Putting the Rebel into Rebel Rabbit

Rebel Rabbit was born out of a need for alcohol alternatives in the space—a rebellion. Drinking alcohol is one vice where you get judged for not doing it – it can be hard to be the only one at a party or a brewery (because everything is at a brewery!) without a drink in your hand. And, people are pretty comfortable with asking why you’re not drinking. Coming at this from mental health and substance abuse backgrounds, the founders of Rebel Rabbit found themselves tired of answering all the questions and decided to do something about it! Their guiding principle is simple: “You do you.” The outcome of this rebellion is a cannabis-infused seltzer, swiftly gaining popularity nationwide, with the added perk of leaving consumers hangover-free.

Rebel Rabbit extracts the legal D9 THC compound from the cannabis plant and integrates it into an all-natural blend. Founder Billy Goldsmith crafted two strengths and three all-natural flavors to counterbalance the occasionally bitter taste of cannabis. All their seltzers are natural, low-calorie, and boast minimal sugar content.

Having recently acquired the Brewery 85 space in Greenville as part of their second company Upstate Beverage Consultants, LLC, Rebel Rabbit directly sells its products to consumers and also distributes widely. Achieving remarkable growth since its inception in 2021, the company is on track to earn its third million. Operating in a relatively new industry, Rebel Rabbit faces unique challenges but provides valuable insights to fellow founders in the adult beverage sector in Greenville. They actively contribute to a series of meetings for adult beverage company founders in Greenville through NEXT, sharing industry insights to benefit others on the entrepreneurial journey.

Upstate Beverage Consultants has a contractual agreement to do production for Rebel Rabbit as well as for other non-alcoholic beverage brands. This allows their team to control their production schedule and change directions quickly as rules and regulations shift around the hemp market. It also opens them up to having other non-intoxicating products in our portfolio.  They have plans to expand the brewery later in 2024 to up their production capacity.

Co-founders Pierce Wylie and Billy Goldsmith, both alumni of the NEXT Accelerator cohort 2, sported Rebel Rabbit gear throughout their participation, emphasizing their brand identity. Pierce presented their journey and entrepreneurial challenges at the NEXT Showcase, shedding light on the sometimes isolating path of a founder. “It’s tough being a founder and figuring all this out. So when you can share stories and hear stories of people who have been there before and they can shed light on what you’re doing through it’s great. Leadership helped connect dots and also connect to people and building relationships that will continue to show dividends.” If you attended, they were also giving out samples!

Where can you find Rebel Rabbit locally? Check out Garners, Greenville Beer Exchange, Drop In Store, Palmetto Hemp Provisions, and their website for more locations. Or, just buy it online!

Introducing the NEXT Accelerator Cohort 2

We’re thrilled to announce NEXT kicked off the second cohort of its accelerator program on Monday, September 18th. The 8-week curriculum, taught with the expertise of local former founders and business leaders, comprises eight high-growth companies. These companies will work side by side with each other and program leaders to build a growth plan to take their startups to the next level. The curriculum aims to grow and scale some of the region’s high-potential startups by providing dedicated resources to their specific challenges and needs with sessions dedicated to product market fit, sales and marketing, hiring to scale, funding, and more.

“The NEXT Accelerator is laying the foundation for Greenville’s entrepreneurial community. As a former technology founder, I wish I had a program like this. The teaching and leadership provided through the accelerator is exceptional. If I would have had the opportunity to attend a program like this, it would have saved me numerous headaches and mistakes. Along with NEXT, we are leveraging our network of fifty (50) Greenville-based investors to teach, lead, and foster growth.” – Shay Houser, Founderville.vc

The program culminates in a showcase presentation in November that is open to the public.

NEXT Accelerator cohort 2

 

Introducing Cohort 2:

“I’m thrilled to join the NEXT Startup Accelerator as it offers an invaluable opportunity for Susu Lend, a fintech dedicated to serving the credit invisible. Connecting with local support and resources is incredibly important during our pilot program launch. This local engagement fuels my excitement and allows us to deeply connect with the community we aim to serve, strengthening our foundational launch.” – Pedro Escobar, Susu Lend

The companies in Cohort 1 saw a direct impact from participation in the NEXT Accelerator. Three companies, Pixlmob, WAVS, and Vicinity, all received funding from Founderville.vc which was announced on stage at the 2023 NEXT Venture Summit.

“I’ve been a part of multiple programs and while those were all good in their own respect, this program was much more impactful. I guess that’s clear since I’m moving my family and business here [from Florence, SC]. But, there was really no hesitation on my part because we founders need a network of support and without a doubt this is where I need to be.” – Mike Smith, Custom Donations, Cohort 1 Graduate

Cohort members and their journeys will be featured across NEXT’s social media during their time in the program. To learn more about these companies, visit https://www.instagram.com/nextupstatesc/.

About NEXT

NEXT is a non-profit entrepreneurial support organization that attracts and helps grow high-impact, knowledge-based companies by developing the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Greenville, SC and connecting entrepreneurs to it. Our mission is to identify, engage and provide support for high-growth entrepreneurs and their teams as they build scaling, investor-ready companies through programming, connections and support whether just starting out or well on their way.

For more information, visit www.nextgengvl.org

NEXT awards $95k worth of prizes at second annual #StartupGVL Launchpad event

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE- April 7, 2023 (Greenville, SC) – The second annual #StartupGVL Launchpad event took place on Thursday, April 6th, and was an incredible celebration of early-stage innovation and entrepreneurship. With over 50 applicants for prizes in 7 categories,  7 winners were selected to receive prize packages that, in total, represent more than $95k. 

Prize winners from the 2023 #StartupGVL Launchpad reception

The winner of the Business Consulting package provided by Elliott Davis was Modal, a globally-recognized and technically-advanced hostel concept shaping the short-term lodging industry. 

The winner of the HR/Team Development package provided by Find Great People was Avallano, a SaaS platform that improves patient recruitment and retention using a secure, personalized, patient-centric approach.

The winner of the Branding and Design package provided by SLANT was Incora Health, an innovative, data-driven solution for fertility health and wellness management. 

The winner of the Legal Servies package provided by Wyche was Bottle Titan, which produces customizable solutions to next-generation real-time asset tracking in any industry or sector.

The winner of the SEO and Digital Marketing Services package provided by DFS Creative Concepts was Metatomic, the premier company in dry spent nuclear fuel processing, by providing fuel salt for both thermal and fast molten salt reactors, which will produce carbon free electricity in the United States

The winner of the Seed Grant provided by SCRA was Builder Rocket, an intelligent digital platform that integrates builders, buyers, and brands to minimize or eliminate the communication gap between builders, home buyers, subcontractors, distributors, and manufacturers.

The winner of the bonus prize category Software Prototyping provided by Designli was AR Funding, which provides working capital through invoice factoring using Smart Contracts and Blockchain technology.

 

About NEXT

NEXT is a non-profit entrepreneurial support organization that attracts and helps grow high-impact, knowledge-based companies by developing the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Greenville, SC and connecting entrepreneurs to it. Our mission is to identify, engage and provide support for high-growth entrepreneurs and their teams as they build scaling, investor-ready companies through programming, connections and support whether just starting out or well on their way. For more information, visit www.nextgengvl.org 

 

CONTACT:

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

NEXT Launches Accelerator Program 

The first cohort, focused on tech companies in Greenville, includes 10 high-growth startups

NEXT kicked off its first-ever accelerator program on Monday, March 6th. This new program introduces a curated 10-week curriculum, taught with the expertise of local former founders and business leaders. The first cohort, comprised of high-growth tech companies, will work with program leaders to build a growth plan to take their startup to the next level. This accelerator aims to grow and scale some of the region’s high-potential startups by providing dedicated resources to their specific challenges and needs. 

“We saw a gap in the ecosystem and decided to develop this program to coach and lead in the specific areas where we know founders need the most help,” says Scott Millwood, cofounder of an early-stage seed fund in Greenville and a two-time startup founder himself. 

This program leads to a presentation in late May and the content is focused on leadership development, team building, business planning and funding. 

The 10 companies participating are:

  • Bottle Titan
  • Custom Donations
  • Mapsheet
  • North 7th
  • RAAMP
  • Ruffian Software
  • Skillsgapp
  • TestedHQ
  • Vicinity Capital
  • WAVS Custom

“Today, we’re taking a huge step forward for the future of innovation in Greenville, South Carolina to bridge a gap for founders,” says Molly Inclán, NEXT Program Manager. “We can’t wait to see where these companies end up in a few years. We’re gonna look back at this and know it was the beginning of something huge.” 

Cohort members and their journeys will be featured across NEXT’s social media during their time in the program. To learn more about these companies, visit https://www.instagram.com/nextupstatesc/

About NEXT

NEXT is a non-profit entrepreneurial support organization that attracts and helps grow high-impact, knowledge-based companies by developing the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Greenville, SC and connecting entrepreneurs to it. Our mission is to identify, engage and provide support for high-growth entrepreneurs and their teams as they build scaling, investor-ready companies through programming, connections and support whether just starting out or well on their way.

For more information, visit www.nextgengvl.org  

Greenville Area Entrepreneurs Announce Fund in Support of Local Founders

NEXT Founders Fund to Grow Greenville-Based Startups   

Two Greenville entrepreneurs, joined by Mayor Knox White, announced the creation of a multi-million dollar early-stage fund with commitments from dozens of investors in the Greenville area.

The NEXT Founders Fund will be run by General Partners Scott Millwood and Shay Houser, co-founders of Deal Strategies. Both are entrepreneurs who have successfully founded/co-founded and exited high-growth companies in Greenville.

“The fund will address gaps in the ecosystem by providing financial and business resources to scaling startup companies,” Millwood said. “Shay and I have grown multiple successful companies here in Greenville so we know it can be done. We have some great founder talent here but they often face a daunting challenge of searching far and wide for funding and guidance. This gap is pretty big here in Greenville at the moment. The NEXT Founders Fund was built to bridge that gap,” he said.

The fund, totaling $6 million, expects to make 8-10 investments over the next eighteen months in companies with capital-efficient models that call Greenville home.

For its first investment, the fund has committed to Safe Helipad, a software platform to help manage helipads, helidecks, and vertiports for safety and compliance.

“Safe Helipad was inspired from my time in the Marine Corps flying helicopters and doing aviation mission planning. I did that at the battalion level, squadron level, all the way up to flying for President Obama at HMX One,” said founder and CEO Michael Middleton. “What I found is with helipads, landing zones and heliports there is very little technology and knowledge-sharing being applied. That creates risk. We created SafeHelipad to address that and we’re doing it from right here in Greenville, SC”

The City of Greenville and Greenville Chamber are primary investors in NEXT as part of the area’s economic development strategy to attract and grow high-impact, knowledge-based companies. NEXT identifies, engages and provides support for high-growth entrepreneurs and companies through programming, connections and support.

Millwood says, “As current board chair and a co-founder of NEXT, I’ve had a front-row seat at the growth of our ecosystem. The NEXT Founders Fund addresses a gap I’ve seen where scaling companies need more than just money to hit the next stage.”

About NEXT

NEXT is a non-profit entrepreneurial support organization that attracts and helps grow high-impact, knowledge-based companies by developing the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Greenville, SC and connecting entrepreneurs to it. Our mission is to identify, engage and provide support for high-growth entrepreneurs and their teams as they build scaling, investor-ready companies through programming, connections and support whether just starting out or well on their way.

For more information, visit www.nextgengvl.org 

Contact:

Susan Durden, NEXT | 864-735-7516 | susan@nextsc.org

NEXT Launchpad event awards 8 entrepreneurs with over $125k in prizes

The first-ever #StartupGVL Week was a huge success, with events from ecosystem partners including NEXT,  FlywheelThe Hill Institute at Furman University and the City of Greenville, all collaborating to turn the spotlight on startups.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE- April 7, 2022 (Greenville, SC) – The inaugural NEXT Launchpad event was an incredible celebration of early-stage innovation and entrepreneurship! With over 80 applicants for prizes in 6 categories, 8 winners were selected to receive prize packages that, in total, represent more than $100k. 

And the winners are…

In addition, Carl Sobocinski, founder and president of Table 301 Restaurant Group, joined Beth Brotherton for a candid conversation on-stage about facing fear and gaining courage throughout his entrepreneurship journey. NEXT also unveiled the first iteration of the StartupGVL Ecosystem Resource map, which features more than 50 local resources for startups and entrepreneurs in the Greenville region AND had StartupGVL T-shirts for everyone who attended.

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

NEXT Announces new #StartupGVL initiative, bringing together ecosystem partners to champion entrepreneurship

StartupGVL

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE- April 7, 2022 (Greenville, SC) – At the first-ever NEXT Launchpad event on April 7th, NEXT unveiled the first iteration of the StartupGVL Ecosystem Resource map, which features more than 50 local resources for startups and entrepreneurs in the Greenville region AND had StartupGVL T-shirts for everyone who attended.

StartupGVL ecosystem map
ABOUT #STARTUPGVL

Momentum is building across the Upstate of South Carolina. The region is realizing its potential as an innovation hub and making another storied move to anticipate where the puck is going, not where it’s been. StartupGVL is a destination. It represents the spirit of entrepreneurship and personifies innovation flowing from a diverse set of resources.  From the chefs and foodies following their dreams along Main Street to the software geeks building tech-based businesses on the banks of the Reedy River – StartupGVL provides inspiration, connections and support. We believe that the spirit of innovation and the bold bravery of entrepreneurs will stimulate our entire economy and invigorate an integrated community.

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

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

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

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