Katharos, Inc. received an honorable mention for its work toward commercialization of a novel technology to manage poor blood phosphate control in end-stage kidney disease patients who are undergoing hemodialysis.
The Carolina Challenge is a 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.
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 in December, they gain access to a wide range of resources to help them learn how to turn their ideas into viable business plans. Finalists compete for prize money at the final round of competition in March each year by presenting their plans to a panel of judges made up of successful entrepreneurs and business people as well as community and university leaders.
Katharos, Inc. received an honorable mention in the Carolina Challenge competition on March 27th. Katharos, Inc is working toward commercialization of a novel technology to manage poor blood phosphate control in end-stage kidney disease patients who are undergoing hemodialysis. Co-founders are Melanie S. Joy, PharmD, Ph.D., UNC School of Medicine and Kidney Center faculty member, and Marian G. McCord, Ph.D., N.C. State Department of Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science and UNC-N.C. State Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering faculty member. NC BioStart entrepreneur-in-residence Perry A. Genova served as a business advisor to Katharos, Inc for the competition.