Merrill M. Mason Judges the Commercial Track of the Pitch Round of the 2011 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Kenan-Flagler Business School’s Carolina Challenge

Raleigh, NC (February 11, 2011) –Merrill Mason, Smith Anderson Partner, served as a judge for commercial track of the pitch round of the 2011 Carolina Challenge on Tuesday, February 8.

The Carolina Challenge is a student-led business plan competition designed to promote entrepreneurship at UNC-Chapel Hill, including the emerging area of social entrepreneurship, among faculty, staff and students from all schools and departments.

Each Challenge team included at least one UNC student, faculty or staff member. Activities span the academic year, beginning in the fall with recruitment and team-formation activities to attract the best ideas and demonstrate the value of participating in and winning the competition.

Emphasis is placed on forming multi-disciplinary teams that have the breadth and depth of skills and knowledge to implement the venture idea. Once teams officially enter the competition, they gain access to a wide range of resources to help them learn how to turn their ideas into viable business plans.