Category: News

NEXT Hires New Startup Success Program Manager, Peter Micali

Peter Micali Joins NEXT Team as Startup Success Program Manager.
Greenville, SC- March 4, 2022- Peter Micali will serve as the new Startup Success Program Manger for NEXT, an entrepreneur support organization in Greenville, SC that has impacted more than 120 companies, who in turn have raised $28 million in capital. NEXT provides connections to mentoring, capital, facilities, and access to a peer community of aspiring founders across the region.

Micali has a wide range of experience in a variety of facets of the startup world, both working in multiple startups as well as at MassChallenge, one of the world’s largest non-profit accelerators.

So, Peter, tell us about yourself.

I am a proud Greenville native with a career spanning across major markets such as Chicago, Atlanta, and Boston. My background has primarily been within marketing and branding; however, I’ve gained experience by working for/with multiple ecosystem partners (corporates, startups, accelerators, and vendors). This diversity of experience has hopefully enabled me to provide empathetic support and leadership to the startup community while understanding the needs of all involved.

I first caught the startup bug during my time in Boston, working for two different startups (one as co-founder where we were successfully acquired by a major online pregnancy brand, Pink Stork). I was then fortunate to cut my teeth at MassChallenge, one of the world’s largest non-profit accelerators. It was there that I further developed my skills in ecosystem development and learned how to provide support to startups (including internationally) while serving the community at large.

Since returning to the Upstate in 2018, I received excellent experience at Sage Automotive Interiors where I led startup interaction efforts and managed relationships with organizations such as PLUGandPLAY (MIT). Most recently, I returned to my marketing roots by leading business development and strategy efforts for SLANT, a wonderful creative marketing agency headquartered in downtown Greenville. Finally, I am a graduate of Northwestern University with a degree in communications (radio, TV, and film) and the Darla Moore School of Business with an iMBA. I love supporting the arts and as a result, I am privileged to be a board member of both The Warehouse Theatre and the Metropolitan Arts Council. Most importantly, I am a proud husband and father of 1 and I’m excited about what Greenville will look like when she’s old enough to appreciate it!

And a few fun facts about yourself:

What is a fun or interesting fact about your hometown?

It’s surrounded by 80 volcanoes (technically I was born in Clermont-Ferrand, France but moved to Greenville at 6 months)

What are three things still left on your bucket list?

- Visiting Southeast Asia
- Submitting a short film to a festival
- Leaving an impactful mark on my community

How many different states have you lived in?

If you had to listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?

The Moment by Tame Impala

What are three items you’d take with you to a deserted island?

Video game device, music player, sushi generator

What’s your favorite famous or inspirational quote?

“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” – T. Roosevelt

Please join the NEXT Team in welcoming Peter to the ecosystem as we continue to serve the entrepreneurs in the Upstate!

NEXT 2022 Board Members Announced Incorporating Entrepreneur Voices

New Board Members Announced Incorporating Entrepreneur Voices

Greenville, SC – The NEXT Board of Directors recently appointed three Greenville-based founders to join the NEXT Board as entrepreneur voices for the community.

Paige McPheely– CEO of Base, a support software for executive assistants. Paige is a two-time startup founder and Forbes Next 1000 honoree.
Marty Osborn– Managing Director at Accenture. Marty led Advoco, a leading Infor EAM software consulting services company which is now a part of Accenture, for 10 years.
Derek Pedersen– Derek led Fusion Web Clinic for 10 years, which was acquired by Therapy Brands in 2018. Derek also served as the inaugural Entrepreneur in Residence at Furman University.

Scott Millwood, CEO of Yesflow, will remain Chair of the NEXT Board of Directors until December of 2022. “NEXT has always been about founders first,” said Millwood, “and I’m excited to see how this current group of new voices will contribute to that legacy and bring even MORE high-growth companies to the table.”

Eric Weissmann, Executive Director of NEXT, adds, “There’s an element of giving back that can’t be understated when you look at thriving startups ecosystem. We need to build ourselves and our programming around the cues we hear from founders themselves, both past and present – that’s invaluable feedback.”

The Board expects to continue to expand its members in the coming weeks.

About NEXT

NEXT, launched as a production of the Greenville Chamber in 2006, is an entrepreneurial support organization that attracts and helps grow high-impact, knowledge-based companies by developing an entrepreneurial ecosystem and connecting entrepreneurs to it. NEXT currently supports over 120 knowledge-based companies in Upstate South Carolina. For more information, visit www.nextgengvl.org

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CONTACT:

Susan Durden | 864-735-7516 | sdurden@nextsc.org

2021 Innovision Awards Celebration joins Global Entrepreneurship Week Lineup

Mark your calendars for November 9th, when Innovision Awards will be celebrating the power of innovation in South Carolina with their 2021 InnoVision Awards Celebration. You can Register Here for the online event.

In addition to showcasing each of the finalists and announcing the winners in the categories below, they will honor the recipient of the Dr. Charles Townes Individual Achievement Award and recognize the 2021 Ibrahim Janajreh Young Innovator program and students.

Click on the award categories below to view the finalists presentations from the Meet the Finalists Webinar Series, sponsored by the South Carolina Research Authority, earlier this month.

Technology Integration – sponsored by DartPoints
Diversey Holdings Ltd. (Fort Mill)
PunchList USA (Charleston)
QuicksortRx Inc (Charleston)

Sustainability – sponsored by Milliken & Company
Clemson Composites Center (Greenville)
Ingevity (North Charleston)
GeoMat, LLC (Columbia)

Small Enterprise
Aconabolics LLC (Greenville)
Dru Feeding System LLC (Travelers Rest)
Veterans ASCEND (Simpsonville)

Education – sponsored by TTI Consumer Power Tools, Inc.
Early College High School, Charleston County School District (Charleston)
IT-oLogy (Columbia)
SC Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities (Greenville)

Technology Development – sponsored by Vikor Scientific
ArchCath LLC (Awendaw)
Elastrin Therapeutics Inc. (Simpsonville)
FRD Accel, LLC (Charleston)

Community Service
Advoco: Connect for Good GVL (Greenville)
Camp Happy Days (Charleston)
United Way of the Piedmont (Spartanburg)

DIG SOUTH Announces Partnership with College of Charleston to host 10th Annual DIG SOUTH Tech Summit

The Summit to include tech founders, investors, entrepreneurs and executives from leading global brands and the South’s most scalable startups

Charleston, S.C. – October 26, 2021 – DIG SOUTH Tech Summit, the South’s first and foremost event connecting leading global brands to the South’s most scalable startups, today announced a partnership with the College of Charleston to host the 10-year anniversary of the Summit, May 11-13, 2022, at the College of Charleston’s TD Arena, the place where DIG SOUTH first launched the event in 2013.

“The College of Charleston is excited to partner with DIG SOUTH again and to serve for the next five years as the physical home of their annual tech summit, which brings to Charleston many of the country’s top minds related to technology, business and innovation,” said College of Charleston President Andrew T. Hsu. “The team at DIG SOUTH, led by CEO and Founder Stanfield Gray and CFO Sunny Gray, has done a remarkable job of building and expanding ‘Dig Nation’ over the past decade in order to assist and support businesses in their networking, marketing and talent acquisition needs.”

Each year, DIG SOUTH invites the South’s top executives, entrepreneurs, startups and leading global brands to convene in Charleston for three exciting days of inspiration, networking, fundraising and strategic know-how. The 2022 theme for DIG SOUTH Tech Summit is “Resilience.” Attendees will learn strategies to make their companies and themselves more resilient in disruptive times. DIG SOUTH Tech Summit delivers the best contacts, content and capital opportunities in the South.

Scheduled for May 11-13 at the College of Charleston’s TD Arena and other select venues on the Charleston peninsula, the Summit will feature sessions on topics including fintech, blockchain, crypto, digital marketing and adtech, console and mobile gaming, AI, VR, AR, IoT, business development, venture capital and fundraising, healthtech, transportation, storytelling and more.

“We’re honored to bring DIG SOUTH Tech Summit back to the College of Charleston, hosting some of the nation’s top tech executives, founders, investors and ecosystem leaders on campus and directly connecting them to the College’s students, faculty and staff,” said DIG SOUTH CEO & Founder Stanfield Gray.

DIG SOUTH Tech Summit Badges

DIG SOUTH Tech Summit badges are complimentary with the purchase of an annual membership to DIG NATION: The South’s Tech Tribe, found at dignation.co, or can be purchased separately at digsouthtechsummit.com.

DIG SOUTH Wild Pitch Application

The call for startups to join DIG SOUTH Wild Pitch, held on the last day of the Summit, May 13, 2022, is now open. Billed as “The South’s Capitol of Capital,” Wild Pitch features early- and growth-stage companies. Startups can apply for selection to DIG SOUTH Wild Pitch at digsouthtechsummit.com.

DIG SOUTH Tech Summit Speaker Lineup

Past speakers have included VaynerMedia CEO and internet personality Gary Vaynerchuk, Roadie CEO and founder Marc Gorlin, Casper Co-founder and CEO Phiip Krim, Jet.com President Liza Landsman, Essentialism author and podcaster Greg McKeown, and tech leaders from IBM, Twitter, Blackbaud, BoomTown, Revolution Ventures, Benefitfocus, Oracle, Dolby.io, Sharp and hundreds of others over the last nine years. The lineup for 2022 will be announced in January of 2022.

TESTIMONIALS

“I believe there is an enormous opportunity for some of the biggest brands in the world, biggest companies in the world at DIG SOUTH,” said Gary Vaynerchuk, best-selling author, marketing expert and CEO of VaynerMedia.

“DIG SOUTH is a fantastic meeting ground for entrepreneurs and investors,” said Bobby Ocampo, managing partner at Blueprint Equity. “This event is a must for anyone involved in the technology scene in the Southeast.”

“DIG SOUTH connects many of the nation’s leading experts in digital technology, marketing and business to the South’s smartest startups,” said DIG SOUTH co-founder Sunny Gray. “From global brands like Oracle, Forbes, Under Armour and VF Corporation to regional industry leaders like Benefitfocus, Blackbaud, Terminus and Smashing Boxes, DIG SOUTH welcomes the best of the best.”

ABOUT THE 2022 DIG SOUTH TECH SUMMIT

Now in its 10th year, DIG SOUTH Tech Summit is the only event purpose-built to grow the South’s digital economy. The Summit invites the region’s top executives, founders, entrepreneurs and leading global brands to convene in Charleston for three exciting days of inspiration, networking, fundraising and strategic know-how. The 2022 Summit theme is “Resilience.” Attendees will hear the story of emerging tech, rapid business growth, digital marketing and more from people succeeding in the game right now.

ABOUT DIG SOUTH TECH SUMMIT

Produced by DIG SOUTH Tech Media, over the last nine years, DIG SOUTH Tech Summit has welcomed more than 12000 attendees and 1000 speakers from the world’s leading brands, including Oracle, VaynerMedia, Salesforce, Hubspot, Buzzfeed, Casper, Jet.com, Google, Instagram, IBM, Boeing, Centro, Twitter, The New York Times, Facebook, Adobe, Kickstarter, Fast Company, Coca-Cola, Instagram and hundreds more. DIG SOUTH focuses on connecting those brands to the South’s most scalable tech and tech-enabled companies.

Track #1 EMERGING TECHNOLOGY

Emerging Tech dives into the latest software and hardware innovations related to SaaS, Apps, CRM, CMS, AI, AR, VR, MR, IoT, Robotics, Machine Learning, Cybersecurity, Wearables, Video, IP, Mobile, Transportation, Energy, Product Development and more.

Track #2: DIGITAL MARKETING

Digital Marketing delves into all things driving MarTech and Sales, including Multi-Channel Demand Generation, Digital Advertising, Social Media, SEO, Customer Experience, Data-Driven Approaches, Account-Based Marketing, Inbound, Content, Viral Video, Design and more.

Track #3: BUSINESS GROWTH

Business Growth explores Business Development, Go-to-Market Strategies, Growth Hacking, Recruitment, Accelerators, Incubators, Diversity, Office Culture, Startup Ecosystems, M&A, Exit Strategies and all things related to scaling companies.

Track #4: FINTECH-BLOCKCHAIN-INVESTMENT

FinTech-Blockchain-Investment focuses on innovations in Fintech software, Funding vehicles such as Angels, VCs, Family Funds and Crowdfunding, plus the underpinning architecture and rapidly evolving applications for Blockchain including Bitcoin, Hyperledger, Smart Contracts, Cybersecurity, FinTech, ICOs, Tokenized Securities, Cryptocurrency, Healthcare, Government, Gaming, Utility Tokens and more.

Learn More: Register at digsouthtechsummit.com or email info@digsouth.com for details. Find us on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/digsouth, Twitter: @DIG_SOUTH, Facebook: facebook.com/DigSouth and Instagram: @DIGSOUTH.

Media Contacts:

Stanfield Gray

DIG SOUTH

(843) 478-1167

stanfieldgray@digsouth.com

digsouthtechsummit.com

Accenture Acquires Advoco, Scaling Capabilities for Intelligent Asset Management Solutions

Accenture has acquired Advoco, one of the largest systems integrators for Infor EAM, to scale its capabilities for intelligent asset management solutions (Graphic: Business Wire)

October 05, 2021 10:14 AM Eastern Daylight Time

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Accenture (NYSE: ACN) has acquired Advoco, one of the largest systems integrators for Infor EAM, a leading software-as-a-service suite for enterprise asset management (EAM). The acquisition expands Accenture’s capabilities to help clients in the consumer goods & services, industrial, life sciences, transit and other industries make their operations and supply chains safer, more sustainable, productive and cost-efficient. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

“Advoco is highly respected for its talent, expertise and training program in this space. Together, we will bring Infor EAM capabilities to clients at scale to take advantage of a growing market opportunity.”

Advoco’s mission is to form trusted advisor partnerships with clients across industries. It specializes in configuring and integrating Infor EAM software with companies’ existing enterprise and operational systems, and EAM training programs. The solutions and services Advoco provides are designed to help clients enhance the reliability and extend the overall lifecycle of their critical assets.

Founded in 2002, Advoco has been repeatedly named Infor EAM Partner of the Year. Most of its over 100 asset management professionals are based in Greenville, SC, close to the Infor EAM product development team. Accenture plans to establish Advoco’s Greenville office as a center of excellence for Infor EAM delivery, industry use cases and intelligent asset management.

The entire Advoco team joins Accenture’s Industry X group in the United States, strengthening its suite of services for digitizing clients’ engineering and maintenance functions, factory floors and plant operations.

“Many of our clients are looking to leverage Infor EAM when embedding more intelligence in their asset management to drive the performance of their most critical assets,” said Nigel Stacey, global lead for Accenture Industry X. “Advoco is highly respected for its talent, expertise and training program in this space. Together, we will bring Infor EAM capabilities to clients at scale to take advantage of a growing market opportunity.”

Marty Osborn, partner at Advoco, said: “Becoming part of the Accenture Industry X family is an incredible opportunity for our clients and our employees. Accenture’s capabilities and expertise enable us to bring more cutting-edge, innovative work to our clients and grow as a team and as individuals. We’re excited to deliver outstanding expertise in the design, consultation and implementation of Infor EAM to even more companies and markets.”

Advoco is the latest in a series of 24 acquisitions Accenture has made since 2017 to build its Industry X capabilities. Recently completed acquisitions include international engineering consulting and services firm umlaut, operations technology provider Electro 80 (Australia), industrial robotics and automation services provider Pollux (Brazil), operations consultancy Myrtle (US) and technology consultancy SALT Solutions (Germany).

About Accenture

Accenture is a global professional services company with leading capabilities in digital, cloud and security. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries, we offer Strategy and Consulting, Interactive, Technology and Operations services — all powered by the world’s largest network of Advanced Technology and Intelligent Operations centers. Our 624,000 people deliver on the promise of technology and human ingenuity every day, serving clients in more than 120 countries. We embrace the power of change to create value and shared success for our clients, people, shareholders, partners and communities. Visit us at www.accenture.com.

Accenture Industry X embeds intelligence in how clients run factories and plants, as well as design and engineer connected products and services—making manufacturing and operations more efficient, effective and safe; enabling companies to transform how they make things, and the things they make, for sustainable growth.

Forward-Looking Statements

Except for the historical information and discussions contained herein, statements in this news release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “likely,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “projects,” “believes,” “estimates,” “positioned,” “outlook” and similar expressions are used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. Many of the following risks, uncertainties and other factors identified below are, and will be, amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic. These risks include, without limitation, risks that: the transaction might not achieve the anticipated benefits for Accenture; Accenture’s results of operations have been significantly adversely affected and could in the future be materially adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic; Accenture’s results of operations have been, and may in the future be, adversely affected by volatile, negative or uncertain economic and political conditions and the effects of these conditions on the company’s clients’ businesses and levels of business activity; Accenture’s business depends on generating and maintaining ongoing, profitable client demand for the company’s services and solutions including through the adaptation and expansion of its services and solutions in response to ongoing changes in technology and offerings, and a significant reduction in such demand or an inability to respond to the evolving technological environment could materially affect the company’s results of operations; if Accenture is unable to keep its supply of skills and resources in balance with client demand around the world and attract and retain professionals with strong leadership skills, the company’s business, the utilization rate of the company’s professionals and the company’s results of operations may be materially adversely affected; Accenture could face legal, reputational and financial risks if the company fails to protect client and/or company data from security incidents or cyberattacks; the markets in which Accenture operates are highly competitive, and Accenture might not be able to compete effectively; Accenture’s profitability could materially suffer if the company is unable to obtain favorable pricing for its services and solutions, if the company is unable to remain competitive, if its cost-management strategies are unsuccessful or if it experiences delivery inefficiencies or fail to satisfy certain agreed-upon targets or specific service levels; changes in Accenture’s level of taxes, as well as audits, investigations and tax proceedings, or changes in tax laws or in their interpretation or enforcement, could have a material adverse effect on the company’s effective tax rate, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition; Accenture’s ability to attract and retain business and employees may depend on its reputation in the marketplace; as a result of Accenture’s geographically diverse operations and its growth strategy to continue to expand in its key markets around the world, the company is more susceptible to certain risks; Accenture’s business could be materially adversely affected if the company incurs legal liability; Accenture’s work with government clients exposes the company to additional risks inherent in the government contracting environment; Accenture’s results of operations could be materially adversely affected by fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; if Accenture is unable to manage the organizational challenges associated with its size, the company might be unable to achieve its business objectives; if Accenture does not successfully manage and develop its relationships with key alliance partners or fails to anticipate and establish new alliances in new technologies, the company’s results of operations could be adversely affected; Accenture might not be successful at acquiring, investing in or integrating businesses, entering into joint ventures or divesting businesses; if Accenture is unable to protect or enforce its intellectual property rights or if Accenture’s services or solutions infringe upon the intellectual property rights of others or the company loses its ability to utilize the intellectual property of others, its business could be adversely affected; Accenture’s results of operations and share price could be adversely affected if it is unable to maintain effective internal controls; changes to accounting standards or in the estimates and assumptions Accenture makes in connection with the preparation of its consolidated financial statements could adversely affect its financial results; Accenture might be unable to access additional capital on favorable terms or at all and if the company raises equity capital, it may dilute its shareholders’ ownership interest in the company; Accenture may be subject to criticism and negative publicity related to its incorporation in Ireland; as well as the risks, uncertainties and other factors discussed under the “Risk Factors” heading in Accenture plc’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and other documents filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Statements in this news release speak only as of the date they were made, and Accenture undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statements made in this news release or to conform such statements to actual results or changes in Accenture’s expectations.

This document makes descriptive reference to trademarks that may be owned by others. The use of such trademarks herein is not an assertion of ownership of such trademarks by Accenture and is not intended to represent or imply the existence of an association between Accenture and the lawful owners of such trademarks. No sponsorship, endorsement, or approval of this content by the owners of such trademarks is intended, expressed, or implied.

Contacts

Jens R. Derksen
Accenture
+49 175 5761393
jens.derksen@accenture.com

Aimee Ertley
Accenture
+1 678 657 5515
aimee.ertley@accenture.com

Innovision Awards Announces 2021 Finalists, Meet the Finalists Sessions Hosted Virtually

2021 InnoVision Awards: 9 of 18 finalists are from the Upstate

When the weather begins to turn cooler, many South Carolinians think about football, leaf color, and pumpkin spice. But, for many of us, fall is all about celebrating innovation in South Carolina!

InnoVision Awards has been recognizing and supporting innovation in South Carolina through awards, forums, and networking since 1999. Each spring and early summer, we accept nominations and applications from innovative organizations. We then send the applications off to out-of-state independent judges. Now, as fall is arriving, we are ready to showcase the finalists with our free virtual Meet the Finalist (MTF) Series held Tuesdays at 4:00 on September 28^th, October 5^th, and October 12^th.

The finalists this year are big corporations, small start-ups, educational institutions and not-for-profit organizations. They represent a diverse range of industries – from health care and medical devices to advanced materials, IT services, education, and community service. And, they are located throughout the state, with finalists from the Upstate, Midlands, and Low Country. A true testament to the strength of the SC Innovation Economy.

Nine of the 18 finalists are from the Upstate and are profiled below, with links to their specific MTF virtual receptions. The full list of finalists from across the state is attached at the end.

Join us at the Meet the Finalists receptions as we recognize and celebrate these innovators!

Elastrin Therapeutics, Inc. of Simpsonville is a finalist in the Technology Development Award category. Elastrin Therapeutics, a Clemson University spin-off, is a South Carolina-based biotech firm developing novel therapies to reverse cardiovascular disease.
Advoco: Connect for Good GVL of Greenville is a finalist in the Community Service Building on its software development and implementation business, Advoco launched a non-profit program to serve the community during the difficulties of the Covid-19 pandemic.
United Way of the Piedmont, located in Spartanburg, is a finalist in the Community Service Their Community Resource Coordinator (CRC) program has developed innovative service processes for long-term case management clients and crisis response.

To learn more about the nominated innovations from Elastrin Therapeutics, Advoco, and United Way of the Piedmont – and the other finalists in these two categories – join us for the September 28^th virtual Meet the Finalist reception by registering here.

Aconabolics, LLC of Greenville is a finalist in the Small Enterprise Aconabolics, a Furman University spin-off, specializes in the development and synthesis of labeled metabolites for use in the rapid diagnosis of genetic and infectious disease.
Dru Feeding System LLC of Travelers Rest is a finalist in the Small Enterprise The Dru Feeding System is designed to solve myriad problems for babies feeding by bottle, particularly preemies and medically fragile infants.
Veterans ASCEND of Simpsonville is a finalist in the Small Enterprise Veterans ASCEND developed a proprietary, Artificial Intelligence-powered matching algorithm that translates the careers of military veterans and their spouses to meaningful skills required by employers.
SC Governor’s School for Arts and Humanities (SCGSAH) of Greenville is a finalist in the Education The SCGSAH serves artistically talented high school students from across South Carolina through programs of pre-professional instruction in an environment of academic and artistic excellence.

To learn more about the nominated innovations from Aconabolics, Dru Feeding Systems, Veterans ASCEND, and the SC Governor’s School for Arts and Humanities – and the other finalists in these two categories – join us for the October 5th virtual Meet the Finalist reception by registering here.

Clemson University’s Clemson Composites Center in Greenville is a finalist in the Sustainability The Clemson Composites Center is a translational research, innovation, and development center focused on developing manufacturing innovations relevant for composites technologies.

To learn more about the nominated innovations from Clemson Composite Center – and the other finalists in this award category – join us for the September 28th virtual Meet the Finalist reception by registering here.

The full list of 2021 InnoVision Award finalists.

Technology Development

ArchCath LLC (Awendaw)
Elastrin Therapeutics Inc. (Simpsonville)
FRD Accel, LLC (Charleston)

Community Service

Advoco: Connect for Good GVL (Greenville)
Camp Happy Days (Charleston)
United Way of the Piedmont (Spartanburg)

Small Enterprise

Aconabolics, LLC (Greenville)
Dru Feeding System,LLC (Travelers Rest)
Veterans ASCEND (Simpsonville)

Education

Early College High School, Charleston County School District (Charleston)
IT-oLogy (Columbia)
SC Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities (Greenville)

Technology Integration

Diversey Holdings Ltd. (Ft. Mill)
PunchList USA (Charleston)
QuicksortRx Inc (Charleston)

Sustainability

Clemson University Composites Center (Greenville)
Ingevity (North Charleston)
GeoMat, LLC (Columbia)

About Innovision Awards

InnoVision Awards, established in 1999, is South Carolina’s premier organization dedicated to the advancement of innovation and technology. InnoVision is the only organization of its kind – a grass-roots, volunteer-led non-profit made up of businesses, organizations, universities, and individuals dedicated to recognizing innovation in South Carolina. InnoVision honors innovation in products, services, and education from across the state, and recognize innovators for achievements in their respective fields. An InnoVision Award is the mark of distinction for outstanding leadership, innovation, and technological excellence. For more information, please visit www.innovisionawards.org.

NEXT Venture Pitch 2021 Sets Record

More Venture Capital Firms in Greenville for the Sixth Annual Signature Event

Three Judges Selections Awarded from 100 Applicants

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE- September 17, 2021 (Greenville, SC) – Over 20 VCs representing world-class funds from across the country gathered yesterday to judge our top eight finalists and select their choice to take the stage at next month’s Venture Atlanta. The event was the culmination of a months-long effort narrowing down 100 applicants from all over the Carolinas to just one startup to represent the Upstate at one of the Southeast’s most prestigious events.

Anduin, an AI solution proven to speed up billing and cash flow for accounting firms, took home the coveted Judges’ Choice and is delighted to pitch at Venture Atlanta. “I’m grateful for the opportunity and want to thank NEXT Upstate for giving our Anduin A-Team this award. Justin Adams, founder and CEO of Anduin. We work hard and know we are onto something big. Having the opportunity to get in front of an audience like this is important for us. Thank you!”

The three Judges’ Selections were:

From left: Tyler Traudt, CEO of Debtbook; Ryan Johnston and Ryan Heafy, Co-founders of 6AM City; Bob Quinn, Executive Director of SCRA; Shontavia Johnson, Associate Vice President for Entrepreneurship and Innovation; Carlos Phillips, President of Greenville Chamber; Justin Adams, Founder of Anduin; Paige McPheely, CEO/Founder of Base.

A sold-out Greenville One Center saw all eight founders think on their feet as they fielded tough, pointed questions from some of the top minds in venture investing and entrepreneurship. The event was highlighted by “profiles in entrepreneurship” – three fireside chats offering often candid glimpses inside the success stories of founders, investors and the winding road it takes to get to the top.

An interesting twist this year brought seven VC firms from the West Coast to evaluate two startups remotely. This hybrid model brought the attention of firms like Kleiner Perkins, GV (Google Ventures) and Intel Capital whose eyes were opened to the potential of Greenville.

“The NEXT team put on a great program. Really punched above its weight with this showcase of the Greenville region and the high-growth companies that are coming out of here,” said Don Rainey, General Partner of Grotech Ventures. “There’s no doubt in my mind we’re just scratching the surface and I can’t wait to watch this takeoff.”

NEXT Venture Pitch would not be possible without the support of sponsors like Clemson University, SCRA, Kopis, Elliott Davis, the Greenville Area Development Corporation, the Greenville Local Development Corporation, Hughes Development, JP Morgan Chase and Knoll Ventures. NEXT Venture Pitch will be back in 2022, exact dates to be determined.

ABOUT NEXT VENTURE PITCH

Now in its sixth iteration, the NEXT Venture Pitch Conference is a half-day venture capital conference that brings together high-growth entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, world-class speakers, and more to establish Greenville as an innovation and entrepreneurship hub in the southeast. For more information, visit https://www.nextventurepitch.com/

ABOUT NEXT

NEXT is an entrepreneurial support organization that attracts and helps high-impact, knowledge-based companies grow by developing an entrepreneurial ecosystem and connecting entrepreneurs to it. NEXT currently supports over 120 knowledge-based companies in Upstate South Carolina. For more information, visit www.nextgengvl.org

CONTACT:

Susan Durden | 864-735-7516 | sdurden@nextsc.org

Kopis and Zipit Announce Strategic IoT Partnership

Kopis will be utilizing Zipit’s IoT connectivity and device management technologies to reduce time to market for companies bringing IoT products to market.

Cary, NC (September 13, 2021) – Three leaders in IoT design and solutions have come together to deliver an all -in-one, comprehensive IoT Reference Platform.

Internet of Things (IoT) design engineering firm, Connected Development, partnered with cloud-based IoT solutions firm, Kopis, and cellular connectivity and subscription platform, Zipit, on this platform that is aimed to help customers with size, power, and cost constrained IoT applications accelerate time to market.

The feature-rich IoT Reference Platform offers pre-certified, detailed schematics, including Silicon Labs’ BG21 Bluetooth System on Chip (SoC); Telit’s ME310 LTE CAT-M1/NB-IoT cellular modem (AT&T and Verizon); and an array of proven and pre-tested cloud service SDKs, drivers, and sensors.

This powerful combination of pre-tested hardware and software building blocks allows customers to rapidly prototype their unique application, while benefitting from a cost-effective and seamless transition to volume manufacturing.

“With an engineering team averaging 25 years of experience in the industry, we understand the pain points of IoT product development,” said Gregor Bleimann, VP and General Manager at Connected Development. “We created the blueprints, initiated the testing, and integrated the leading software to help developers take off on the ground running.”

The customizable IoT design platform is an ultra-low-power consumption design–offering integrated security features and extensive cellular connectivity for applications like industrial IoT, asset tracking, sensor monitoring and reporting, remote asset control, motion detection and reporting, and battery-operated IoT devices.

“The Kopis IoT platform has been strategically designed to streamline and automate common IoT processes,” said Andrew Kurtz, President & CEO at Kopis. “We are pleased to partner with industry leaders like Connected Development and Zipit to broaden the possibilities of our offering and allow developers to focus their time on what matters most–their application.”

“The IoT Reference Platform isn’t just another development starter kit,” said Frank Greer, CEO & Co-Founder at Zipit. “We’ve brought together three experienced powerhouses in IoT to eliminate the obstacles that prevent developers from delivering solutions that are market ready. The Zipit team is proud to offer our cellular connectivity and subscription services to provide for a seamless deployment.”

The IoT Reference Platform is available now and can be customized to meet the form factor, sensor needs, and more, of diverse applications. Learn more by visiting: www.zipitwireless.com/lp/iot-development-platform

For additional information:

Britany Ochalek

Marketing Manager – Kopis

Britany.Ochalek@kopisusa.com

About Connected Development

Led by a team of well-known and respected experts in wireless, M2M and IoT, Connected Development provides the most comprehensive set of services on the market to bring products from concept to reality quickly and painlessly. Further, their network of partners, spanning every aspect of the wireless community, let Connected Development position customer solutions for success from the start. For more information, visit www.connecteddev.com.

About Kopis

Kopis is a Greenville, S.C.-based technology firm focused on providing high impact software and cloud solutions to businesses and state agencies in the Southeast. With a growing team of over 50 employees, Kopis is one of the fastest growing software companies in South Carolina. Kopis is the 2020 Greenville Chamber Small Business of the Year. For more information, please visit www.kopisusa.com.

About Zipit

Zipit is a leading Internet of Things platform company, delivering trusted tools that reduce time to market for connected devices and digital services. Zipit’s platform removes the complexities of connecting devices to wireless carriers, as well as enabling and managing subscription services – making it easier to launch and monetize IoT solutions anywhere in the world. To learn how Zipit can help your business, visit: www.zipitwireless.com.

The “Z” logo and Zipit are registered trademarks of Zipit Wireless, Inc.

NEXT Announces New Executive Director

Eric Weissmann Hired to Lead the Upstate Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – August 19, 2021

(Greenville, SC)- Entrepreneur Eric Weissmann is the new Executive Director of NEXT, an entrepreneur support organization in Greenville, SC that has impacted more than 120 companies, who in turn have raised $28 million in capital. NEXT provides connections to mentoring, capital, facilities, and access to a peer community of aspiring founders across the region.

Weissmann was part of the founding team at Cintrifuse, a similar ecosystem catalyst, in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he serves as Vice President of External Relations. Weissmann launched “StartupCincy,” an initiative that started as a simple social media hashtag and bloomed into a full-fledged, connected community. He previously worked in the marketing and creative services industries. Weissmann has helped establish the Disney Cruise Line brand leading up to the maiden voyage of the Disney Magic.

“I’m excited by the opportunity and encouraged by the amount of collaboration I already see in the Greenville community,” said Weissmann. “We’re at a unique moment in time where cities across the country are fostering entrepreneurship by leveraging their unique strengths to attract talent and dollars with the goal of increasing economic development. Greenville’s got the raw materials to make a huge impact on the region and I’m ready to get to work!”

Find Great People led a nationwide, comprehensive search. The interview committee selected Weissmann because of his extensive experience developing innovation ecosystems, supporting entrepreneurs in securing venture capital, leading diversity and inclusion programs, and supporting ventures from concept to exit.

“Eric embodies the qualities we desired in the leader of NEXT: a proven leader with experience building world-class ecosystems for start-ups and developing innovative, collaborative teams and communities where entrepreneurs can thrive,” said Carlos Phillips, Greenville Chamber President/CEO.

NEXT was founded in 2006 and has three locations including NEXT Innovation, NEXT on Main and NEXT Manufacturing.

“As we look to the future, NEXT has a goal of tripling investment in the entrepreneurial ecosystem that we serve,” said Scott Millwood, Chair of NEXT. “Under Weissmann’s leadership, we are confident NEXT will have the strategic and visionary leadership needed to accomplish these goals.”

The City of Greenville is a primary investor in NEXT, as part of its Economic Development strategy to attract small and medium sized companies that provide high wage, knowledge-based jobs.

“NEXT is the vehicle the city utilizes to support early-stage scalable businesses,” said Greenville City Manager John McDonough. “We ‘get’ entrepreneurs and the dreams that drive them. Hiring a founder who has successfully started companies, grown companies and marketed companies, to lead the NEXT organization showcases our commitment to becoming “the place” for brilliant minds to start and grow their business.”

Weissmann is expected to begin in September.

ABOUT NEXT

NEXT, launched as a production of the Greenville Chamber in 2006, is an entrepreneurial support organization that attracts and helps high-impact, knowledge-based companies grow by developing an entrepreneurial ecosystem and connecting entrepreneurs to it. NEXT currently supports over 120 knowledge-based companies in Upstate South Carolina. For more information, visit www.nextgengvl.org