The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS), today announced the launch of Kairos, a pioneering initiative to reimagine university-based startup creation using artificial intelligence and cloud technologies.
The Kairos platform will serve as a model for how universities unlock economic impact by bringing together faculty research and student talent into scalable ventures with unprecedented speed and efficiency.
The novel platform, built on AWS’s cloud and generative AI technologies, leverages UNC’s leading position in translational research and innovation, anchored by Eshelman Innovation. Together, these powerhouse institutions aim to establish a vertically integrated venture studio model that supports startups from “cradle to scale” — from student engagement and faculty collaboration to real-world commercialization.
“This collaboration with AWS is not just about technology — it’s about transforming the way universities contribute to the innovation economy,” said Roy Zwahlen, Interim Executive Director of Eshelman Innovation. “Kairos will show what’s possible when world-class research, student entrepreneurship and AI delivered through the cloud come together.”
The Kairos AI for Venture Creation Platform will offer:
- An AI-first venture building process, enabling faster validation of problems, business models and product-market fit.
- A curated suite of AI tools, hosted on AWS, to support startup back-office, R&D acceleration and go-to-market workflows.
- Cloud infrastructure and technical mentorship from AWS, including startup credits and access to AWS expertise to accelerate discovery and innovation.
- A structured venture-building methodology supported by a network of entrepreneurs-in-residence (EIRs), each embedded with a Kairos team to provide hands-on guidance from concept through company launch.
“AWS sees the immense potential in campus-AI initiatives that transform how we approach education and business innovation,” said Kim Majerus, Vice President of Global Education and U.S. State and Local Government at Amazon Web Services. “Kairos represents UNC’s commitment to empowering the next wave of entrepreneurs, and we’re excited to be part of this initiative. This collaboration will help students and faculty turn research into real-world solutions that create jobs and drive economic growth and impact across communities in North Carolina and beyond.”
This partnership comes at a critical time as universities nationwide face shifting student demographics and the disruptive potential of AI. Kairos offers a bold path forward — leveraging AI to do more with less, while fueling regional economic development through the systematic creation of high-impact startups.
UNC and AWS will launch the Kairos platform with an initial cohort of ventures in summer 2025, with plans to scale to other partner institutions in future phases.
