Confidential
Ideas are everywhere.
Classroom conversations. Group chats. Late-night talks. The hard part: execution. People plan more than act and brainstorm more than build.
T-0 is a startup-inspired challenge created to fix this execution gap. Participants are dropped into an unexpected challenge and given limited time to respond, adapt, and execute.
The challenge isn't revealed until start time.
At its core, T-0 is about cultivating a culture of creativity, problem-solving, and execution and giving students a space to practice all three.
Ready at T-minus zero.
LAUNCHPresented by BuildHouse
INVITATION
Our first invitations are being sent to students whose work caught our attention or have been recommended by others in the community.
But we know we're far from discovering everyone. Some of the most interesting builders at UNC are people we haven't met yet.
If T-0 sounds like something you'd want to be part of, we'd love to hear from you.
SCHEDULE
Coming soon.
JUDGES
We have a panel of startup founders joining us as judges.
Forbes 30 Under 30
The Residency — San Francisco
SPONSORS
BuildHouse
More coming soon.
FILE: FAQ · CLEARANCE: PUBLIC
Frequently asked questions.
General
T-0 is a time challenge where we give participants a goal and a time limit to reach it. The details remain a surprise until the event begins.
No. T-0 isn't about arriving with an idea, but rather about how you think, collaborate, and execute under time pressure.
Not at all. Strong teams need many different ways of thinking. Whether your background is business, engineering, design, science, or something completely different, you'll have something valuable to contribute.
Yes. T-0 is more than a single event, we're building a tight-knit community around creativity, execution, and entrepreneurship at UNC.
Eligibility & Teams
Anyone undergraduate college student who's curious, enjoys solving problems, and wants to challenge themselves. No prior startup experience needed to participate.
Yes. Any college student is eligible to participate. If you're a high-schooler, email us at tminus0.unc@gmail.com. We're admitting a small number of exceptional high-schoolers to participate.
Yes. You can register as a team or find a team at the event. We will arrange teams for those who wish to form one prior to the event.
Logistics
September 13th, 2026. Stay tuned for a detailed schedule including check-in times!
Approximately 7 hours. We will post a detailed schedule soon, so keep an eye on the website!
No. Participation is completely free.
Yes. We will be providing lunch for all participants during the event. A schedule detailing lunch times coming soon.
We are organizing an invite-only Founder's Dinner following the challenge with judges, T-0 Exec, and specially invited members. More information on how to get invited coming soon!
A laptop, something to take notes with, and your creativity! Snacks will be provided :)
Get Involved
Invitations are sent to some UNC students from our network or whose work caught our eye to get first dibs at registration. If you didn't receive one, you can still introduce yourself through our website. We're always looking to meet new builders!
We're looking for volunteers!!! Please fill out our volunteer form to sign up.
Please email us at tminus0.unc@gmail.com if you have any further questions or concerns!
Sponsor
FILE: SPONSORSHIP · CLEARANCE: PUBLIC
Join us in supporting Carolina's emerging innovators.
We're seeking sponsors who value initiative, creativity, and execution — and want to empower the next generation of founders, builders, and problem-solvers.
Please reach out to tminus0.unc@gmail.com or ishani.gandi@unc.edu if interested.
*The PITCH, an event venue on Franklin Street in the heart of Chapel Hill, will serve as our home for T-0.
Confidential
FILE: PERSONNEL · 10 RECORDS
Meet the team.
HOVER A FILE
T-0 is a student-led organization dedicated to developing the next generation of entrepreneurs. By placing students in demanding, fast paced environments where outcomes matter, T-0 bridges the gap between academic learning and the realities of building, leading, and creating in the modern business world.
T-MINUS ZERO · CHAPEL HILL
Join us at UNC's most ambitious startup community.
