Articles by Michael Melton

About Michael Melton

Michael is a 2025 UNC-CH graduate who majored in Psychology and Environmental Studies. He loves trying new restaurants and cafes, going hiking, snowboarding, and going on long road trips to seemingly random states. You can also find his work in the Daily Tar Heel, where he is an editor on the Lifestyle desk.

Durham’s Rewarded Interest Puts Consumers in Control of Their Data

February 26, 2026 Michael Melton

Durham-based startup Rewarded Interest is aiming to change how consumers engage with third-party tracking pop-ups in their browsers. The startup is tackling the problem through its flagship Chrome extension (also […]

San Francisco’s Fractional AI Launches Health-Focused Division in The Triangle

February 13, 2026 Michael Melton

In late January, Fractional AI Health, an enterprise division of Fractional AI, officially launched in the Triangle. Led by General Manager Kyle Bryant and Engineering Leader Rebecca Bilbro, the division […]

Durham’s “Founder Readiness Institute” Innovates Through People Analytics

January 27, 2026 Michael Melton

After years working across environmental think tanks, impact investing, and private markets, Logan Yonavjak kept coming to the same realization: Promising companies or company branches weren’t failing because of weak […]

How Chapel Hill’s Complete Breakfast Drives e-Commerce Growth

January 13, 2026 Michael Melton

In 2018, Andy Ives and Cayley Pater launched Made Trade, an online marketplace for sustainable goods. Ives was an advertising specialist, while Pater had spent her career in both market […]

Winston-Salem’s STEMZ Builds Tech-Enabled Flower Markets

January 6, 2026 Michael Melton

In 2018, having spent her career in floral design, Amy Dunlap was ready for a change. She began considering a move into flower farming but quickly realized there was no […]

Durham’s Majentics Guides Businesses Through An AI-Powered Internet

December 17, 2025 Michael Melton

Durham-based startup Majentics is building tools for an internet increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence. Its platform helps businesses transition from traditional Search Engine Optimization (SEO) to AI Engine Optimization (AEO), […]

How Wilmington’s APPROVE is Revolutionizing Equipment Financing

December 3, 2025 Michael Melton

Robert Preville has been in the equipment marketplace space for decades. Early in his career, he helped start an online marketplace for manufacturing services that was eventually bought and expanded […]

With “Airsenz,” Durham’s Intellicair Makes HVAC Smarter and More Transparent

November 25, 2025 Michael Melton

Durham-based startup Intellicair, founded by father-son duo Bobby and Sam Ferrel, is transforming how heating and cooling systems are monitored and maintained. Using physical sensors paired with a proprietary AI […]

Chapel Hill’s RO-bot is Changing the Game for Automotive Technicians

November 18, 2025 Michael Melton

Dave Sonders was inspired to form his startup after a longtime friend in the car dealership business shared a common problem. That problem is that automotive technicians are required to […]

Wilmington’s Essential Personnel Provides Smarter Systems For Public Safety

October 8, 2025 Michael Melton

When Wilmington firefighters Scott Monroe and Preston Stackhouse realized that traditional HR software couldn’t keep up with the demands of public safety work, they decided to set about building their […]