Launch Chapel Hill Names Veteran Early-stage Investor, Elaine Bolle, as Board of Directors Chair 

Launch Chapel Hill announced today that Elaine Bolle has been elected Chair Board of Directors, succeeding Sheryl Waddell. 

Over the past 18 months, Launch Chapel Hill has been focused on refining and strengthening its programs and board and to better serve the needs of early-stage founders, including bringing on Emil Runge as Executive Director and adding new board members, including seasoned investors, entrepreneurs and ecosystem builders like Jan Davis, Leslie Jump, Michael Linnane, Sheryl Waddell, Fran Wilson, Scott Maitland, Dan Salazar, David Putman, Lennon Dodson Cianciulli, Mireya MacKee, and Brad Jenkins. 

Since Q1 2025, 32 ventures working across AI, robotics, advanced manufacturing, biotech, and beyond have gone through the Launch Powered by KPMG accelerator, drawing founders from the Triangle and across the nation. Alongside its deep tech track, Launch runs programs empowering student entrepreneurs across UNC, Duke, and NC State, and Launch Local, a 10-week cohort for Chapel Hill and Carrboro founders pressure-testing new ideas and shaping the local economy. 

Backed by UNC's Innovate Carolina and the town of Chapel Hill, the program has raised the bar for founder support. Young companies are paired with mentors and operators who have built and scaled businesses — helping founders of various stages validate a new idea, launch a first product, or gain real traction to their first enterprise customer. 

Sheryl Waddell, former Board Chair, reflects, "The Triangle is at an inflection point, and so is Launch Chapel Hill. We've built a program with real rigor, grounded in real-world work, with mentors and operators who are genuinely in it with founders. Elaine is the right person to take that model and scale it. I'm excited to see Elaine take the Launch model we've created to the next step." 

Meet the New Chair 

An active investor and advisor to early-stage companies, Elaine brings decades of experience leading organizations from venture-backed startups to $750M+ enterprises across multiple industries. Actively investing in early-stage companies for over 20 years and leading both angel and venture groups locally and nationally, she knows how to gather resources to support entrepreneurs. She is a co-founder of RTP Angel Fund, a past Angel Capital Association board member, and serves on early-stage boards. 

"Launch is evolving into a leading North Carolina tech accelerator, and the momentum is only building. Founders are choosing us — from across the region and, increasingly, from around the country — because of the quality of what we offer and the people behind it," Elaine says. "My goal is to strengthen what's working and make sure the impact of what we've created here is felt far beyond Chapel Hill." 

What's Next 

Through its partnership with KPMG, Launch Chapel Hill gives founders direct access to enterprise relationships and the training to win them. Its home within Innovate Carolina connects founders to UNC's research and innovation infrastructure, a deep talent pipeline, and decades of institutional relationships. Working with the town, Launch is attracting entrepreneurs to Chapel Hill. 

Under Elaine's leadership, the focus turns to scale. Launch Chapel Hill will add corporate partnerships, as well as deeper resources across all three of its tracks — deep tech ventures, student founders, and local innovators — serving founders at every stage of the journey. The through-line is people, and a continued effort to bring in operators, investors, and leaders who raise the quality of everything around them. 

About Launch Chapel Hill 

Launch Chapel Hill is a 501(c)(3) at the forefront of building the Triangle's reputation as a destination for ambitious founders. Its multiple accelerator tracks serve innovators of all kinds — student entrepreneurs, local business founders, and deep tech ventures working across AI, robotics, biotech, and advanced manufacturing. Through close partnership with Innovate Carolina at the University of North Carolina, the Town of Chapel Hill, and KPMG, Launch Chapel Hill brings together the ecosystem — experienced operators, investors, and institutional resources — to walk alongside founders from early idea to lasting impact. 

Media Contact Emil Runge, Director, Launch Chapel Hill (404) 668-2136 | emil@launchchapelhill.com