In the bustling hub of Durham, serial entrepreneur Nick Jordan is “unboxing” his latest endeavor—a venture studio aimed at propelling startups to new heights.
Unboxed Venture Studio, born from Jordan’s vision and years of expertise, is set to become a powerhouse for budding companies in the region.
After dedicating four years to curating the perfect space and assembling top-tier resources, Unboxed Venture Studio is ready to offer startups a blend of capital, mentorship, and community.
Jordan, who already commands a portfolio worth over $20 million through his other venture, Smashing Boxes, has set his sights on an ambitious goal: to create the area’s first $1 billion venture studio.
“Hitting an arbitrary mark isn’t my purpose in life,” Jordan wrote in an email. “However, to attract the type of resources our business and our ecosystem needs—specifically capital—I feel obligated to aim high and drive an amazing return to potential investors.”
With nearly two decades immersed in the Triangle’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, Jordan has seen where companies stumble—often lacking the right execution, advice, or product-market fit.
And while many startups chase capital as their silver bullet, Jordan argues that money alone isn’t enough.
That’s where Unboxed steps in, offering the “fuel” companies truly need—expertise, teamwork, and strategic risk-taking.
“I thought about starting a fund, but companies need a lot more than money,” Jordan said.
“What they need is the fuel. So, if I could provide the fuel, quality, and teams that work together, I can take the risk.
If I can just take risks out of a lot of different areas, then we’re going to give more companies a chance to have a high impact toward success.”
The venture studio model, though still emerging, offers a fresh approach to nurturing startups.
While Unboxed isn’t the first of its kind in the region, Jordan envisions it as a vibrant new resource for transforming ideas into market-ready products.
Operating out of the Smashing Boxes and Durham Bottling Company (soon to be rebranded as DBCo) offices, Unboxed is strategically located near downtown Durham, fostering close ties with local businesses.
The building, which also houses the popular eatery Krill and will soon open a bar, is a testament to Jordan’s commitment to creating a community-centric ecosystem.
Jordan’s mission goes beyond launching startups; he’s focused on shaping the ecosystem itself.
“I have a mission to think about and design the ecosystem that you want to see,” Jordan said.
“Creating more awareness around it will uplift not just the studio, but also people thinking about or investing into studios, and seeing those as additional funnels of startups to potentially invest into.”
He invites ecosystem partners, entrepreneurs-in-residence, and investors to join the Unboxed network.
“If we get more investors into our ecosystem or people who want to see the deals, that’s going to be extremely beneficial for entrepreneurs,” Jordan said.
“There’s value in talking to everyone, so we need to start building more momentum and more of a center of gravity for these folks to orbit around.”
Unboxed Venture Studio is more than a new venture; it’s a catalyst for change in Durham’s business landscape, offering startups the fuel they need to soar.
You May Also Like: Pack Ventures Eyes $30M Fund to Fuel UW’s Startup Ecosystem
