Nona, 49er Foundry startup, vying for top college venture

January 14, 2016
Categories: Research Tags: Academic Affairs, Research, Scholarship and Academic Life, Stake Your Claim

An automated personal knitting machine that can produce ready-to-wear clothing at the click of a button – it’s an innovative offering developed by Nona, a team of UNC Charlotte students. They are on their way to Los Angeles to compete in RECESS, a college music and ideas festival.

Nona, comprised of students Ian Anderson, Dan Hamalainen and Mike Gimon, is one of the top 15 college startups selected for the all-expenses paid trip to pitch an idea to venture capitalists on Friday, Jan. 15. Five of the 15 teams will receive the chance for funding through this competition. Other college teams include University of Pennsylvania, Cornell, Dartmouth, University of Southern California and UCLA.

To support Nona via social media, send a message to #LetsGoNona.

The UNC Charlotte students’ journey started this past fall when Nona competed against four other University startups in a pitch competition hosted by RECESS and 49er Foundry, a business incubator for students located in the PORTAL Building.

“Nona represents what UNC Charlotte is capable of producing when you put together entrepreneurial students from different colleges, such as the Belk College of Business and the William States Lee College of Engineering,” said Miguel Ávila, RECESS organizer and Ventureprise staff member.

The Nona team took its idea from concept to working prototype during the past several months working under the mentorship of Ventureprise staff and the NSF I-Corps program. Ventureprise Inc. is a nonprofit organization sponsored by the University; it is a resource for faculty, researchers and students seeking to commercialize innovations through new venture formation.

Anderson, one of Nona’s managing co-founders, said, “We’re excited to get the opportunity to pitch to venture capitalists. If a deal for funding gets made, this idea can really take off into a profitable long-term business.”

According to Nona, the team envisions a future where individuals will be able to purchase clothing from their favorite bands online and have them immediately made in their home.