About CEF

Founded in 1999, Carolina Entrepreneurial Fellows (CEF) connects entrepreneurial ventures with MBA students at the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School. Since its inception, over 100 UNC students have engaged in summer internships with growing start-up companies. The CEF program recognizes that start-ups significantly profit from MBA students’ help and expertise in developing business plans and strategies, yet sometimes struggle with funds to pay these students. By providing supplemental funding, the CEF program enables firms to receive students’ expertise at a fraction of the market cost. Students benefit from the CEF program as it provides first-hand exposure to new ventures and allows them an experiential summer learning opportunity.

Fellows come from a variety of industry and functional backgrounds. Fellows are selected based on their demonstrated entrepreneurial ability, previous professional experience and passion to assist start-ups.  Past fellows have engaged in a number of activities, including:

• Business plans for new venture, product or service
• Financial models
• Market and industry research
• Feasibility studies
• Marketing, sales and implementation plans
• Venture pitches to secure additional funding
• Business strategy consulting