Merrill Mason Judges New Business Ideas in the 3rd Annual Carolina Challenge Pitch Party

Raleigh, N.C. - Merrill Mason, a partner at Smith Anderson, recently served as a judge at the 3^rd annual Carolina Challenge Pitch Party. As a judge, Merrill listened to three-minute pitches from 47 start-ups, each led by at least one University of North Carolina (UNC) student, staff or faculty member. Nearly 100 judges were afforded five “$100” and one “$1000” votes. In the end, the top $1,000 Pitch Party prize was awarded to Let’s Chip In, a platform for communities to come together and chip in for the big item that would mean the most to someone in need.

About Merrill Mason

Merrill Mason leads Smith Anderson’s Start-Ups practice group and has extensive experience representing technology and life sciences companies. He is passionate about working with developing entrepreneurs, emerging businesses and law students and has taught as an adjunct instructor at the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School and the University of North Carolina School of Law. For more information on Merrill, please visit his bio online at SmithLaw.com.

About the Carolina Challenge Pitch Party

The annual Carolina Challenge Pitch Party is a student-led business and social venture competition designed to promote entrepreneurship at UNC, including the emerging area of social entrepreneurship, among faculty, staff and students from all schools and departments throughout the University. For more information on the Carolina Challenge Pitch Party, please visit www.carolinachallenge.org.