Catalyzing Innovation Summit

October 18, 2024
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Charleston, SC

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Why Attend?

Angel Investing as the Cornerstone of Startup Success Summit

brings together key players in the startup ecosystem to explore the vital role angel investors play in fostering innovation and early-stage business growth. This conference will feature thought leaders, seasoned investors, and startup founders, sharing their insights on how angel capital drives entrepreneurship, creates opportunities for new technologies, and builds thriving businesses.


Attendees will gain valuable knowledge about emerging investment trends, best practices in deal sourcing, and strategic partnerships that pave the way for success. The event will provide a platform for networking, mentorship, and collaboration, helping investors and founders align their visions to fuel the next wave of startup growth.

brings together key players in the startup ecosystem to explore the vital role angel investors play in fostering innovation and early-stage business growth. This conference will feature thought leaders, seasoned investors, and startup founders, sharing their insights on how angel capital drives entrepreneurship, creates opportunities for new technologies, and builds thriving businesses.


Attendees will gain valuable knowledge about emerging investment trends, best practices in deal sourcing, and strategic partnerships that pave the way for success. The event will provide a platform for networking, mentorship, and collaboration, helping investors and founders align their visions to fuel the next wave of startup growth.

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Agenda

Color Key

Color Key

Networking

Session

Pitches

Registration and Networking Breakfast

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Welcome Address and Introduction to the Summit

9:00 AM - 9:15 AM

Will Cruz

Executive Director, Charleston Angel Partners

Angels: the Force in Transforming Ideas into Innovations

9:15 AM - 10:00 AM

Angels are the oldest and largest source of seed capital in the United States, but much remains to understanding this critical source of risk capital for entrepreneurs. Based on a rich history of bringing academic insights and independent data to applied research on angels, the latest trends in the angel market are identified, including the emerging role of women angels. New research on the behavioral aspects of angel investing and how these behavioral elements impact the investment decision are also identified.

Angels are the oldest and largest source of seed capital in the United States, but much remains to understanding this critical source of risk capital for entrepreneurs. Based on a rich history of bringing academic insights and independent data to applied research on angels, the latest trends in the angel market are identified, including the emerging role of women angels. New research on the behavioral aspects of angel investing and how these behavioral elements impact the investment decision are also identified.

Jeff Sohl

University of New Hampshire

Coffee Break and Networking

10:00 AM - 10:15 AM

Angels & State Agencies - SEEDing the Innovation Ecosystem

10:15 AM - 11:15 AM

The panel can share their strategies for identifying promising startups, the impact of angel investment on the broader innovation ecosystem, and how investors can collaborate to support sustainable growth in various industries.

The panel can share their strategies for identifying promising startups, the impact of angel investment on the broader innovation ecosystem, and how investors can collaborate to support sustainable growth in various industries.

Troy Knauss, Moderator

College of Charleston

Tom Basile

Partner at GP Ventures

Nancy Conwell

SC Commerce

Carl D Francis

Ariel Savannah Angel Partners

Lift Off: How Taking An “Outside-In” Approach To The Marketplace Fuels Sustainable Growth

11:15 AM - 12:15 PM

Early-stage founders are right to prioritize innovation, but what happens when they don’t take an "outside-in" perspective, i.e., the market landscape and customer needs? This gap in priorities inevitably slows growth. In this interactive workshop, you’ll learn how adopting a market-led, outside-in strategy can help your companies solve real customer problems, capitalize on underexploited opportunities, and achieve sustainable, profitable growth. Join us to gain actionable insights into aligning innovation with market demands for a true “lift-off.”

Early-stage founders are right to prioritize innovation, but what happens when they don’t take an "outside-in" perspective, i.e., the market landscape and customer needs? This gap in priorities inevitably slows growth. In this interactive workshop, you’ll learn how adopting a market-led, outside-in strategy can help your companies solve real customer problems, capitalize on underexploited opportunities, and achieve sustainable, profitable growth. Join us to gain actionable insights into aligning innovation with market demands for a true “lift-off.”

John Breen

Howling Advisors

Tracey Solomon

Howling Advisors

Networking Lunch (Provided in Ticket)

12:15 PM - 1:00 PM

Spotlight on Innovation: Startup Pitch Showcase

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Condutiv

language

Lumiq

language

Virtue Technologies

language

Watershed Therapeutics

Watershed

language

Empowering the Southeast: The Role of Deep Tech Innovation

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

This panel will explore how deep tech innovation is driving economic growth in the Southeast, from AI and biotech to energy breakthroughs. Our experts will discuss the role angel investors can play in empowering these startups, positioning the region as a hub for cutting-edge technologies, and navigating the unique challenges of investing in deep tech.

This panel will explore how deep tech innovation is driving economic growth in the Southeast, from AI and biotech to energy breakthroughs. Our experts will discuss the role angel investors can play in empowering these startups, positioning the region as a hub for cutting-edge technologies, and navigating the unique challenges of investing in deep tech.

Jesse Goodwin, PhD

Medical University of South Carolina

John Osborne

Good Growth Capital

Jamie DeMent

South Carolina Council on Competitiveness

Coffee Break and Networking

3:00 PM - 3:15 PM

Panel Discussion: VC’s, Angels and SSBCI - The Perfect Partnership

3:15 PM - 4:15 PM

Discover the synergy between venture capitalists, angel investors, and the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI). Founders will share how SSBCI term sheets helped them secure matching capital from angels, accelerating their growth. Learn how these partnerships fuel startups and drive economic impact.

Discover the synergy between venture capitalists, angel investors, and the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI). Founders will share how SSBCI term sheets helped them secure matching capital from angels, accelerating their growth. Learn how these partnerships fuel startups and drive economic impact.

Will Cruz (Moderator)

CAP

Bill Drohan

SquareStack

Nick Black

GoodUnited

Equity in Innovation: Discovering and Supporting Diverse Founders

4:15 PM - 5:00 PM

This panel will highlight the importance of diversity in driving startup success. Featuring experienced investors and founders, it will explore strategies for identifying, investing in, and supporting diverse entrepreneurs. Attendees will gain insights into the challenges these founders face and the impact of equitable access to capital on building more inclusive, thriving businesses.

This panel will highlight the importance of diversity in driving startup success. Featuring experienced investors and founders, it will explore strategies for identifying, investing in, and supporting diverse entrepreneurs. Attendees will gain insights into the challenges these founders face and the impact of equitable access to capital on building more inclusive, thriving businesses.

Cokie Berenyi

Alphavest

Julie Hussey

Angel Investor, CAPS

Julie Weldon

Co-Founder CEO OME Gear

Stacey M. Pierce

Co-Founder CEO OME Gear

Get Your Tickets

Equity in Innovation: Discovering and Supporting Diverse Founders

4:15 PM - 5:00 PM

This panel will highlight the importance of diversity in driving startup success. Featuring experienced investors and founders, it will explore strategies for identifying, investing in, and supporting diverse entrepreneurs. Attendees will gain insights into the challenges these founders face and the impact of equitable access to capital on building more inclusive, thriving businesses.

Cokie Berenyi

Alphavest

Julie Hussey

Angel Investor, CAPS

Speakers

Will Cruz

Charleston Angel Partners

Will is a proven serial entrepreneur, investor, and IronMan triathlete with over 25 years of experience in the healthcare space. He currently serves as Chief Investment Officer for InvestSC, Executive Director for Charleston Angel Partners, and Entrepreneur In Residence at Delaware Innovation Space, while also leading his venture, Predictive Wear. Will is a Limited Partner at UTEC - The University of Tokyo Edge Capital Partners, investing in global deep tech startups, and serves as a Board Member and Advisor for the Rebel Venture Fund at the University of Nevada. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Purdue University and an M.B.A. from the Stockholm School of Economics.

Will is a proven serial entrepreneur, investor, and IronMan triathlete with over 25 years of experience in the healthcare space. He currently serves as Chief Investment Officer for InvestSC, Executive Director for Charleston Angel Partners, and Entrepreneur In Residence at Delaware Innovation Space, while also leading his venture, Predictive Wear. Will is a Limited Partner at UTEC - The University of Tokyo Edge Capital Partners, investing in global deep tech startups, and serves as a Board Member and Advisor for the Rebel Venture Fund at the University of Nevada. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Purdue University and an M.B.A. from the Stockholm School of Economics.

Will is a proven serial entrepreneur, investor, and IronMan triathlete with over 25 years of experience in the healthcare space. He currently serves as Chief Investment Officer for InvestSC, Executive Director for Charleston Angel Partners, and Entrepreneur In Residence at Delaware Innovation Space, while also leading his venture, Predictive Wear. Will is a Limited Partner at UTEC - The University of Tokyo Edge Capital Partners, investing in global deep tech startups, and serves as a Board Member and Advisor for the Rebel Venture Fund at the University of Nevada. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Purdue University and an M.B.A. from the Stockholm School of Economics.

Jeff Sohl

University of New Hampshire

Jeffrey E. Sohl is Director of the Center for Venture Research and Professor of Entrepreneurship and Decision Sciences at the Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics at the University of New Hampshire. He currently serves on the Editorial Boards for Venture Capital, Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, and Journal of Business Venturing. He previously served on the National Academy of Science Committee on Capitalizing Science, Technology and Innovation (2012-2016), and the New Hampshire Community Loan Fund’s VFG (2002-2016). In 2006 he was awarded the national Hans Severiens Award by the Kauffman Foundation in recognition of his research on angel investing in the US. He has written over 50 articles which have been published in academic journals. He has presented his research in academic and practitioner forums in North America, Europe and Asia, and in briefings for several government agencies and scholars from North America, Europe, Scandinavia, Australia, Asia and Africa. He has appeared on CNBC, MSNBC, National Public Radio, NHPTV’s NH Outlook, and has been quoted in Inc., Forbes, Fortune, the Wall Street Journal, The Economist, Red Herring, Newsweek, Business Week, Newsweek-Japan, Financial Times, New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times and the Financial Times-France. Jeffrey is also the coordinator of all the Entrepreneurship programs, and the founder and managing director of the Mel Rines Student Angel Investment Fund, at Paul College.

Jeffrey E. Sohl is Director of the Center for Venture Research and Professor of Entrepreneurship and Decision Sciences at the Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics at the University of New Hampshire. He currently serves on the Editorial Boards for Venture Capital, Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, and Journal of Business Venturing. He previously served on the National Academy of Science Committee on Capitalizing Science, Technology and Innovation (2012-2016), and the New Hampshire Community Loan Fund’s VFG (2002-2016). In 2006 he was awarded the national Hans Severiens Award by the Kauffman Foundation in recognition of his research on angel investing in the US. He has written over 50 articles which have been published in academic journals. He has presented his research in academic and practitioner forums in North America, Europe and Asia, and in briefings for several government agencies and scholars from North America, Europe, Scandinavia, Australia, Asia and Africa. He has appeared on CNBC, MSNBC, National Public Radio, NHPTV’s NH Outlook, and has been quoted in Inc., Forbes, Fortune, the Wall Street Journal, The Economist, Red Herring, Newsweek, Business Week, Newsweek-Japan, Financial Times, New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times and the Financial Times-France. Jeffrey is also the coordinator of all the Entrepreneurship programs, and the founder and managing director of the Mel Rines Student Angel Investment Fund, at Paul College.

Jeffrey E. Sohl is Director of the Center for Venture Research and Professor of Entrepreneurship and Decision Sciences at the Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics at the University of New Hampshire. He currently serves on the Editorial Boards for Venture Capital, Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, and Journal of Business Venturing. He previously served on the National Academy of Science Committee on Capitalizing Science, Technology and Innovation (2012-2016), and the New Hampshire Community Loan Fund’s VFG (2002-2016). In 2006 he was awarded the national Hans Severiens Award by the Kauffman Foundation in recognition of his research on angel investing in the US. He has written over 50 articles which have been published in academic journals. He has presented his research in academic and practitioner forums in North America, Europe and Asia, and in briefings for several government agencies and scholars from North America, Europe, Scandinavia, Australia, Asia and Africa. He has appeared on CNBC, MSNBC, National Public Radio, NHPTV’s NH Outlook, and has been quoted in Inc., Forbes, Fortune, the Wall Street Journal, The Economist, Red Herring, Newsweek, Business Week, Newsweek-Japan, Financial Times, New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times and the Financial Times-France. Jeffrey is also the coordinator of all the Entrepreneurship programs, and the founder and managing director of the Mel Rines Student Angel Investment Fund, at Paul College.

John Breen

Howling Advisors

John Breen is an accomplished strategy and marketing analytics leader, building strong brands for both legacy and startup companies across different healthcare verticals. He excels in merging analytical rigor with creative problem-solving to address complex business challenges and identify hidden brand value. He has frequently served as an advisor to C-level healthcare executives at critical moments for their companies, offering strategic direction firmly grounded in market intelligence and deep customer insights. John has previously held leadership roles at Interbrand and Kyu Collective and currently runs his own advisory business, helping companies to understand and unlock their unique value to drive growth.

John Breen is an accomplished strategy and marketing analytics leader, building strong brands for both legacy and startup companies across different healthcare verticals. He excels in merging analytical rigor with creative problem-solving to address complex business challenges and identify hidden brand value. He has frequently served as an advisor to C-level healthcare executives at critical moments for their companies, offering strategic direction firmly grounded in market intelligence and deep customer insights. John has previously held leadership roles at Interbrand and Kyu Collective and currently runs his own advisory business, helping companies to understand and unlock their unique value to drive growth.

John Breen is an accomplished strategy and marketing analytics leader, building strong brands for both legacy and startup companies across different healthcare verticals. He excels in merging analytical rigor with creative problem-solving to address complex business challenges and identify hidden brand value. He has frequently served as an advisor to C-level healthcare executives at critical moments for their companies, offering strategic direction firmly grounded in market intelligence and deep customer insights. John has previously held leadership roles at Interbrand and Kyu Collective and currently runs his own advisory business, helping companies to understand and unlock their unique value to drive growth.

Nancy Conwell

SC Commerce

I have a diverse professional background that spans industries from the Federal government to international hospitality marketing, higher education to consulting. My roles have included serving as an executive team member, international business development and project manager, consultant for life science and tech-based economic development clients, corporate site selection, and higher education administration. This diverse background equips me with a range of transferable skills, industry expertise, and emotional intelligence to lead cross-functional teams and to be a successful team member.

I have a diverse professional background that spans industries from the Federal government to international hospitality marketing, higher education to consulting. My roles have included serving as an executive team member, international business development and project manager, consultant for life science and tech-based economic development clients, corporate site selection, and higher education administration. This diverse background equips me with a range of transferable skills, industry expertise, and emotional intelligence to lead cross-functional teams and to be a successful team member.

I have a diverse professional background that spans industries from the Federal government to international hospitality marketing, higher education to consulting. My roles have included serving as an executive team member, international business development and project manager, consultant for life science and tech-based economic development clients, corporate site selection, and higher education administration. This diverse background equips me with a range of transferable skills, industry expertise, and emotional intelligence to lead cross-functional teams and to be a successful team member.

Tom Basile

Partner at GP Ventures

As an entrepreneur and operator, I led a company to a 14x return on early capital. In investing, I have been involved in ~60 capital rounds in the private market across a diverse mix of companies. Through advisory roles, I have supported companies in operations, capital raising, financial management, and product development.


Most importantly, I am a Dad and a husband, and I enjoy focusing time and energy on my family.

As an entrepreneur and operator, I led a company to a 14x return on early capital. In investing, I have been involved in ~60 capital rounds in the private market across a diverse mix of companies. Through advisory roles, I have supported companies in operations, capital raising, financial management, and product development.


Most importantly, I am a Dad and a husband, and I enjoy focusing time and energy on my family.

As an entrepreneur and operator, I led a company to a 14x return on early capital. In investing, I have been involved in ~60 capital rounds in the private market across a diverse mix of companies. Through advisory roles, I have supported companies in operations, capital raising, financial management, and product development.


Most importantly, I am a Dad and a husband, and I enjoy focusing time and energy on my family.

Tracey Solomon

Howling Advisors

Tracey Solomon is a seasoned strategist and insights specialist who has been honing her business acumen for over two decades, starting as a Change Management Analyst at Accenture and then at Interbrand Health (an Omnicom agency) before launching her own consultancy, Lift Force Consulting Group in 2011. Tracey’s experience and depth of knowledge runs the gamut, having led projects in a multitude of sectors including banking, high tech, healthcare, consumer packaged goods, media and entertainment and not-for-profit. Her breadth of exposure to so many sectors is what allows Tracey to cross-pollinate best practices and insights across industries, ultimately delivering strategies that help companies tell unique, authentic stories about their brands that cut through the noise.

Tracey Solomon is a seasoned strategist and insights specialist who has been honing her business acumen for over two decades, starting as a Change Management Analyst at Accenture and then at Interbrand Health (an Omnicom agency) before launching her own consultancy, Lift Force Consulting Group in 2011. Tracey’s experience and depth of knowledge runs the gamut, having led projects in a multitude of sectors including banking, high tech, healthcare, consumer packaged goods, media and entertainment and not-for-profit. Her breadth of exposure to so many sectors is what allows Tracey to cross-pollinate best practices and insights across industries, ultimately delivering strategies that help companies tell unique, authentic stories about their brands that cut through the noise.

Tracey Solomon is a seasoned strategist and insights specialist who has been honing her business acumen for over two decades, starting as a Change Management Analyst at Accenture and then at Interbrand Health (an Omnicom agency) before launching her own consultancy, Lift Force Consulting Group in 2011. Tracey’s experience and depth of knowledge runs the gamut, having led projects in a multitude of sectors including banking, high tech, healthcare, consumer packaged goods, media and entertainment and not-for-profit. Her breadth of exposure to so many sectors is what allows Tracey to cross-pollinate best practices and insights across industries, ultimately delivering strategies that help companies tell unique, authentic stories about their brands that cut through the noise.

Cokie Berenyi

Alphavest

Cokie Berenyi has been in financial services and serving the needs of individual and institutional clients and entrepreneurs since 1996. Mother, author, business owner, financial “samurai” and Perfect Day wealth-engineer, Cokie loves food, wine, travel, stray dogs, goat cheese, tennis, and alpine mountaineering.


Founder of Alphavest, an industry pioneer that is right-sizing Wall Street one client at a time, Cokie inspires investors and entrepreneurs at-large with her vision and storytelling of her many experiences leading clients through the nancial and work-life-balance maze.


Author of the Liberated Investor, a 40 under 40 recipient and Woman CEO of the Year, Cokie is currently climbing the 7 Summits of the world, with a successful Everest '21 summit. Founder of non-profits Rein & Shine and She CLIMBS, Cokie’s passion for entrepreneurship spans for-profit and not-for profit arenas, alike.

Cokie Berenyi has been in financial services and serving the needs of individual and institutional clients and entrepreneurs since 1996. Mother, author, business owner, financial “samurai” and Perfect Day wealth-engineer, Cokie loves food, wine, travel, stray dogs, goat cheese, tennis, and alpine mountaineering.


Founder of Alphavest, an industry pioneer that is right-sizing Wall Street one client at a time, Cokie inspires investors and entrepreneurs at-large with her vision and storytelling of her many experiences leading clients through the nancial and work-life-balance maze.


Author of the Liberated Investor, a 40 under 40 recipient and Woman CEO of the Year, Cokie is currently climbing the 7 Summits of the world, with a successful Everest '21 summit. Founder of non-profits Rein & Shine and She CLIMBS, Cokie’s passion for entrepreneurship spans for-profit and not-for profit arenas, alike.

Cokie Berenyi has been in financial services and serving the needs of individual and institutional clients and entrepreneurs since 1996. Mother, author, business owner, financial “samurai” and Perfect Day wealth-engineer, Cokie loves food, wine, travel, stray dogs, goat cheese, tennis, and alpine mountaineering.


Founder of Alphavest, an industry pioneer that is right-sizing Wall Street one client at a time, Cokie inspires investors and entrepreneurs at-large with her vision and storytelling of her many experiences leading clients through the nancial and work-life-balance maze.


Author of the Liberated Investor, a 40 under 40 recipient and Woman CEO of the Year, Cokie is currently climbing the 7 Summits of the world, with a successful Everest '21 summit. Founder of non-profits Rein & Shine and She CLIMBS, Cokie’s passion for entrepreneurship spans for-profit and not-for profit arenas, alike.

Troy Knauss

College of Charleston

Troy is a frequent speaker to investors and entrepreneurs on private investing through his efforts with the Angel Resource Institute (ARI), a spin-out of the Kauffman Foundation. At ARI, Troy serves on the Board of Trustees and formerly co-Chaired the Research Committee where he helped publish the annual HALO Report, an in-depth analysis of over 3,000 new startup deals per year. Troy is a former Assistant Professor of the Practice of Entrepreneurship at High Point University, a former adjunct professor at Wake Forest University, and a former Board member of the Angel Capital Association.

Troy is a frequent speaker to investors and entrepreneurs on private investing through his efforts with the Angel Resource Institute (ARI), a spin-out of the Kauffman Foundation. At ARI, Troy serves on the Board of Trustees and formerly co-Chaired the Research Committee where he helped publish the annual HALO Report, an in-depth analysis of over 3,000 new startup deals per year. Troy is a former Assistant Professor of the Practice of Entrepreneurship at High Point University, a former adjunct professor at Wake Forest University, and a former Board member of the Angel Capital Association.

Jesse Goodwin, PhD

Medical University of South Carolina

Jesse Goodwin has spent more than a decade engaged in innovation across a broad range of medical therapies, with applications in academia and industry. She has a demonstrated track record for driving improved outcome metrics. Prior to accepting the role of chief innovation officer at MUSC, Goodwin was vice president of development for the Zucker Institute for Applied Neurosciences. Goodwin also served as the deputy director for the MUSC Foundation for Research Development, the university’s technology transfer office. Prior to joining MUSC, Goodwin was the director of the medical device practice of a Boston-based intellectual property consulting firm. Goodwin received her Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from Stony Brook University and completed a post-doctoral fellowship in the Harvard-MIT HST program.

Jesse Goodwin has spent more than a decade engaged in innovation across a broad range of medical therapies, with applications in academia and industry. She has a demonstrated track record for driving improved outcome metrics. Prior to accepting the role of chief innovation officer at MUSC, Goodwin was vice president of development for the Zucker Institute for Applied Neurosciences. Goodwin also served as the deputy director for the MUSC Foundation for Research Development, the university’s technology transfer office. Prior to joining MUSC, Goodwin was the director of the medical device practice of a Boston-based intellectual property consulting firm. Goodwin received her Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from Stony Brook University and completed a post-doctoral fellowship in the Harvard-MIT HST program.

Carl D Francis

Ariel Savannah Angel Partners

Carl is a senior international leader with deep experience in growing technology businesses, turnaround projects, fund-raising, M&A, and exits.

He built early-stage technology leaders P2i and Eyoto from a handful of employees each to significant, industry-leading global players with multiple sites in Europe, Asia and North America, raising >$300m in private equity funds in the process. For 3 years – as Group CEO - he also led the leveraged buyout team that acquired, fixed, and successfully exited Adria, Ireland’s largest textile business.

Carl is a senior international leader with deep experience in growing technology businesses, turnaround projects, fund-raising, M&A, and exits.

He built early-stage technology leaders P2i and Eyoto from a handful of employees each to significant, industry-leading global players with multiple sites in Europe, Asia and North America, raising >$300m in private equity funds in the process. For 3 years – as Group CEO - he also led the leveraged buyout team that acquired, fixed, and successfully exited Adria, Ireland’s largest textile business.

Julie Hussey

Angel Investor, CAPS

Candidate for SC Senate 43 who invests her talents, time and dollars into the building of physical and social infrastructure and the belief that diverse perspectives provide for better solutions.


Personal and Professional Quest: Belief in communities and economies which build infrastructure to elevate the innate production of ALL members. Everyone has something to offer and improve our world. When we take the time to understand the exponential potential which becomes possible when our paths cross, we will discover the people we need are always in the right place at the right time.

Bill Drohan

SquareStack

Experienced executive and advisor in starting, managing, growing and exiting several successful businesses in professional services, financial services and real estate services.

Nick Black

GoodUnited

Founder & CEO @ GoodUnited | Founder & Vice Chairman @ Stop Soldier Suicide | Combat Veteran | EY Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist | Presidential Leadership Scholar

John Osborne

Good Growth Captial

John Osborne is a Managing Partner at Good Growth Capital, a majority women and minority-managed early-stage venture capital firm that funds transformative start-ups in sectors including health tech, green tech and data sciences. Good Growth Capital and its funds meet both ESG and UNSDG impact goals.

Jamie DeMent

South Carolina Council on Competitiveness

Jamie DeMent is the Director of Technology Initiatives/SC Tech at the SC Council on Competitiveness. Jamie works to connect, and strengthen South Carolina’s technology sector and cyber ecosystem (collectively, “Tech-Cyber”) to accelerate growth and innovation in the state’s Tech-Cyber cluster, both within its stand-alone sector and its engagement with other signature SC Competes industry clusters.

Julie Weldon

Co-Founder CEO OME Gear

Julie “Jules” Weldon - Growing up in an entrepreneurial family, Jules got her love for starting businesses honest, but it took her time to dive into the (often) scary waters of entrepreneurship. After college, she worked in leadership with a non-profit organization for ten years, then traveled for a year to 11 developing countries doing humanitarian work. Upon returning stateside, she became a business consultant, ultimately with PWC, prior to starting a consulting firm, A Salty Rim. Jules’ primary work passions are currently two-fold. Along with her wife, Stacey Pierce, she is the Co-Founder/CEO of an innovative outdoor gear company, called OME Gear, where they have won multiple innovation awards and pitched on (and won!) a national live TV show. She is also a Co-Founder of BoldSKY, a 501c3 non-profit, which was started to specifically invest in and help women inventors avoid the pitfalls of bringing a physical product to market. In addition, Jules and Stace co-host the Do It In Nature podcast, have also co-authored a children’s book called Rescued By Rico, and have given a TEDx talk titled "Give Up Your Stuff, Not Your Dreams.. After coming off a 2.5 year road trip in a wrapped RV for OME Gear, she calls Charleston, SC home.

Stacey M. Pierce

Co-Founder CEO OME Gear

Stacey “Stace” Pierce - Stace has always had an entrepreneurial mindset, which is evident by the fact that she has been on the ground floor of eleven start-ups. When not starting new businesses, she has spent much of her career in the medical field doing occupational therapy and honing her expertise in assistive and passive technology for the aging population, while being featured on national and international stages and publications for her insight and co-development of emerging services and products. Stace, along with her wife, Jules Weldon, is the Co-Founder of three thriving companies.The first is A Salty Rim, which is a business consulting firm where they invest their time and expertise in other business entrepreneurs to help build strategic plans for growth. A second is OME Gear, an innovative outdoor gear company where her main focus is head of manufacturing and new product development. And lastly, Stace is the Co-Founder of BoldSKY Foundation, which is a 501c3 where the focus is on investing both financially and strategically in female inventors. She is also Co-Host for both the Do It In Nature and GSD Entrepreneur podcasts, and has given a TEDx talk titled "Give Up Your Stuff, Not Your Dreams. In addition, Stace has co-authored a children’s book called Rescued By Rico.

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