A big thank you to John Barnett, Co-founder of Supermoon, and David Siglin, Principal Design at Stitchfix, for their fantastic presentation at our Founders Forum event. With lively AI-generated graphics and anecdotes from Barnett’s time at Facebook and Instagram, they gave us a peek into their experiences building various projects – from apps to workflows and collaborative teams. Let’s dive into the highlights of their insightful talk!
Build the right team.
Optimize for passion and openness over raw talent and ability. Great the right team, not the dream team. (Who knows, they may become your dream team.)
Focus on building a web, not becoming a single hub. This creates trust horizontally, collaboration, and avoids one point of failure.
Know each team member’s starting point.
Be flexible about how your team is formed. (Flexibility was a thread pulled often over the talk.)
Strong opinions, loosely held. The idea of confidently expressing one’s beliefs with a willingness to adapt in the face of new evidence or perspectives.
Build the right collaboration
Be tight when defining success but loose with how it is actually achieved.
Be clear on what success means.
Constantly realign efforts and priorities. Ultimately, they should always point to the initial bullet: what does success mean?
Push information versus pull information. David shared how his team shares updates every Friday. It’s expected so people don’t feel that need to constantly ask for the information they know will be pushed out.
Have a healthy overlap, in knowledge and skills. This goes back to avoiding a single point of failure.
Build the right product.
Love the problem, trust your gut, explore hypotheses.
Once you understand the problem, learn to love it. Because, you’re working to solve it.
For hypotheses to test against, and find ways to get reactions and responses quickly even if it’s just on a whiteboard.
Build a minimum lovable product. It’s not just viable but people love it.
David and John also shared some additional resources:
The Speed of Trust, Stephen Covey
Competing Against Luck, Clayton Christenson
Double Diamond, problem framing and solving
A PM’s Guide to Working with Designers, by VP of Product at Figma
Thanks to those that attended – you got to see and hear some additional tidbits from behind the scenes at some pretty big companies – and if you missed it, we hope to see you at the next Founders Forum.
Earlier this year, the City of Greenville was selected by the Hoover Institution at Stanford University as one of three cities to do a deep dive on in terms of how public policy impacts economic development.
Last week, they flew Mayor Knox White, John Barnett (local founder with roots in Silicon Valley), and me out to Palo Alto to hear from students and research fellows as well as mix with our peer cities – Mesa, AZ, and Milwaukee, WI – to share best practices and make connections.
Palo Alto area mayors + Knox White, Mayor of Greenville, SC
It was inspiring to be immersed in that epicenter of tech and innovation! Here’s a few things we picked up:
Silicon Valley is like no place on Earth
Coffee shops packed with DOERS – s/o to the Mocha Tesoro at Philz Coffee.
Coworking spaces that rent by the hour ($4/hr) were full – Hanahaus.
A panel of mayors (Palo Alto, East Palo Alto, Mountain View, and Redwood City) shared that they’re facing their own issues so it’s not all rosy being such a tech hub: astronomic housing market, development costs, transportation, etc.
Never say “the next Silicon Valley” – it’s such an impossible and maybe undesirable attainment – it’s truly the only place like it on the planet.
But to see Meta HQ (9-acre rooftop garden complete with wild foxes running around!) and Googleplex (looked like the world’s biggest circus tent) and drive down the famed Sand Hill Road (where venture capital got its start and a reason the Valley has 63 billionaires!) was impressive.
Stanford people are smart
Like off-the-charts pedigree – one young lady is getting her Harvard JD and Stanford MBA at the same time.
The Hoover Institution is a well-regarded think tank and provided exposure to a wide range of ‘things you should be thinking about’ – like remote talent (what keeps them in a place) and cybersecurity (deep fakes).
It’s tremendous that a city the size of Greenville punches above its weight and is now firmly on their radar.
We’ll be leveraging this connection and look forward to more projects coming down the pike.
Greenville is playing with a strategic advantage, but we have the chance to take things up a notch.
Greenville was a positive example cited in other pitches.
Most of the students’ research suggestions are doable/feasible and just require attention and leadership (we’re on it!).
We have an ideal combination of assets – a business-friendly ecosystem, wonderful remote working conditions, and decades of investment towards quality of life just now starting to bloom, literally.
Imagine luring just a handful of software engineers from an overcrowded (read: expensive) community to Greenville and build a business in a place they love to live – the impact will be dramatic.
We need to leverage our universities as talent magnets – not just founders, but also engineering and design teams; not just tech transfer, but also future founders.
There is an opportunity for regional industries to be more connected and directly involved in the startup community.
Continue to cultivate angel and seed investors who are aligned with our objective to grow the community – actively recruit outside investors and bring more statewide money to the table.
Special thanks to John Barnett, Greenville-based founder and CEO of Supermoon, who was an exceptional tour guide. John spent almost a decade in the Valley working for the likes of Twitter and Instagram before it got bought by Facebook (Meta). If you’ve ever posted an IG Story or used Boomerang, you have John to thank! Walking through Meta with him was like being there with a celebrity: he’s still regarded as one of the best product managers and I wouldn’t have been shocked to see his keyboard and mouse hanging from the rafters like some NBA jersey. Thanks, John – I’m so grateful you’re in #StartupGVL!
Also, thanks to the team at Hoover – Josh Rauh, Dean Ball, and Jillian Ludwig for making all of the arrangements. And thanks to the students on Team Greenville – Mike Arth, Gavin McGarry, and Marianne Aguilar for your insights and action items. Can’t wait for y’all to come to #StartupGVL and see what we’re implementing from your suggestions!
One of the region’s top economic development organizations looks to the future while continuing to support and grow the Greenville Entrepreneur Network (GEN)
February 8, 2024 – Greenville, SC – For almost two decades, NEXT Upstate, the organization that began as an initiative housed inside the Greenville Chamber, has grown in reputation and scope of services. Hundreds of startup founders from across the region have benefited from its support in the form of mentoring programs, networking groups and regional events drawing national attention to Greenville. The companies they support go on to raise millions of dollars and employ thousands of local workers, improving the economy of the entire Upstate of South Carolina.
NextGEN references the Greenville Entrepreneur Network and represents a new generation of support for the founders, entrepreneurs, and innovators who call Greenville home.
“Fostering entrepreneurship is not merely about building companies. It’s about building communities, encouraging change, and celebrating growth,” says Eric Weissmann, Executive Director of NextGEN. “As an organization evolves, we need to respect our heritage while driving forward with our eyes fixed on the future. There’s no better time to be an entrepreneur than now and no better place to follow your dreams than here in Greenville, SC.”
Over the last two years, NextGEN has launched new programs and services such as an accelerator program, workshops, and monthly events, widening the aperture of who it serves. NextGEN is also the driving force behind #StartupGVL – the rallying cry and unifying brand for the regional community of entrepreneurs and the dozens of groups who directly support them.
“The rebrand merges the legacy and history of the organization with its future,” says Carlos Phillips, President/CEO of the Greenville Chamber and NextGEN board member. “The new branding reflects the refined strategy and exciting direction as NextGEN supports Greenville’s high-growth entrepreneurs.”
It’s because of this firm foundation that NextGEN is one of the longest-running entrepreneur support organizations in the State of South Carolina and a draw for companies looking to launch or expand in a place they love to live. No one succeeds alone, so to have a built-in network of others to help you is encouraging.
“NextGEN is a critical component to our overall economic development strategy,” says Shannon Lavrin, Greenville City Manager and NextGEN board member. “Greenville is a vibrant, thriving community, but we know we’re in a competitive space when it comes to attracting and retaining talent. A robust innovation and entrepreneurship network is critical to attracting high-growth companies and keeping them in Greenville.”
As we reflect on the journey of our inaugural accelerator cohort, it’s thrilling to witness the remarkable strides made by these ambitious ventures. Let’s take a closer look at where they are now and the milestones they’ve achieved.
Team Structure: New team in place with a software engineer, logistics engineer, patent writer, electrical engineer, and a previous professor at Clemson with expertise in patent writing.
Collaboration: Undertook a project with another cohort grad
Strategic Shift: Maintained headcount stability while strategically altering their revenue model. The focus is shifting towards a majority subscription-based model next year, emphasizing recurring revenue
Operational Enhancements: Dedicated efforts to improve internal efficiency, establishing repeatable and scalable processes
Recognition: Participated in Furman University Hill Institute Bootcamp; and was named one of the 10 Most Exciting Startups in the region at the #StartupGVL Night at the Drive
Future Prospects: Currently exploring additional accelerator programs and funding opportunities
Suite Stuff: Actively adding more games to their suite of games
Fun news: Co-founder, Tina Zwolinski traveled to Ireland in the fall of 2023 to speak on a panel at Saastock
Progress: Successfully closed a funding round, including a significant contribution of $200,000 from SCRA
Growth: Expanded their team with two new hires, reinforcing their commitment to advancing WAVS’s innovative vision
Fun news: Recently exhibited at CES in Las Vegas and looking forward to launching new products (currently top secret – keep an eye out for the news); and gave inspiring update to investors at Founderville holiday social
Homerun: Was named one of the 10 Most Exciting Startups in the region at the #StartupGVL Night at the Drive
Update 2/13/2024 – we’re excited to announce that Mapsheet.com has sold! This is exciting news for founder, Willz Tolbert. We know it was a lot of hard work getting the company to this point.
The accomplishments of our first accelerator cohort are a testament to the dedication, innovation, and resilience of these ventures. We eagerly anticipate witnessing their continued growth and success in the evolving landscape of entrepreneurship. Stay tuned for more updates on their remarkable journeys!
Founders Forum is an opportunity for founders to take the stage and share their stories and expertise. If you leave one of these monthly events with some new connections and one piece of immediately applicable advice for your business (or life), then we call it a success!
Doug didn’t just attend as one of the highest-rated lawyers in South Carolina; he was also present as a founder. His professional journey began in computer programming and software engineering, providing him with a strong tech background. Subsequently, Doug pursued law school, creating a distinctive skill set that encompasses both legal expertise in patent writing and a deep understanding of the technology being patented. This unique combination positioned him as one of the early pioneers in the legal landscape of patenting software.
After working for a large law firm and seeing many of the inefficiencies, he thought to himself: “There has to be a better way.” (Funny, we hear this a lot…) In 2018, he decided to set out on his own and quickly brought on a partner forming a boutique law firm servicing the manufacturing, software, energy, finance, hospitality, tourism, and technology industries. Their key practice areas include intellectual property, business and commercial litigation, mergers and acquisitions, cybersecurity, and more.
Kim, Lahey, and Killough takes a client-centric approach, focusing on how to use technology to not only make their business run more efficiently but to protect their most important assets. Which transitions nicely into the topic for conversation – contingency planning!
Let’s go back to last spring. Doug flew to Micronesia via Guam with a group of scuba divers from Greenville, SC. You may remember hearing about this story. What was supposed to be just over a week turned into a month-long “vacation.” (In all honesty, it sounds like it was for Doug and their friends as although Guam was hit directly, not letting anyone leave the area, their little island was still sunshine and scuba.)
Doug admits that this trip was a test to see how his office and team would handle him being gone (and out of touch) for a length of time but no one expected it to be this long. For the first few days, the team back home was able to push things off but when two days become two weeks, they had to be able to keep moving forward.
What would happen to your company if you were unexpectedly out of touch and out of reach for an unexpected length of time? Maybe it’s easier to ask, are you able to step away for a vacation to refresh and rejuvenate yourself? (We all know the burnout statistics with entrepreneurs!)
Kamber Parker, of The Yo ProKnow attended and after the event remarked, “It hit me how many things I am the only one that can do on my team.” One of Doug’s main tips was to make sure your team is cross-trained. And, if you’re a solopreneur have a trusted friend that is able to help. Just like you have a neighbor or friend with a spare key to your house for emergencies, your company needs that spare key holder. In essence, be prepared. Know what the most important assets, systems, etc. are and make sure there is a plan in place to protect them. Not sure how to determine what’s important? Think about it in terms of how closely related it is to your income.
Some additional suggestions included:
Have data recovery in place: copies and backups, including one offsite
Be geographically untethered
Implement measures to safeguard property and funds
Make sure your agreements are in order
Protect your IP
Have duplicate vendors in the case that one goes down
Have an incident response team, both internal and external
Insurance!
If you could take away the biggest piece of advice, it’s have a plan (and share it with the appropriate people to put it in action). It is important for business owners to be able to take a step away from their businesses to recharge AND things happen all.the.time. So, have a plan to keep things moving forward even if you, the founder, isn’t available to implement.
“A bad plan is better than no plan, and the most important quality of any plan is the flexibility to change.” – Judson L Moore, Exponential Happiness: How to identify and pursue life goals starting at a young age
Nicole Johnson’s career trajectory took an unexpected turn after her experience selling radio ads and interning with ABC – she realized she did not want to be the next Barbara Walters after all. Moving south to Charlotte to join her brother, she found herself in the world of high-tech recruiting, eventually transitioning to a startup led by three college entrepreneurs she met at a trade show. (If you have met Nicole, you’re not surprised that they called her the day after meeting.) This marked the beginning of her exposure to the excitement, intricacies, and challenges of the startup world. She experienced firsthand lightning rod success but also how bringing on investors can lead to losing control of company direction, which ultimately led to the closure of the company.
Seeking mental and physical health and well-being, she found cycling
Amid the stress and rapid growth of her job, Nicole’s health and well-being suffered, prompting her to seek an outlet in an unlikely place—cycling. Introduced to the Leukemia Society, she embraced the sport with a purpose, raising money for a child in remission. She then dove right into the world of triathlons. A newbie, she received some direct, yet sound, advice: “You should really learn to swim before you sign up for a triathlon.” Again, we’re not surprised Nicole was ready to embrace this new challenge fully despite not really knowing how to cycle OR swim!
Undeterred, Nicole, in a brave and determined move, accepted an offer from a now-good friend to teach her how to swim. They swam together three days a week, showcasing Nicole’s commitment to overcoming challenges. However, cycling was still a hurdle; she hesitated to clip into the bike, feeling like a true beginner among experienced triathletes.
From doggie-paddling to professional cyclist
Starting a group ride from a local bike shop marked a pivotal moment. An encounter with a seasoned 70-year-old mentor who recognized her tenacity left a lasting impression. He pulled her aside and, impressed by her determination, offered to train her through the winter. The winter training sessions, coupled with 80-mile weekend rides on the Blue Ridge Parkway, transformed Nicole. In the spring, she emerged as a different person, ready to face new challenges in the cycling world.
Introduced to criterium racing by her mentor, Nicole found herself under the guidance of a cycling professional. This led to her joining a big-name professional women’s cycling team. She remembers it being the time of her life. Still employed full-time, she was able to train and ride without the burden of racing to support herself. It was during this phase that she crossed paths with Boyd Johnson, a fellow cyclist chasing his dream of becoming a professional racer.
Nicole & Boyd, a meet-cute, and mom’s advice, “You’ll figure it out.”
Boyd not only eventually became her husband but also a pivotal figure in her cycling journey. Despite the financial constraints of professional racing, Nicole’s mother offered sage advice: “You’ll figure it out.” Juggling a full-time job with 20 hours of training per week, Nicole exhibited a relentless drive that would later define her entrepreneurial endeavors.
Following a decade of racing, Nicole and Boyd decided to make Greenville their training ground. Nicole transitioned from the high-tech industry to work for the Chamber of Commerce where she focused on building a strong, local network. She subsequently joined Hincapie Sports, where she deepened her understanding of the cycling industry. In 2008, Boyd and Nicole married and, a year later, took the plunge into entrepreneurship with the establishment of Boyd Cycling.
Nicole reminisces about a phone call from Boyd while she was traveling for work: “Hey, when you get home, I have some stuff I want to show you. I think I want to start this company. While you were gone, I created the website and I’ve been talking to these guys in Asia…” This may not have been verbatim the conversation but the gist is he was already all in. The rest is history!
From home to international success
Starting the company out of their home, Nicole played a crucial role in the company’s early days, focusing on sales, business development, and even delving into finance and HR. An early challenge was coming to grips with all she didn’t know. We have no doubt that Nicole had a smile on her face throughout her personal development – we can count on her for kind words, big smile, and a bright laugh at any event she attends.
“Founders have an idea and they don’t realize there are so many other factors in running a business. A lot of things I didn’t know how to do and it was unnerving to figure things out. We wanted to make sure we were doing things right and following the rules. I’m very resourceful and found people I could talk to and found experts, like our [VMS] mentors.”
Another notable challenge occurred in 2012 when a manufacturer in Asia delivered subpar products three different times – Boyd prides themselves on their quality control process. Prior to this, the Johnsons were debt-free, having been incredibly savvy with their finances. The manufacturer ultimately ghosted Boyd and kept their money while also stealing their IP, forcing Boyd Cycling to go back to the drawing board. This adversity, while painful, instead of thwarting their progress, became a catalyst for growth.
Challenges abound but lead to significant growth
Manufacturing in Taiwan and Asia dominated the industry. To mitigate risk and costs, the company shifted operations onshore during COVID-19. Instead of buying inventory, they invested in machines, gaining a 50% competitive advantage. Having foreseen the severity of the pandemic starting in Asia, they took a risk to build up inventory. This decision paid off during the strained supply chain, especially in shipping. Overcoming challenges, they grew 1.5 times during COVID-19, maintaining this growth. The outdoor industry also thrived as people rediscovered outdoor activities.
Boyd Cycling’s success is not only a result of overcoming challenges but also of the support they received from mentors, notably through the Venture Mentoring Service (VMS) program. Nicole emphasizes the importance of seeking help and acknowledges the crucial role mentors play in their journey.
Nicole’s commitment to community extends beyond the cycling world. Involved with organizations like Moms for Motion, she actively participates in initiatives like the paved pump track project, aiming to provide a safe space for people of all ages to ride.
As Nicole reflects on her journey, she advocates for education about the local entrepreneurial ecosystem, emphasizing a deeper understanding of a company’s role within it. She actively contributes to organizations like NEXT, recognizing the pivotal role they played in their journey. Boyd Cycling was chosen as one of the 10 Most Exciting Startups featured at NEXT Venture Summit in 2023. She was also featured on the Women in Innovation Founders Forum panel alongside other female innovators.
Nicole Johnson’s story is not just about co-founding a successful cycling company; it’s a narrative of overcoming challenges, seizing opportunities, and embodying the spirit of a true trailblazer. Her journey, from the radio ad sales offices to the cycling tracks and the helm of Boyd Cycling, is an inspiring testament to the transformative power of passion, perseverance, and the support of a dedicated community.
Tina Zwolinski’s dedication to workforce development has its roots in her career beginnings at the Greenville Chamber of Commerce. During her time on the marketing team, she witnessed the transition to manufacturing in South Carolina and the establishment of BMW in the Upstate. Her work in economic development exposed the importance of cultivating a sustainable workforce to meet industry’s needs, and underscored the impact workforce has on attracting new companies and in building thriving communities.
Tackling Economic Development & Workplace Challenges
skillsgapp was named one of the 10 Most Exciting Startups in 2023 at the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Night at the Drive
In 1997, Tina founded ZWO, a branding and marketing firm headquartered in downtown Greenville. Tina’s focus on relationship-building, forged during her Chamber tenure, became the cornerstone of her career. The firm tackled challenges in economic development and workforce across the US and within multiple industries. ZWO also focused on marketing to youth– both nonprofit and for-profit global brands. It was the combination of this work that exposed the gap, the skills gap, where youth and industry were not communicating effectively, jobs were going unfilled and youth were unaware of the opportunities after high school graduation for postsecondary pathways or jobs right around them, specifically in underserved communities.
Around 2018, the inspiration to address this challenge took hold, and the concept for skillsgapp began evolving after working closely with Gen Z. Faced firsthand with the challenges her adoptive son encountered while navigating the educational and career landscape as an English as a second language student in high school, Tina recognized the need for a more effective approach. After leading ZWO for 23 years and expanding the firm to three locations, including a West Coast and Central American office, Tina transitioned from ZWO to launch skillsgapp in 2020 with cofounder Cynthia Jenkins (who also worked with ZWO), driven by a determination to create a better solution for individuals facing similar challenges.
The hurdles, particularly for those with English as a second language or from underserved communities, create barriers to progress, hindering access and pushing students into low-wage job cycles after high school graduation. Recognizing that 50% of high schoolers face such challenges, skillsgapp’s Skillionaire Games aims to break this cycle while supporting industry with a more vetted pool of early career talent to recruit from to meet their unfilled job needs.
“The skills gap challenge is not a lack of talent but rather a lack of engaging career and pathway awareness earlier and barrier-free access into the career opportunities.” – Tina Z.
Tina recognized the need to communicate with youth (ages 13-22+) on their terms, using tools and language that resonate with them. Gen Z is on their phones 7+ hours a day, 97% of Gen Z has access to smartphones and gaming is their #1 form of entertainment. Skillionaire Games’ free-to-play virtual environments mirror real-world jobs in the in-demand industries of advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity, life science, healthcare, etc., providing an engaging space for youth to explore industries, understand job requirements, and make informed career decisions without barriers or bias.
Let’s Talk Gaming
skillsgapp is a two-sided model focused on growing players and in growing their paying partnerships with companies and colleges that can promote their brands and opportunities in-game and even recruit the players to fill their seats and jobs. They are innovating early talent recruitment. Ideally, players will have learned through “hands-on virtual experiences” what their new job entails becoming a more qualified individual leading to better retention for companies. They currently have their life science, cybersecurity, soft skills, and healthcare games live with advanced manufacturing deploying Spring of 2024. Skillsgapp faces hurdles common to startups, including speed to market, player acquisition, and shifting industry mindsets.
They’re early to the game although they have already had some big wins with receiving five global awards including Facebook Gaming’s People Choice Award in 2022 and EdTech Digest’s Top 100 Companies in Workforce and Education in 2023. Other notable traction includes the successful deployment of games into four regional markets, 25,000 players, growing revenue and renewals from paying partners, a national deployment partnership with American Student Assistance in the Fall of 2023 and the games have just begun. You can find their games on the App Store or Google Play under Skillionaire Games or at skillionairegames.com.
Unable to attend the Accelerator Showcase in person, Tina found a way to virtually present
Throughout this journey, Tina Zwolinski has drawn guidance from programs like NEXT VMS and the Accelerator cohort. The networks formed within these programs have become invaluable resources, offering diverse perspectives and expertise that contribute to skillsgapp’s ongoing growth. In January of 2024, Tina was selected to participate in the national Youth Skills First Cohort with Jobs for the Future (JFF), a national nonprofit that drives transformation of the U.S. education and workforce systems to achieve equitable economic advancement for all. After an extensive interview process, six companies were selected to participate from over 500 applicants.
As skillsgapp continues to evolve and the Skillionaire’s movement begins to grow, Tina Zwolinski envisions exciting partnerships and case studies that showcase the platform’s transformative impact on lives of players and the company and college partners. With a dedicated team with lived experience, passion for the mission, and the support of a robust network, Tina Zwolinski’s skillsgapp stands poised to nurture careers from early vision to global impact.
Kanga Coolers came to fame when featured on Shark Tank season 10 (2019) and they’ve recently risen in notoriety after a featured ad on Mr. Beast’s YouTube channel. Their signature product is the Kase Mate which wraps around a cold case of your favorite beverage but they’ve diversified their products with different sizes and a bookbag cooler. With a team of over 40, this college dream has turned itself into a multi-million dollar company with lots of hard work, great mentorship, and a little bit of luck.
What’s the real story?
What you saw on Shark Tank, for the most part, is the “real story” behind Kanga Coolers. Logan LaMance had a wild idea for a class project, recruiting partners who would eventually become the founding members of Kanga Coolers. Among them, Ryan Frazier stayed on board, while Austin Maxwell and Teddy Giard, of backflip fame, hopped in later. (Get it? Hop…)
Their flagship product, the Kase Mate, was conceived during this project – a koozie-style cooler wrap for your favorite drinks. What started as a college experiment soon turned into a full-fledged business. It wasn’t all smooth sailing. How did this concept of a cardboard wraparound cooler get off the ground? Logan got right to work developing strong relationships to find manufacturing partners and did a test run of the product here in Greenville, SC. They sourced their materials from a supplier in Alabama and produced the first coolers at Carolina Manufacturing in Greenville, the only bandanna manufacturer in the US and the official producer of Willie Nelson’s bandannas. And, that my friends, is how Kanga Coolers and Willie Nelson are connected – someone send Willy a cooler and merch!
Kanga put out 200 custom-sewn coolers at Clemson and they sold out quickly. They also won a Pitch Smackdown competition for students through the Spiro Institute (now Clemson Launchpad) winning $8,000. They thought they were rich! Each founder, to date, has only invested $833 of their own money so 8k helped but they noticed quickly that it wasn’t much when starting a product company. After some additional investment, Kanga Coolers decided to launch a 60-day Kickstarter campaign in 2018. On day 30 of the campaign, Logan went to a class talk at Clemson featuring a Shark Tank alum, Daisy Cakes. Logan spoke to the owner after class and mentioned his dream to be on Shark Tank. She told him “You’ll never feel like you’re ready. Just go for it.” The guys skipped a final exam to go (don’t tell Mom), auditioning the day their Kickstarter campaign closed.
In 2018, Logan, Teddy, and Ryan filmed an episode that aired in April 2019, marking a big moment for their startup journey. Despite some hiccups in cooler production, they miraculously got everything ready just in time—a stroke of luck that seemed to be a theme in their story.
Logan remembers the hustle during the time after the show aired—shipping boxes from his parent’s garage, loading Uhaul trucks with help from neighbors, and making sure deliveries reached the post office on time. The journey had its ups and downs, but Kanga’s ability to roll with the punches and adapt shines through.
From Covid to Shopify to…Mr. Beast?
After Shark Tank, Kanga got a lot of attention, but it came and went quickly. They were into selling promotional items to companies like Anheuser Busch, but when Covid hit in 2020, that market dried up. Facing the need to adapt, they shifted their focus to e-commerce, diving into Facebook ads and digital marketing, a previously untapped market. Kanga had to figure out a whole new customer acquisition strategy. Logan remembers having to pivot, “How do we show our product to potential customers in a way that will resonate and create an impulse buy online? Who are our customers; why do they want to purchase? It was a lot of trial and error, YouTube, podcasts, and duplicating what stuck.”
Logan LaMance & Austin Maxwell
Part of this focus on e-commerce led Kanga to Shopify, an e-commerce platform for their website. Shopify and is one of Mr Beast’s sponsors. Who is Mr. Beast? Only the most viewed YouTube channel in the world with 216 million followers. Shopify decided to feature one of its clients through a social media contest. And get this, all you had to do was comment to enter. One single comment. Austin saw the post, was quick to comment with a short elevator pitch, and they were selected. Now, that is a lucky break and some incredible ROI. They got a shout-out during the “$10,000 Every Day You Survive in a Grocery Store” video on the Mr. Beast YouTube channel and had over 80 million views in just a few days. See Kanga’s reaction to the press. (Check out Clemson’s take on the news.)
This ad was the single biggest moment of exposure in the company’s history, about 10x the exposure of Shark Tank. But, this time they had experience and warning to make sure they were ready for an influx of orders. “It was the craziest week we’ve had,” reported LaMance. Being featured on not just Shark Tank but Mr. Beast will open the door for much bigger opportunities in the future for the Kanga team. LaMance’s advice to future and early founders is something he takes seriously, “Seize the opportunity when it’s there. Put your name out there even when it seems impossible. Always take advantage, always apply, and approach like you have a good shot.”
Logan recalls their early challenge was finding their product fit in the market; figuring out demand and pricing. Covid was clearly another challenge they were able to tackle with nimbleness, determination, and a willingness to pivot. These days the company is figuring out how to scale their infrastructure, consistently improving systems and processes to run at a “big business rate with small business resources.” One thing Kanga has been great at is not letting fear get in their way. They aren’t afraid to quickly scale to capture opportunity even if they don’t have it figured out.
Logan and his cofounders believe you have to lead from the front. They show up early and stay late. As founders, they are the last line of defense and they understand the importance of that position, not just for team culture but because it’s a logical business choice. They have worked every job in the business and step in when needed, trying to strike a healthy balance between doing all things and delegating. “The biggest thing that helped me was having an unshakable faith that it would all work. All I had to do was find the path. Success was a foregone conclusion in my head and I work from that. Do whatever it takes to walk that path.” – Logan LaMance
Rockstar mentors through VMS
Logan relies on his VMS (Venture Mentor Services) “rockstar” team of mentors. Having mentors early on at Clemson proved to him the benefit of these relationships. Experienced mentors can give advice, and helped them bridge the gap from college to real life. “It has been one of the biggest drivers of growth to push and provide guidance and coaching. I don’t feel like I’m on an island. The tactical advice has been incredibly helpful – having a team that is trying to help has been huge.”
Kanga Coolers has 17,000 square feet of office & warehouse space in the Merovan Center off Woodruff Road in Greenville. You can stay in touch with all they’re doing through their website, social media, and even by text.
ICYMI, we counted down to the holidays on social media – let’s recap:
In 2023… we added 12 new mentors and 12 new mentees to our Venture Mentor Services program. One of our signature programs, it has been around since 2015 and has almost 50 mentors working alongside 30 companies.
11 startup companies collaborated with university students from Clemson University’s Venture Consulting Class and the Furman Hill Institute Summer Bootcamp. We are grateful for our university partnerships and look forward to growing them in 2024. Thanks to Bricolage Dynamics, Custom Donations, Food Coach, Incora Health, Instaheat, Matty.ai, Myn.Health, TestedHQ, skillsgapp, Surcee, and Vicinity Capital for participating and providing these students with some great work experience!
We executed 10 Founders Forums covering a wide range of topics from Angel Investing to Storytelling! Thanks to all who attended and look for more in 2024.
There were 9 innings in the first game of the #StartupGVL Innovation & Entrepreneurship Night at the Drive. We’re already planning for next year – get ready!
We held our 8th NEXT Venture Summit. The shining star this year was our first-ever Investor Match Day which connected 24 investors with 47 founders followed by an incredible welcome reception. Day 2 was the Summit which highlighted the 10 Most Exciting Startups in the region and hosted 300 guests.
6,000+ of you subscribe to our community newsletter. Not on our the list? You can sign up for our newsletter by going to the footer of this website. It’s full of exciting #StartupGVL news, events, and more!
NEXT presented to 5 different visiting cities from Arizona to Belgium about economic development and the startup ecosystem!
NEXT couldn’t do ALL it does without the Fab 4 – our team. And, thanks to everyone from our sponsors, mentors, and ecosystem partners who help us.
We have 3 amazing organizational sponsors. We could not do our work without the support of the City of Greenville, Greenville County, and the Greenville Chamber of Commerce.
2 cohorts, equaling 18 companies, graduated from our Accelerator program. Congrats again to Bottle Titan, Bricolage Dynamics, Carbon Cents, Custom Donations, Digital Site Box, Incora Health, Performance Enhanced Delivery, Mapsheet, MyUI.ai, Pixlmob, RAAMP, Rebel Rabbit, Ruffian Software, skillsgapp, Susu Lend, TestedHQ, Vicinity, and WAVS Custom.
We finally counted down to celebrate 1 kick@ss #StartupGVL Ecosystem! Let’s continue to grow and build and scale businesses in this city we love.
As we reflect on this past year (how is it already 2024?!), NEXT focused on our main goals: support the broader #StartupGVL community, engage high-growth entrepreneurs, and measure the impact of the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Our vision is of a robust community that provides entrepreneurs with the resources they need to scale a business in this amazing city we love. (ICYMI, check out our countdown to the holidays!)
Let’s look back on some snapshots of how we did this in 2023:
NEW Programs we have launched
Accelerator Program – Graduated 2 cohorts of 18 companies
Growth Labs – 2 focused on Design Thinking & No Code Solutions
NEXT Events
10Founders Forums – ranging from storytelling to angel investing
Doug didn’t just attend as one of the highest-rated lawyers in South Carolina; he was also present as a founder. His professional journey began in computer programming and software engineering, providing him with a strong tech background. Subsequently, Doug pursued law school, creating a distinctive skill set that encompasses both legal expertise in patent writing and a deep understanding of the technology being patented. This unique combination positioned him as one of the early pioneers in the legal landscape of patenting software.
Starting the company out of their home, Nicole played a crucial role in the company’s early days, focusing on sales, business development, and even delving into finance and HR. An early challenge was coming to grips with all she didn’t know. We have no doubt that Nicole had a smile on her face throughout her personal development – we can count on her for kind words, big smile, and a bright laugh at any event she attends. 
In 2023… we added 12 new mentors and 12 new mentees to our Venture Mentor Services program. 
