Jim Kitchen
Jim Kitchen (born August 15, 1964) is an American entrepreneur, professor, and adventurer. He teaches entrepreneurship at the UNC Kenan–Flagler Business School. Kitchen is noted for becoming the first person to travel to all 193 United Nations–recognized countries, journey to space, and descend to the deepest part of the ocean.
Jim Kitchen | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | August 15, 1964 |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur · Professor |
| Known for | First person to visit all 193 United Nations–recognized countries, descend to Challenger Deep, and travel to space |
| Academic work | |
| Institutions | UNC Kenan–Flagler Business School |
Jim Kitchen (born August 15, 1964) is an American entrepreneur, professor, and adventurer. He teaches entrepreneurship at the UNC Kenan–Flagler Business School. Kitchen is noted for becoming the first person to travel to all 193 United Nations–recognized countries, journey to space, and descend to the deepest part of the ocean.[1][2]
Career
[edit]Jim Kitchen started his first business in 1985, a marketing business, and promoted low Earth orbit space trips.[3] Afterwards, he started an international tour business as well as several other companies[4] He was instrumental in developing Chapel Hill's entrepreneurship eco-system,[5] opening up accelerator Launch Chapel Hill and student incubator 1789 Venture Lab.[6]
Kitchen began teaching entrepreneurship at UNC's Kenan-Flagler Business School in 2010.[7] The central theme of Kitchen's course is teaching students to create profits with a purpose.[8] In his course students learn entrepreneurial principles by starting small businesses where profits are donated to non-profits, including Make a Wish[9] and other charities.[10] Kitchen's classes have given away multiple cars to people transitioning out of homelessness.[11][12]
Travel career
[edit]Kitchen began traveling internationally in high school and over the past 30 years has visited all 193 countries recognized by the United Nations.[13][14] He visited his 193rd country, Syria, in 2019.[15] Kitchen is a member of the Travelers' Century Club, recognized as a Gold Member for visiting 100 or more countries.[16]
Space flight
[edit]On March 14, 2022, Blue Origin announced that Jim Kitchen would be a member of the NS-20 mission.[17] Pete Davidson was scheduled to be a crew member on this launch, however Davidson changed his mind. Gary Lai, the chief architect of the New Shepard rocket system replaced Pete Davidson on this space flight. On March 31, 2022, Kitchen became the first person to travel to all 193 U.N. recognized countries and go to space.[18][19] Several news outlets referred to him as the “Modern Day Marco Polo” who went to space.[20]
Mariana Trench
[edit]On July 5, 2022, Kitchen traveled in the deep diving submersible Limiting Factor to the bottom of the Mariana Trench, the deepest part of the ocean to depths between 10,925 and 10,935 meters (35,843 and 35,876 ft).[21] The trench is located approximately 210 nautical miles to the southwest of Guam.[22]
Titan submersible
[edit]In June 2023, Kitchen was scheduled to join an OceanGate expedition aboard the Titan submersible to the wreck of the Titanic, but he withdrew after raising safety concerns. Days later, the vessel imploded during its descent, killing all five people on board.[23][24]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Mike Wall (2022-03-31). "Blue Origin space tourist carries Ukrainian flag to final frontier". Space.com. Retrieved 2022-06-16.
- ^ "UNC-Chapel Hill professor vying for chance to go to space after visiting 193 countries". WRAL.com. 2021-03-12. Retrieved 2022-06-16.
- ^ Murphy, Kate (29 March 2022). "NC professor's trip to space delayed due to weather, but the astronauts are ready". The News & Observer.
- ^ Ohnesorge, Lauren (March 15, 2022). "With help from Jeff Bezos, UNC professor ready for the ride of his life". The Business Journals.
- ^ "Jim Kitchen – Entrepreneurship Center". Retrieved 2022-06-16.
- ^ "1789 Incubator Is Open And Ready For Business". WCHL Radio. 2013-07-07. Retrieved 2022-06-16.
- ^ "Lucas: Head Of The Class". University of North Carolina Athletics. Retrieved 2022-06-16.
- ^ "Profits with purpose". UNC System. 2019-03-28. Retrieved 2022-06-16.
- ^ "A wish come true". UNC Kenan–Flagler Business School. Retrieved 2022-06-16.
- ^ "Carolina students hit the market for a cause". The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 2022-06-16.
- ^ "UNC Business Students Make Fourth Car Giveaway Possible". WCHL (AM). 2015-02-03. Retrieved 2022-06-16.
- ^ "UNC Business Students Give Away Another Car". WCHL (AM). 2016-12-12. Retrieved 2022-06-16.
- ^ Ellis, Maddie. "What's next after you've visited every country in the world?". Gaston Gazette.
- ^ Ellwood, Mark (10 May 2022). "Travel Tips From the Man Who's Visited Every Country on Earth—and Space". Bloomberg.
- ^ "After traveling to 193 countries, UNC professor Jim Kitchen sets his sights on space". The Daily Tar Heel. Retrieved 2022-06-16.
- ^ "Well Traveled: June 2021". Travelers' Century Club. 27 May 2021. Retrieved 2022-06-16.
- ^ Jurney, Joe (1 April 2022). "UNC professor says spaceflight was an 'out of body experience'". WUNC.
- ^ WTVD (2022-03-31). "UNC professor Jim Kitchen becomes first person to travel to space after visiting all UN countries". ABC 11. Retrieved 2022-06-16.
- ^ "Blue Origin's latest mission takes a professor and entrepreneur to the edge of space". PBS NewsHour. 2022-03-30. Retrieved 2022-06-16.
- ^ "Months after traveling to space, UNC professor travels to deepest point on Earth". WRAL. 19 July 2022.
- ^ "After his recent trip to outer space, UNC professor is going to Earth's deepest point".
- ^ "'I've Been To The Deepest Point Of The Ocean—Here's What I Saw'". Newsweek. 7 August 2022.
- ^ York, Samuel Lovett, New (8 August 2025). "I was meant to be on the Titan sub. I refused after the safety briefing". www.thetimes.com.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Sharp, Christopher (11 August 2025). "'I was booked on ill-fated Titan sub but backed out after horrifying comment'". Daily Mirror.