7 co-working space, seed funding, and professional mentoring. Young entrepreneurs receive training on topics ranging from business planning and human-centered design to lean start-up methodology and social marketing.

Gifts to this fund help staff the program, provide seed funding for ventures, and provide high quality workshops for CUBE ventures and Carolina students wanting to elevate their social impact.

If you are interested in offering additional resources such as mentorship, hosting a summer intern or hosting a CUBE fundraising event in your community, please contact campusy@unc.edu.

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