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Wilson College of Textiles 
Wells Fargo Pitch to the Pack
Textile Entrepreneur Pitch Event

Awards

Awards include a mix of Andrews Launch Accelerator and First Flight Venture Center Propeller Pre-Accelerator sponsorships as well as fabrication and testing funds. These funds can be spent in the Wilson College of Textiles fabrication and testing facilities and for materials and supplies.

In 2026, ten awards will be presented, five based on judges’ scores and five based on audience voting. Only one award is allowed per team. Additional awards will be available from sponsorships from the Andrews Launch Accelerator and First Flight Venture Center. These awards have a separate judging system and are available based on individual eligibility.

2026 Awards

  • First Place
    • $10,000 Cash Prize
    • FFVC Membership ($2,500 value)
  • Second Place
    • $8,000 Cash Prize
  • Third Place
    • $6,500 Cash Prize
  • Fourth Place
    • $5,500 Cash Prize
  • Fifth Place
    • $4,000 Cash Prize
  • Audience Choice Awards ($1,000 Prize Each)
    • Best Q & A
    • Best Presenter
    • Most Sustainable 
    • Best Community Impact
    • Most Innovative 
  • Andrews Launch Accelerator Award (two spots, each $10,000 value)
    • Eligibility: Any startup that has a co-founding member who is either a current NC State student (undergraduate or graduate) or is a recent graduate (meaning they graduated 5 or fewer years ago).
    • More information on Andrews Launch Accelerator
  • First Flight Venture Center ‘First Class’ Coworking Membership (one spot, $2,500 value)
    • Eligibility: The highest ranking team local to the RDU area will be eligible to recieve this prize
    • Full Access to co-working and shared spaces during business hours
    • 16 hours per month of conference room use
    • RTP mailing address and package handling
    • Support letter for SBIR/STTR proposals
    • Access to all professional and social programming, and shared amenities such as kitchen space and complimentary coffee

All finalists must agree to the Pitch to the Pack Finalist Contest Rules and Agreement, which includes rules and regulations around pre-pitch activities, lab conduct, team disputes, and IP considerations.

Past Awards

  • First Place
  • Second Place
  • Third Place
  • Fourth Place
    • Project Budget: $6,000 to use in the Wilson College of Textiles fabrication and testing facilities and for materials and supplies
  • Fifth Place
    • Project Budget: $4,000 to use in the Wilson College of Textiles fabrication and testing facilities and for materials and supplies

2025 Audience Choice Awards

  • Best Speaker | Project Budget: $1,000 to use in the Wilson College of Textiles fabrication and testing facilities and for materials and supplies
  • Most Innovative | Project Budget: $1,000 to use in the Wilson College of Textiles fabrication and testing facilities and for materials and supplies
  • Most Sustainable | Project Budget: $1,000 to use in the Wilson College of Textiles fabrication and testing facilities and for materials and supplies
  • Best-Value Add | Project Budget: $1,000 to use in the Wilson College of Textiles fabrication and testing facilities and for materials and supplies

The deadline to spend awards is December 2025. More information will be provided after the event.