‘Shark Tank’-Style Competition Show Featuring UNC Student Premieres –

A new “Shark tankThe UNC-style show featuring UNC students was recently produced by The Design Network.

The show titled “Starting capitalwas filmed last spring It is a competition between college students who present their startup companies to a three-member jury. Participants work with the judges and other business professionals to improve their presentations. The show was filmed on the UNC campus in the USA Curtis Media Center.

The judges include Kenan-Flagler Business School Professor and Up on the hill founder Scott Maitlandalong with the head of the UNC Shuford Entrepreneurship Program, Bernard Bell. Each episode is hosted by Mary Laci Motleya UNC graduate and founder of EATS2SEATS.

Each of the three episodes has a different focus – education, public health and improving everyday experiences. The show premiered on August 7th on The Design Network and all episodes are free to watch on the channel YouTube channel.

Caroline Landrythe head of business development at TDN, said that the network is in the process of adding “Seed Money” as an on-demand option on streaming networks, including SSamsung TV Plus, Hulu and more.

While TDN typically focuses on home design and lifestyle content, Landry said that Seed Money was a step outside the box for them as they focused on business design.

“We just came up with the idea of ​​’Seed Money’ as a way to give back to both my alma mater and Jason’s alma mater, connect with some of our favorite people at the university like Bernard Bell, Scott Maitland and Mary Laci and the amazing To highlight ideas that young entrepreneurs have at UNC,” Landry said.

TDN was founded by Jason Harriswho also served as the show’s executive producer. Harris, a Carolina graduate, said that he wanted the first iteration of Seed Money to focus on UNC because he had ties to the university and it prepared him well for the business world.

Bell and Maitland both said one business from the show that caught their eye was Plant parentinga company founded by UNC students Max Nelson and Dylan Nicks.