E67: Scott Davis – NCInnovation: From Lab to Market

Scott Davis is the UNCW Hub Director for NCInnovation. NCInnovation formed as a non-profit in 2020 and established a historic public-private partnership backed by a $500 million endowment from the North Carolina General Assembly. Operating through a regional innovation network model, NCInnovation strategically deploys funding to take regional university research out of the lab and straight onto Main Street. Scott is a UNCW Alumni and former tech entrepreneur, living the entire lifecycle of bringing cutting-edge technologies to the real world. In this episode, we explore: How NCInnovation leverages its $500 million public-private endowment to deploy non-dilutive capital without taking equity stakes. Hardcore breakthroughs coming right out of Wilmington, including a universal flu vaccine targeting both human health and agriculture. Understanding UNCW’s rapid trajectory as a high-growth research hub and what it means for the local economy. Scott’s personal journey scaling plastics-to-fuel and mobile solar technologies. Scott Davis | LinkedIn NCInnovation | Putting Innovation to Work for All of North Carolina