Jed Simmons

Jed Simmons is a Teaching Professor at both the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Duke University, where he serves as an Entrepreneur-In-Residence & Professor of the Practice. With decades of experience in media, entertainment, technology, and consumer products, he co-founded Next New Networks (acquired by YouTube), led corporate turnarounds, and scaled startups internationally.

• Education:
  • BA in Public Policy from Duke University
  • MBA from Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College

His research and teaching focus on the intersection of entrepreneurship, media-technology integration, and digital content innovation, emphasizing practical fluency in venture creation and growth strategies. At UNC, he leads the Shuford-Honors program in London, while at Duke, he contributes to the Innovation & Entrepreneurship program.

• Scientific Awards:
  • Carolina Chiron Award (lecture based on Randy Pausch’s Last Lecture)

Jed mentors students and entrepreneurs globally, with former advisees holding leadership roles at Netflix, TikTok, Meta, and Duolingo. Beyond academia, he serves as an ambassador for Grassroot Soccer, leveraging sports for adolescent health education.