Join us at the KPMG GenAl Executive Accelerator, the premier opportunity to accelerate your organization’s value creation with Al. This experience brings industry leaders together to focus on enterprise-wide AI transformation, reimagining the workforce, and achieving sustainable value creation through AI initiatives.
We’ll explore responsible development, successful implementation, and effective use of this powerful technology. Our high touch, high tech approach to learning will provide a deep dive into how AI will impact your business.
Participate in small-group industry roundtable discussions on cross sector GenAI use cases aimed at creating pragmatic and practical next steps. We’ll close the day with a networking reception, where you can mingle with other industry leaders.
Don't miss this unique opportunity to propel your organization into an era of technology driven growth.
Some or all of the services described herein may not be permissible for KPMG audit clients and their affiliates and related entities. The information contained herein is of a general nature and is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Although we endeavor to provide accurate and timely information, there can be no guarantee that such information is accurate as of the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No one should act upon such information without appropriate professional advice after a thorough examination of the particular situation.
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Inaugural Cohort 1: Spring 2025
Launch Chapel Hill and KPMG are uniting to redefine startup acceleration—where deep tech meets enterprise scale.
Our 6-week accelerator integrates Launch’s startup expertise and KPMG’s extensive network and capabilities to provide support for founders innovating in frontier technologies – giving companies unprecedented access to cutting-edge industry insights and enterprise connections. Universities or Corporate Enterprises interested in creating, sourcing, and engaging startups in emerging or frontier technologies should reach out to KPMG’s Innovation Partnerships team.
GenAI was utlized in the creaton of this image.
VR vision training app on Oculus that helps athletes see the ball better, react faster, and build confidence.
Ver Coaching Immersive Sports Training
Founder bio
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Nuream Digital Health
Nuream is a neurodata company using advanced neurosensing materials to tackle the sleep epidemic and unlock the power of the brain.
Pathlit Agentics AI Workflow
Pathlit is a no-code platform to build AI automations with agents - turning ideas into workflows that save time, scale ops, and grow faster.
Terra Trust AI + Tech Sustainability
Terra Trust is an AI-driven data and analytics company that helps technology buyers and providers determine the True Cost of their decisions.
Tesslate Product Development AI
Tesslate builds tools that reason and adapt, creating custom business solutions from raw data, no code or tech experience required.
Neuroink Semiconductors
We develop printable electronics solutions with specialized inks and EHD printing technology for neuromorphic and sensing applications.
LOOM3D Advanced Manufacturing
Loom3D has developed modern weaving technology that enables seamless, zero-waste apparel, cuts manufacturing costs and boosts sustainability in the apparel industry.
DermiSense BioTech
Transforming diagnostic testing through an innovative, low-cost, zero-power patch technology that extracts dermal interstitial fluid (ISF).
Blue Sky Robotics Advanced Manufacturing
Blue Sky Robotics combines advanced robotics and AI in a seamless, flexible system— ready to adapt and reconfigure as your needs evolve.
Bio:
Founder and Chief Executive Officer LOOM3D
Jeanine Fry
Jeanine Fry is the Founder and CEO of Loom3D, a transformative startup based in Raleigh that aims to revolutionize the apparel industry by producing seamless woven garments. Her passion for fashion began in childhood, but years in the industry exposed her to its wastefulness—30% of clothing worldwide remains unsold and 25% of fabric is discarded during production. To address these issues, Fry founded Loom3D, which employs advanced technology to weave whole garments directly on the loom, eliminating waste from cutting and sewing. Her work received recognition through a $10,000 NC IDEA MICRO grant and a $2,000 award from N.C. State’s Venture Pack Challenge. Holding a master’s degree from N.C. State’s Wilson College of Textiles and currently pursuing a Ph.D., Fry collaborates with experts to refine Loom3D’s technology, which uses modified weaving machines for three-dimensional garment creation. Loom3D also adopts "just-in-time" production, aligned with real-time consumer demand, reducing overproduction and waste. This innovative approach offers enhanced comfort and is beneficial for those with sensory sensitivities.
The Town of Chapel Hill leverages academic and research strengths to drive economic growth, attract businesses, and build sustainable partnerships across sectors.
Business
Together we're building a thriving innovation ecosystem:
Industry. Academia. Community. One bold innovation ecosystem.
UNC Chapel Hill empowers the workforce of the future with real-world entrepreneurial experience, showcases research and startup excellence, and fosters industry-academic collaboration.
KPMG stays ahead by sourcing next-gen startup solutions, mentoring founders, and integrating breakthrough technologies into consulting solutions.
Founder and Chief Executive Officer Terra Trust
Mike DiPetrillo
Terra Trust AI is the world’s first tech-focused sustainability intelligence platform, designed to help IT teams reduce their environmental impact. With IT being the second-largest corporate expense and responsible for 46% of a company’s carbon footprint, most organizations lack the staff, tools, and data to drive meaningful change. Terra Trust AI seamlessly integrates sustainable actions into the daily tasks, projects, and goals of IT professionals.
Founder and Chief Executive Officer Pathlit
Advay Gupta
Advay Gupta is the founder and CEO of Pathlit, a company dedicated to simplifying AI solutions for businesses with a no-code platform. Developed from his experiences assisting his non-technical mother, Pathlit allows users to easily test, evaluate, and deploy large language model solutions, minimizing the need for extensive in-house AI teams. Gupta's journey began as a student passionate about econometrics and quantitative economics. His vision for Pathlit gained significant recognition in 2023 when the company won first place at the Cozad New Venture Challenge, earning a $50,000 prize amidst nearly 200 competing teams. Alongside teammates Mark Zhang and Emma Chen, Gupta presented Pathlit as a company backed by industry leaders like AWS Activate, Google, and Nvidia. His approach combines academic insights with machine learning and data science, applying these principles to effectively predict market outcomes. Encouraged by industry experts, Gupta has focused on transforming Pathlit into a robust business venture, actively fundraising and building a dynamic team. Looking ahead, Gupta is committed to enhancing Pathlit's capabilities as AI technology evolves, aiming to create valuable tools for both businesses and individuals. He continues to network within the industry, leveraging connections to further Pathlit's development while managing his responsibilities. The success and momentum of Pathlit give him hope for overcoming future uncertainties as he strives for greater achievements.
Founder and CEO Blue Sky Robotics
Steven King
Steven is the Chief Executive Officer of Blue Sky Robotics, which designs, builds, and deploys industrial automation solutions such as cobots to solve complex manufacturing problems. In addition, Steven is a Reese Felts, Jr. Distinguished Professor of Emerging Technologies at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill holding a joint appointment with the Hussman School of Journalism and Media and Kenan-Flagler Business School. He combines computer science concepts, human-centered design, and storytelling to create new ways to present information through emerging technologies such as virtual and augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and other interactive media forms. Steven is an award-winning journalist and former Editor of Innovations and Director of Video for The Washington Post with a master’s in computer science. In addition to his role at the University, Steven consults with Fortune 500 corporations, U.S government agencies, and foreign governments to solve difficult problems using creative solutions.
Cofounder Carbonix AI
Pranav Sanghvi
Thomas Bamforth and Pranav Sanghvi first met while both were participating in the MBA program at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School. From the moment they met, Bamforth said, they knew they would one day be building something together. That something turned out to be Carbonix AI—an emerging Chapel Hill-based startup that is aiming, on a broad scale, to accelerate the speed at which the life sciences industry operates. Specifically, Carbonix is using AI agents to enable Contract Research Organizations (CROs) to tackle proposals swiftly and efficiently.
Chief Executive Officer DermiSense
John Strang
John Strang brings a unique blend of leadership from fields in virtual healthcare and quality management in manufacturing. His experience includes spearheading the development of a web-based application designed for the stringent demands of quality control in medical device and aerospace manufacturing, and a strategic role in driving revenue growth within the virtual healthcare industry at Vida Health. John has proven his ability to lead teams towards innovation and market success. His diverse background, which spans from tech startups to major league sports, emphasizes his adaptable and forward-thinking approach to leadership. John's operational expertise and product management skills have consistently resulted in enhanced cross-departmental collaboration, productivity, and successful product launches.
Founder and Chief Technology Officer Neuroink
Nikolay Frink
Bio to come...
Founder and Chief Executive Officer Ver Coaching
Mike Halpert
Mike Halpert is the founder of Ver Coaching, a startup using virtual reality technology to enhance vision training for athletes. Recognizing that traditional athletic training often overlooks visual skills, Halpert developed the Ver Vision Trainer VR app to build confidence and improve performance. The app features engaging VR mini-games that strengthen each eye individually, addressing imbalances in visual strength. Athletes can use this portable tool anywhere—on the field or in the dugout—without requiring internet access, making it ideal for busy training schedules. Ver Coaching has shown promising results, with athletes experiencing improved performance metrics like increased exit velocity in baseball. The technology is adaptable across various sports, benefiting players in golf, volleyball, and beyond. Mike Halpert's vision training is transforming how athletes prepare, empowering them to see with clarity and excel in their sports.
Founder and CEO Tesslate
Manav Majumdar
Cofounder and Chief Executive Officer Nuream
Rob Cooley
Nuream is a Wilmington, NC-based sleep innovation company founded by entrepreneurs Rob Cooley, and Nathan and Lauren Munton, on a mission to revolutionize the sleep industry. By combining cutting-edge sleep science with sustainable materials and a commitment to customer well-being, Nuream is setting a new standard for comfort, health, and environmental responsibility. As part of their commitment and passion to improve sleep, the three co-founders have created a non profit 501(c)3 with the intent of making a real difference in sleep solutions and giving back as a means of their corporate mission.
Thomas Bamforth
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Quantum Computing t Semiconductors and Chips t AGI and Advanced AI t Crypto and Digital Assets t Industry 4.0 and Automated Manufacturingt Humanoid Robotics t Biotech and Life Sciences t Space Economy, Supply Chain Resilience, Sustainability
We’re not chasing trends—we’re shaping them. Our accelerator focuses on frontier industries that define the next decade.
Innovation Frontiers. When visionaries build what's next.
A refined value propostion that resonates with real customers t Validated MCP through guided customer discovery t A go-to-market strategy tailored for enterprise adoptiont t Enterprise engagement readiness t Final pitch to KPMG professionals, mentors, and prospects
We don't just accelerate. We align you with enterprise needs and help you land your first big customer.
What you'll gain. From MVP to Enterprise-Ready.
Cliff Justice, US Leader of Enterprise Innovation KPMG LLP
We’re thrilled to welcome the second cohort of Launch Chapel Hill, powered by KPMG. These founders represent bold ideas and the drive to transform industries. Our team is excited to help them refine their strategies, validate market opportunities, and connect with the right networks to accelerate their growth. This program is all about turning vision into impact, and we can’t wait to see what this group achieves.
Steven King, CEO Blue Sky Robotics
This was a rewarding and valuable experience that is well worth the time investment! KPMG was highly-invested providing usable, practical content every week. I recommend this to any startup past the MVP stage!
UNC’s Launch Chapel Hill has supported over 197 ventures over the last decade. Together, UNC and KPMG look forward to ushering in the next wave of technology.
A strong foundation. A future of possibility.
For every university-affiliated startup that scales, local job growth increases by 5x, with most ventures remaining within 50 miles of their originating campus.
2025 event highlights
Launch Powered by KPMG is on a mission to help founders secure early GTM traction, providing the coaching needed to gain next-step commitments.
Some or all of the services described herein may not be permissible for KPMG audit clients and their affiliates and related entities. The information contained herein is of a general nature and is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Although we endeavor to provide accurate and timely information, there can be no guarantee that such information is accurate as of the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No one should act upon such information without appropriate professional advice after a thorough examination of the particular situation. © 2026 KPMG LLP, a Delaware limited liability partnership, and its subsidiaries are part of the KPMG global organization of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Limited, a private English company limited by guarantee. All rights reserved.The KPMG name and logo are trademarks used under license by the independent member firms of the KPMG global organization.
Executive Director Enterprise Innovation, KPMG US
Stephanie Kim
Global Head and US Vice Chair Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation, KPMG US
Steve Chase
National Managing Principal of Clients and Markets Leader for Advisory Markets, KPMG US
Todd Lohr
Enterprise Innovation & University Partnerships KPMG US
Ginger Luckey
Brad Jenkins
Redefining startup acceleration and technology adoption – where deep tech meets enterprise scale.
Scyntek BioTech + AI
Portable wearable device for early non-invasive DVT detection, enabling operator-independent care in high-risk patient recovery settings.
Saku BioSciences BioTech Manufacturing
Accelerates microbial strain development for biotech firms, reducing R&D costs for sustainable production of food, medicine, and materials.
Monthly AI CFO for SMBs
Delivering AI-powered financial insights for SMBs, transforming complex accounting data into strategic clarity and actionable reports, improving decision-making
Stealth BioTech Industrial Energy + Biotech
Converts industrial wastewater into clean energy using innovative microbial technology for efficient biomethane recovery and sustainable solutions.
Focus Cubes Enterprise AI and Health
AI-driven biometrics to identify real-time employee stress, delivering micro-interventions that enhance productivity and reduce burnout in high-pressure sectors.
Fizz Studio AI Data Visualizations
Enhances data visualization, accessibility and accuracy, providing automated insights and crucial interactive data experiences.
Counterforce Health AI for Healthcare Claims
Streamlines the insurance appeal process for clinics and patients, reducing administrative costs and care delays associated with claims denials.
Caffeine Enterprise AI
Secure AI-powered workspace that streamlines file management and business applications saving professionals 10+ hours/week.
BRILL Neurotech Biotech
Real-time Neuroimaging headsets for noninvasive brain-computer interface applications, faster and more precise than fNIRS and EEG.
AmidonShield Advanced Manufacturing
Advanced ballistic and blast-resistant building materials for military, government, and critical infrastructure security applications.
CEO and cofounder BRILL Neurotech
Mehmet Günal
Mehmet Günal is the CEO and cofounder of BRILL Neurotech, a startup pioneering the first neuroimaging headset designed to detect the Fast Optical Signal (FOS), enabling real-time, high-precision brain mapping for clinical and research applications. He holds a B.S. and M.S. in Electrical Engineering and a Ph.D. in Neuroscience, bringing together expertise in engineering, signal processing, and brain science. Before founding BRILL, Mehmet was a research application scientist at ISS Medical, where he specialized in near-infrared imaging instruments and supported the transition of FDA-cleared technologies into research and clinical markets. He also completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he focused on brain-computer interfaces and novel optical neuroimaging methods, with special expertise in Fast Optical Signals. Mehmet is passionate about building technologies that bridge scientific innovation with real-world impact, and is committed to advancing neurotechnology for healthcare and human potential.
Cofounder and CEO Saku BioSciences
Mark van Zee
Mark van Zee is the Founder and CEO of Saku Biosciences and the inventor of the company’s core PicoShell technology. A serial entrepreneur, he previously built multiple seven-figure e-commerce and digital marketing companies before turning his focus to biotechnology. Mark began developing PicoShells in 2016 as an undergraduate project, work he advanced through his doctoral and post-doctoral research. With Saku, he is now focused on transforming the economics of biomanufacturing and making biological products more accessible to the world.
Founder and CEO Focus Cubes
Charith Wickrema
Charith Wickrema is the Founder and CEO of Focus Cubes, a SaaS company redefining workplace well-being by turning AI and behavioral science into real-time resilience tools. The platform uses non-intrusive biometrics to detect stress and deliver real-time personalized micro-interventions, helping employees reduce burnout and perform at their best. After launching more than 100 market-shaping products across Fortune 500s and multinationals, and spending 20 years immersed in mindfulness and human psychology, Charith founded Focus Cubes to solve the $300B burnout problem and help employees thrive in high-pressure sectors. The company is starting with call centers—where burnout and attrition are among the highest—and expanding into other high-stress industries where resilience directly impacts both well-being and productivity.
Founder and CEO Fizz Studio
Doug Schepers
Doug is the founder and director of Fizz Studio, focused on making data visualizations accessible to people with disabilities. He spent a decade as a project manager at W3C, the Web standards organization, where he helped define the foundational technologies and standards used by every company and person today. While there, Doug identified the unmet need in the market for data visualization solutions. After leaving W3C, he founded Fizz Studio, where he spent several years consulting on accessible data visualization before creating products tailored for the market.
Cofounder Counterforce Health
Riyaa Jadhav
Counterforce Health was founded by Neal Shah, Gavry Eshet, Maggie Xu, and Riyaa Jadhav to tackle the widespread issue of denied health insurance claims. Drawing from personal experiences with claim denials for critical treatments, this team developed a free AI-driven platform to simplify the appeals process. The AI quickly generates precise appeal letters, significantly improving approval rates and alleviating the burden on patients and caregivers. Focused on empowering individuals and small clinics, Counterforce Health delivers accessible tools to navigate the complexities of insurance denials, aiming to rectify systemic inequities in healthcare. Their platform also includes Maxwell, a voice AI currently in development, which will directly engage with insurers to streamline the appeal process further. Located in Durham, Counterforce Health is expanding its reach by collaborating with national health organizations and regional hospitals, ensuring more patients and healthcare providers can access vital resources to effectively challenge claim denials. Through innovative technology and a commitment to fairness, the founders are redefining health insurance advocacy, making it more human-centered and equitable for all.
Cofounder Caffeine
Dustin Allen
Dustin Allen, CEO Dustin Allen is a proven tech leader who excels at scaling businesses with innovative, secure technology. Early in his career, he built an AI chatbot for Michaels that outperformed IBM's Watson. He then became Tech Lead at AmWell, where he was instrumental in the company’s $3B+ IPO by overseeing the first HIPAA-compliant telehealth software kits. Afterward, as Head of Product at Infillion, he helped scale revenue to over $100M by developing privacy-focused data & AI platforms. Hearsch Jariwala, CTO Hearsch Jariwala is a distinguished expert in AI and data security, holding two relevant master's degrees from Duke University. A recognized innovator, he holds a patent for technologies that use blockchain to secure AI source code, ensuring transparency and auditability for sensitive data. His cutting-edge work earned him a semi-finalist position in Microsoft’s Imagine Cup 2023; all built upon a strong foundation of hands-on experience as a data engineer.
Bryce Menichella graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with a degree in Biomedical Engineering and is a deferred admit to Harvard Business School’s 2+2 program. As CEO, Bryce brings expertise in clinical validation and early-stage product development to Scyntek. Vignesh Sriram graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with a degree in Biomedical Engineering and Computer Science. As a cofounder with experience in intellectual property and customer discovery, Vignesh brings expertise in commercialization strategy and regulatory insight to Scyntek.
Cofounder and COO Scyntek
Vignesh Sriram
Cofounder and CEO Scyntek
Bryce Menichella
Founder and Managing Director AmidonShield
Richard Kristof
Richard Kristof, COO, TriHelix Investments | Managing Director, Amidon Shield (360° Ballistics) Richard Kristof blends operations leadership, business development, and strategic management. At TriHelix Investments, he oversees portfolio operations and strategy. At Amidon Shield, he leads innovation in next-gen ballistic and blast-resistant concrete technologies. Previously, he was CEO of ISCoA, where he developed an EB-5 visa management platform, and CSO at Global Verification Network, driving market expansion. His past roles include EVP at VenueGen, Managing Director at Authentic Business Intelligence Alliance, and President/CEO of the American Research Institute. He holds a B.S. in Marketing from Fairfield University and previously held Series 6 and 63 licenses. Mark Buchmann, CEO, TriHelix Investments | Managing Director, Amidon Shield (360° Ballistics) Mark Buchmann leads TriHelix Investments with deep expertise in fund management, M&A strategy, and venture leadership. A U.S. Navy combat veteran, he has held key roles including Director at RedRidge Finance Group, CEO of Certanet, and Director at EDS. At Amidon Shield, he drives scalable infrastructure solutions, including ballistic concrete and armor-block systems for private and public sectors. Mark holds an MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School and was an Adjunct Professor at Duke University. He is also an award-winning author in internetworking technologies and Cisco CCIE.
Cofounder and CTO Monthly
Sergio Sepulveda
Sergio “Checo” Sepúlveda is Cofounder and CTO of Monthly, a fintech SaaS platform enhancing financial visibility for SMBs across the US and Latin America. He holds a Master’s in Analytics from Georgia Tech, specializing in AI, data science, and machine learning. Previously, he worked as a strategy consultant at Strategy & (PwC) with Fortune 500 and Big Tech clients. Passionate about social impact and technology, Sergio has led initiatives in AI, IoT, computer vision, and drones. Arturo “Artur” Hinojosa is Cofounder and COO of Monthly, delivering virtual CFO services to empower small businesses in Mexico. Previously, he built commercial and leadership expertise at Procter & Gamble, advancing from Key Account Manager to Sales Manager, and gained experience at HEINEKEN México and IDE Business Program Monterrey. Arturo holds a B.S. in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Tecnológico de Monterrey and is recognized for his leadership and project management skills. Jonatan “Jona” González is Cofounder and CEO of Monthly, building a “Digital CFO” to redefine financial standards for SMBs. Previously, he spent five years at Maple Capital, rising from intern to Head of FP&A and supporting a major acquisition. Jona holds a BBA from Universidad de Monterrey, executive education from IPADE, and an FMVA certification. Passionate about startups and finance, he is committed to democratizing access to high-quality financial insights.
The future needs founders like these
Connect with us
Interested in learning more about how Launch Chapel Hill supports early-stage ventures? Our team is here to help you navigate the innovation ecosystem and explore opportunities to grow with us. Let’s build the future—together.
Launch, Powered by KPMG will focus on helping startups refine their customer discovery process, validate market opportunities, secure pilot engagements and prepare them to scale. The accelerator will connect startups with extensive client networks at KPMG, providing direct exposure to enterprise challenges and commercialization pathways, leveraging the firm’s deep consulting experience.
Mike DiPetrillo, Founder and CEO Terra Trust
Fantastic program and people. Well worth applying and the time commit! Even if you are an experienced founder this will serve as a forcing function to move along and get better. The combination of being tied into a world-class University as well as the incredible team at KPMG is unique and powerful. These people know how to drive innovation!
Rob Cooley, Cofounder and CEO Nuream
And so again, KPMG, with Launch Chapel Hill and UNC… I mean, that combination, that nexus is really powerful and it's really something that we tried hard to become a part of. So, we greatly appreciated the opportunity.
John Strang, CEO DermaSense
We're trying to make diagnostic testing a lot easier, in some cases more affordable, definitely more accessible and more patient friendly... As far as the benefits of joining the program, really any opportunity to grown and learn and meet other people that are in a similar position as you is incredibly beneficial, but then also the opportunity to work with KPMG and connect with some of these enterprise companies that could help accelerate our platform into commercialization.
Mark Buchmann
Hearsch Jariwala
Gavry Eshet
Counterforce Health cofounders from left to right: Neal Shah, Gavry Eshet, Maggie Xu, and Riyaa Jadhav
Neal Shah
Maggie Xu
Cofounder and COO Monthly
Arturo Honojosa
Cofounder and CEO Monthly
Jona Gonzalez
Monthly cofounders from left to right: Jona Gonzalez, Arturo Honojosa, and Sergio Sepulveda
UNC ranks #12 nationally in research funding with $1.9B in annual Research and Development expenditures. (NSF HERD Survey 2023)
Over 1,000 startups have emerged from UNC-related innovations. These ventures have raised more than $19.8B in total funding and generated nearly $19.2B in revenue (Innovate Carolina 2024 Report).
KPMG invests over $5B globally in digital transformation and emerging tech—including AI, quantum, metaverse, and sustainability.
In a recent survey, 72% of CEOs cited innovation partnerships as key to long-term survival—KPMG has responded by embedding startup collaboration into client services.
In their own words: Insights from trailblazers Hear what drives them, inspires them, and how they’re making waves through KPMG Innovation Pathways.
Rachel Burton, Founder Stealth BioTech Company
The Launch KPMG accelerator was on-point for strategic growth. The program was structured to help startups like ours land enterprise pilots and high-value partnerships. This is the accelerator to join if you're serious about working with enterprise organizations.
Vignesh Sriram, Cofounder and COO Scyntek
Being able to interact with so many wonderful mentors throughout the process has been incredibly rewarding.
Mark van Zee, Cofounder and CEO Saku Biosciences
The accelerator program has been useful in two respects: giving us the valuable connections to stimulate growth of our company within the state and providing educational resources that enable us to talk to corporate partners to acquire our first paying customers.
Sergio Sepulveda, Cofounder and CTO Monthly
The fact that we can regionalize the product and get the mentorship from KPMG, a leader in the market, allows us to be more attractive and be more intentional in the ways we pursue the US market in the near future.
Charith Wickrema, Founder and CEO Focus Cubes
I think the focus on the B2B segment and the go-to-market piece and kind of slowing it down, going into detail, bringing in experts helps you appreciate and refine your product offering.
Doug Schepers, Founder and CEO Fizz Studio
I think in the second or third session at KPMG we saw a talk on storytelling, and that really, like a light bulb went off and I was like that’s what our software does.
Hearsch Jariwala, CTO Caffeine
This was almost like the perfect community, you know. Launch Chapel Hill and KPMG together. They’ve provided us all kinds of resources that really honestly make it so that companies are successful and start-ups that need help can get the resources that they need.
Mehmet Günal, CEO and Cofounder BRILL Neurotech
As we provide more neurodata it will have a lot of applications with enterprises working or collaborating with KPMG. In addition, the opportunity to network in North Carolina as a different state than Illinois where we are from is a great potential for us.
Richard Kristof, Founder and Managing Director Amidon Shield
Launch by KPMG has been a big win for us. What helped us most were the hands-on sessions with KPMG staff and the practice group leaders. Their feedback, connections, and straight talk accelerated our path. We're glad we joined and look forward to continuing the work well past the accelerator's close.
Stealth BioTech
Founder Stealth BioTech
Rachel Burton
Rachel Burton is an accomplished serial entrepreneur specializing in energy, agriculture and biotechnology innovation. With over 15 years of experience building start-up companies and commercializing technologies —including as Founder and VP of R&D at Piedmont Biofuels, North Carolina’s first commercial-scale biofuel company. Her career spans leadership roles at organizations including Novozymes, UNC-Chapel Hill and ProcessWerx. She also served as Vice Chair of the Chatham County Economic Development Board, advancing job growth and new business recruitment across the region.
Jordan McAlister
Launch Powered by KPMG is a competitive application-based accelerator aimed at sourcing and supporting frontier technology (AI, BioTech, Robotics, Quantum, and more) startups at the MVP stage who are ready to pilot with enterprise customers.
KPMG joined forces with Launch Chapel Hill to unveil Launch Powered by KPMG – an AI-enabled, next-generation accelerator model open to all innovators, with or without a UNC affiliation.
Celebrating innovation. Shaping the future.
Watch the highlight reel and join us on the journey!
Thank you to the founders, startups, and leaders who made 2025 extraordinary — here’s to building what’s next.
Inaedis Biotech
Inaedis develops thermal stabilization of heat-sensitive medical counter-measures using Room Temperature Aerosol Dehydration (RTAD) technology.
Beakpoint Cloud Intelligence
Beakpoint maps cloud spend to customers, features, and activities, giving teams a shared source of truth for unit economics.
Artificially Digital Enterprise AI
Artificially Digital turns HR data into proactive workforce and operational insights, helping CHROs and CFOs manage workforce risk.
ARtx Industry 4.0
ARtx is developing AI-driven, computer vision technology to automate additive concrete construction.
Cohort 3: Spring 2026
Utilyst Utilities and Energy AI
Utilyst's geospatial infrastructure intelligence transforms how enterprises manage critical assets through real-time monitoring and predictive insights.
Swik AI Financial Services AI
Swik AI offers credit risk intelligence for SMB lenders that turns fragmented evidence into decision-ready risk signals, enabling faster, smarter underwriting.
Swarm Product Testing AI
Swarm develops software to test and compare product decisions before they ship by simulating how users will actually behave.
Resilience AI Risk Mitigation AI
Resilience AI is a Disaster Tech company helping enterprises and governments move from reactive disaster response to proactive, decision-ready resilience.
Click the buttons below to view past 2 Cohort companies and founders.
Cohort 2
Pellucid Network Enterprise AI
Pellucid is the first buyer-side marketplace and agentic workflow platform delivering mission-first procurement for the cloud AI and marketplace era.
Papaya Comply Compliance & Privacy AI
Papaya is creating AI agents that simulate real regulators and users to audit privacy and accessibility compliance on live websites.
NeoVerse Decentralization
NeoVerse is developing cryptographic infrastructure enabling programmable scarcity for the live events industry - preventing ticket fraud and capturing lost value for artists, promoters, and venues.
NavAlytix Enterprise AI
NavAlytix accelerates AI ROI by identifying opportunities and assessing enterprise readiness to turn AI potential into value.
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Co-Founder, Head of Business Intelligence Utilyst
Founder, CEO Swik AI
Co-Founder, CEO Swarm
Bios:
Co-Founder, CTO Resilience AI
Title Pellucid
Founder, CEO NeoVerse
Transformation Leader NavAlytix
Co-Founder, CSO INAEDIS
Co-Founder, CRO Beakpoint
Co-Founder, CTO Artificially Digital
Co-Founder, CEO ARtx
Ladson Brearley
Ladson Brearley is CEO and co‑founder of ARtx, where he leads commercialization, customer discovery, and business strategy for AI‑driven technologies in additive concrete construction. A licensed civil and structural engineer, Ladson has spent his career developing engineering and technology solutions for infrastructure owners across the public and private sectors. Prior to founding ARtx, he worked on advanced infrastructure technologies supporting organizations including the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, wind energy operators, telecommunications tower owners, and state departments of transportation. He holds a BS in Physics from Davidson College and a Master of Civil Engineering from North Carolina State University. Rakesh Khan is CTO and co‑founder of ARtx, where he leads the technical vision, development, and execution of innovative technologies for additive concrete construction. A licensed civil engineer, Rakesh brings deep expertise in construction materials, nondestructive testing, special inspections, geotechnical evaluation, and structural health monitoring. Before founding ARtx, he led R&D and engineering initiatives focused on improving the performance and reliability of civil infrastructure for public and private owners. He is an active contributor to the American Concrete Institute and serves on committees related to 3D concrete printing and nondestructive testing. Rakesh holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Tech and an MBA from James Madison University.
Howard A. Stone
Our leadership team combines deep expertise across product management, marketing, and artificial intelligence. This multidisciplinary perspective ensures we don’t just build technology—we design solutions that organizations can adopt, scale, and trust. Ronald (Ron) Berry is Chief Executive Officer and a strategic architect who bridges technical precision with global commercial scale. He holds a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Stanford University and an MBA from The Wharton School and leads high‑impact transformations for startups and Fortune 100 enterprises. His work includes delivering $90.6M in revenue growth, commercializing a patent‑pending AI engine with a $1M+ pipeline, and driving 226% web traffic growth and 121% financed revenue growth. Dr. Shams Syed is Chief Technology Officer with more than 20 years of experience translating advanced AI research into production‑grade enterprise software. He holds a PhD in Computer Science (AI/ML) from the University of South Carolina and has architected generative AI technologies that supported 24× revenue growth and $27.5M in funding. He is the original architect of the Layr® SaaS platform and holds three patents in hybrid AI and 3D synthesis.
Alan’s career has centered on building early-stage startup infrastructure and engineering teams to scale. Having helped iContact (acquired), WebAssign (acquired), SignalPath (acquired), Wisp (acquired), Geoforce, and other startups as a mentor, he is looking to use this experience to help lead Beakpoint to similar heights. Ron’s career has centered around helping early-stage startups scale via scrappy sales, marketing and CS tactics. Having helped iContact (acquired), ServerBid (acquired), Kevel ($0 to $20m ARR), Localize (80% growth in 1 year) and other startups through his consulting work, he is looking to build on these successes to help catapult Beakpoint to the same levels.
Dr. Shams Syed
Ron Nelson
George Peacock is co-founder and current CEO of NeoMana Labs. Its business, NeoPay, is a community-based payments and rewards platform that helps small businesses save 50-80% of the fees charged by Visa, Mastercard, Toast and Square. He is also a co-founder of NeoVerse with Riley Johnson. NeoVerse is building enterprise infrastructure on top of Taproot Assets, Lightning Labs' protocol for issuing and transferring assets anchored to the Bitcoin blockchain. Where legacy systems reconcile after the fact, NeoVerse makes every transaction self-proving from the moment it occurs. Prior to NeoMana Labs, George worked for two startups: plynty, a fintech investing and planning app, and BioMech, a biotechnology startup that developed real-time motion analytics and proprietary sensor technology to quantify and improve human movement for the healthcare, sports, and wellness sectors. George is a co-author with Michael Edesses of The Three Simple Rules of Investing (Berrett-Koehler, 2014). He served on the Board of Directors of Georgetown University and as President of the Georgetown University Alumni Association (GUAA). As a standup comedian, he opened for Jim Gaffigan, Mike Birbiglia, Larry Miller, Brian Regan, Daniel Tosh, and others. He has four children and lives in Chapel Hill, NC.
Maksim Mezhericher is a Research Scholar in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Princeton University, with a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Ben‑Gurion University focused on spray drying. His expertise spans multiphase transport phenomena, liquid atomization, particle technology, and drying processes. Maksim is the inventor of novel liquid atomization techniques producing submicron droplets and room‑temperature dehydration technologies. He is a Princeton START Entrepreneurship Fellow and a recipient of the 2022 QED Proof‑of‑Concept Award from the University City Science Center. His training includes NSF I‑Corps (Cornell) and Princeton–Wharton Executive Education, reflecting a strong orientation toward translating deep engineering research into commercial and societal impact. Howard A. Stone is Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Princeton University and a world‑recognized authority in fluid dynamics and transport phenomena. He holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the California Institute of Technology and is widely regarded as a key opinion leader in complex fluids, multiphase flows, and interfacial transport. Professor Stone is an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and National Academy of Inventors, a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a member of the American Philosophical Society, and a Foreign Member of the Royal Society of the United Kingdom.
Maria Massei-Rosato
Heidi Lanford was most recently the pioneering Chief Data Officer at Fitch Group, where she led enterprise‑wide digital and AI transformation across Fitch Ratings and Fitch Solutions. Her leadership delivered next‑generation AI‑enabled products and accelerated Fitch’s position as a leader in credit ratings and research. Previously, Heidi led data, analytics, and AI at Red Hat and supported integration following IBM’s $34B acquisition. She serves on UVA’s School of Data Science board and advises Domino Data Lab and other AI startups. Vince Stuntebeck is a seasoned AI and data leader with experience building and scaling enterprise‑grade analytics and AI solutions. Formerly Director of AI, Data & Integrations at Salesforce, he led internal deployment of Agentforce for Customer Success and reimagined help.salesforce.com to showcase humans and agents resolving customer challenges at scale, supporting over 3 million inquiries since 2024. Vince is an adjunct professor and advisory board member at UNC’s School of Data Science & Society.
George Peacock
Ram M. Kripa is a technical founder building AI agents that operate directly within live environments. While admitted to the University of Chicago’s PhD program in Computer Science, he developed a real-time AI Chrome extension capable of autonomously navigating web consent interfaces and executing live privacy flows. The system became the foundation for Papaya’s agentic compliance infrastructure and earned funding through Chicago Booth’s Social New Venture Challenge. He was subsequently selected as a Mozilla AI Builder-in-Residence, where he continues advancing next-generation browser-based AI systems. Ram completed a Master’s in Computational Social Science before leaving the PhD program to build Papaya, focused on privacy and accessibility testing through autonomous browser agents.
Ram Mukund Kripa
Dr. Hakjae Kim is Co-Founder and CTO of Pellucid Network, architecting AI-driven software procurement at the intersection of agentic AI and regulated marketplaces to enable transparent, secure, compliant model deployment. He is also Chief Scientist at GINIA, leading generative AI strategy and serving as technical liaison to Intel, DoD, and DHS on mission-critical systems. Previously, he led autonomous-systems frameworks at Uber ATG and directed ML/geospatial intelligence programs at IARPA, earning the IC Science & Technology Team of the Year (2017), with prior NSG Team of the Year recognition at NGA. A 2019 PECASE recipient, he holds multiple patents and a PhD/MS/BS in Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering from SUNY Buffalo. Nick Miller is Founder & CEO of Pellucid Network, a Cary, NC startup automating software and AI procurement for regulated buyers with built‑in compliance. At AWS, he grew regulated‑industry Marketplace adoption from under $15M (2019) to over $2B in contract value (2025) and led the Intelligence Community Marketplace Program, the first IC‑accredited commercial software marketplace. He previously served at In‑Q‑Tel and as CIO of Arlington National Cemetery, launching DoD’s first mobile app (ANC Explorer) used by 4M+ visitors annually. A U.S. Army veteran, he earned two Bronze Stars and the Legion of Merit. He holds an MS in Finance (Johns Hopkins) and BS/MS in Electrical Engineering (Lehigh).
First Last
Founder, CEO Papaya
Ms. Samhita R is a disaster management practitioner and founder of Resilience AI, combining humanitarian fieldwork, corporate governance, and advanced technology to strengthen institutional resilience. Raised in flood‑prone Northeast India, she brings a preparedness‑first lens shaped by lived experience. She spent a decade at SEEDS, India’s leading disaster resilience organization, serving as its youngest board member and helping scale impact across the disaster lifecycle. She has also driven purpose‑led innovation with Honeywell, Microsoft, GE, Abbott, EY, and KPMG, and now delivers AI/ML‑enabled risk intelligence and heat action planning for governments and critical institutions. She is an ISB and SRCC alumna. Sundeep Reddy Mallu is a business operations leader and Co‑Founder and Chief Technology Officer at Resilience AI, where he drives revenue growth, scales climate‑tech solutions, and helps organizations proactively manage climate risk through the Resilience360™ platform. He played a pivotal role in securing $1M in seed funding led by Kalaari Capital and Java Capital and has helped position Resilience360 as a market‑creating solution aligning resilience with revenue growth and regulatory frameworks such as TNFD and SEC climate disclosures. Previously, Sundeep held senior leadership roles at Gramener, leading ESG analytics and product innovation, and at Comcast, contributing to the re‑architecture of its e‑commerce platform. He specializes in translating advanced technology into measurable business value while future‑proofing operations against climate risk.
Sundeep Reddy Mallu
Yogi Nishanth
Krish is a current sophomore at UNC studying CS. He has been building and selling software since high school, exiting a PropTech startup for over $100K and leading tech at a $300M VC firm as a college freshman. He has also published NLP research at IEEE conferences through Cambridge. Aryan is a current junior at UNC studying CS. He started his first business on job sites learning construction workflows firsthand and growing it to $40K ARR. He has published ML research at IEEE, and built a quiz platform that reached 10K users before exiting.
Krish Vazirani
Yogi Nishanth is the Founder of Swik AI, building a credit intelligence layer for small business lending. Over a decade in financial services at JP Morgan Chase, Capital One, and KPMG, he led lending strategy and risk initiatives spanning millions of accounts and complex secured credit portfolios. He founded Swik AI to bring structure, consistency, and scalability to relationship driven underwriting in small business lending. He’s a graduate of IIT Guwahati and Rice MBA, and is pursuing graduate studies at Harvard.
John Armin With more than 16 years of experience in AI/ML, geospatial analytics, and infrastructure modeling, he has led predictive and operational AI initiatives across water and energy systems. A licensed Professional Engineer and former Director of Data Science at leading consulting firms, he specializes in making spatial reasoning and causal modeling operationally practical—integrating fragmented data environments and deploying secure, on-premise solutions that meet strict regulatory requirements. He holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering and an M.Sc. in Computer Science and serves as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at UNC–Chapel Hill. A patent holder with 20+ peer-reviewed publications and more than 870 citations, John is building WorldGraph as a unified, edge-first platform to transform how complex physical systems are modeled, predicted, and managed. Zohreh Doosti With more than eight years of experience in analytics and data intelligence, she specializes in transforming complex datasets into clear, actionable insights using tools such as Power BI, SQL, and Python. She leads business finance and market strategy, ensuring that business decisions are grounded in measurable performance metrics and data-driven clarity. Zohreh brings deep expertise in business analytics, KPI development, and go-to-market execution. With a background spanning business intelligence, operations analysis, and marketing strategy, she focuses on aligning data, customer needs, and growth strategy to drive sustainable business expansion.
Zohreh Doosti
Co-Founder, CTO ARtx
Rakesh Khan
Ron Berry
Co-Founder, CEO Artificially Digital
Co-Founder, CEO Beakpoint
Alan Cox
Co-Founder, CEO NavAlytix
Heidi Lanford
Co-Founder, CTO NavAlytix
Vince Stuntebeck
Co-Founder, CEO Pellucid
Nick Miller
Co-Founder, CEO Resilience AI
Samhita R
Co-Founder, CTO Swarm
Aryan Aladar
Co-Founder, CEO, CTO INAEDIS
Maksim Mezhericher
Co-Founder, CTO Pellucid
Dr. Hakjae Kim
Co-Founder, CEO Utilyst
Dr. John Armin
Carbonix AI AI for CROs
AI Agents made for Life Sciences. Multiply your bid and proposal teams with our AI Digital Specialists.
New Accelerator Helps Startups Land First Customers Faster.
Launch Chapel Hill in the news!
3D weaving technology makes seamless apparel with zero waste/cutting cost, time and improving sustainability in the apparel industry.
BlueSky Robotics Advanced Manufacturing
Thermal stabilization of heat-sensitive medical counter-measures using Room Temperature Aerosol Dehydration (RTAD) technology.
Map cloud spend to the customers, features, and activities that drive it – giving teams a shared source of truth for unit economics.
Talent diagnostics that transform HR data intro proactive workforce and operational insights, helping CHROs and CFOs manage workforce risk.
Developing AI-driven computer vision technology to automate additive concrete construction, monitoring interlayer bond strength for quality and efficiency.
Geospatial infrastructure intelligence that transforms how enterprises manage critical physical assets through real-time monitoring and predictive insights.
AI-powered credit risk platform for SMB lenders that turns fragmented data into actionable risk signals for faster, smarter underwriting.
Test and compare product decisions before they ship with AI agents that simulate how users will actually behave and engage with products.
Disaster Tech company helping enterprises and governments move from reactive disaster response to proactive decision-ready resilience.
Buyer-side cloud marketplace platform delivering agentic procurement for the cloud, AI and marketplace era.
AI agents that simulate real regulators and users to audit privacy and accessibility compliance on live websites.
Cryptographically secure, non-custodial token ledger that facilitates Lightning Network payments for enterprises and banks.
Accelerates AI ROI by identifying top opportunities and assessing enterprise readiness to turn AI potential into real value.
Co-Founder and Head of Business Intelligence Utilyst
Founder Swik AI
Founder and CEO Swarm
Co-Founder and CTO Resilience AI
Co-Founder and CEO NeoVerse
Co-Founder and CSO INAEDIS
Founder and CRO Beakpoint
CTO Artificially Digital
CEO and Co-Founder ARtx
Heidi Lanford was most recently the pioneering Chief Data Officer at Fitch Group, where she led enterprise‑wide digital and AI transformation across Fitch Ratings and Fitch Solutions. Her leadership delivered next‑generation AI‑enabled products and accelerated Fitch’s position as a leader in credit ratings and research. Previously, Heidi led data, analytics, and AI at Red Hat and supported integration following IBM’s $34B acquisition. She serves on UVA’s School of Data Science board and advises Domino Data Lab and other AI startups. Maria Massei‑Rosato is the former Deputy Chief Data Officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, where she led strategic partnerships and teams that transformed how businesses used advanced analytics. Her work focused on building startup‑style teams to tackle complex, adaptive challenges. She collaborates with Architects of Group Genius to design innovation and leadership workshops and teaches Storytelling with Data in graduate and EMBA programs at Luiss Business School, as well as storytelling courses in Amsterdam. Vince Stuntebeck is a seasoned AI and data leader with experience building and scaling enterprise‑grade analytics and AI solutions. Formerly Director of AI, Data & Integrations at Salesforce, he led internal deployment of Agentforce for Customer Success and reimagined help.salesforce.com to showcase humans and agents resolving customer challenges at scale, supporting over 3 million inquiries since 2024. Vince is an adjunct professor and advisory board member at UNC’s School of Data Science & Society.
Founder Papaya
CTO and Co-Founder ARtx
CEO Artificially Digital
Founder and CEO Beakpoint
Co-Founder and CRO NavAlytix
Co-Founder, CTO, and AI Officer NavAlytix
Founder and CEO Pellucid
Founder and CEO Resilience AI
Founder and CTO Swarm
Founder, CEO, and CTO INAEDIS
Co-Founder and CTO Pellucid
Co-Founder and CEO Utilyst
Inaugural cohort 2025
Cohort 2: Fall 2025
