Stories of Technology, Innovation, & Entrepreneurship in the Southeast

From Columbia, SC:

Hundreds gathered at the South Carolina Research Authority’s annual summit in Columbia recently, where Charleston-based Case Status Case Status was awarded “Company of the Year,” Jim Jacob of StoryButton was named “Founder of the Year,” and Dr. Hai Yao of Clemson University and the Medical University of South Carolina was awarded the “Applied Researcher of the Year.”

1. Case Status is revolutionizing communication between attorneys and clients by providing all relevant information about their cases in one app, featuring robust integrations with case management systems, increased efficiency, and improved client outcomes.
2. Jacob founded Storybutton, a start-up that features a podcast player for children, playing engaging bedtime stories, child-friendly radio shows, and more, all without the risk of excessive screen time.
3. Dr. Yao is a Professor at both Clemson University and the Medical University of South Carolina and the Associate Department Chair for the Clemson-MUSC Bioengineering Program. He founded Apex Orthopedic Technologies, a medical device start-up that addresses a critical need for less-invasive solutions to treat spinal deformities in young children.

Themed as “Founders First,”the summit celebrates the hard work of founders who are fueling the Palmetto State’s innovation economy. It was a time for SCRA-supported and funded entrepreneurs, start-ups, project leaders, and members of the state’s entrepreneurial ecosystem to come together, network, and learn more about how to grow their businesses successfully. The success of these start-ups leads to economic growth and the creation of new jobs in the state, which pay 71 percent higher than the state’s average.

From Tifton, GA:

Ten high school students from all across the State of Georgia gathered at the John Hunt Auditorium on the Tifton campus of the University of Georgia recently for the state finals of the Foundational Leadership and Entrepreneur X-Perience program, a competition encouraging Georgia’s youths to engage with the business world and help them make their entrepreneurial ideas a reality.

Known by the acronym FLEX, the group of finalists had managed to rise to the top at both local and regional levels of the competition, evolving their business from outlines and plans to fully functioning and actively operating services in a matter of months.

With its initial launch in 2022, the nonprofit Partnership for Inclusive Innovation started in Fitzgerald-Ben Hill County and has grown rapidly into other rural regions of Georgia. Working with statewide partners, local community change makers, and business leaders throughout the competition, FLEX continues its mission to empower businesses and develop a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem through education and community development. 

From Baton Rouge, LA:

Nexus Louisiana has announced the Nexus Technology Cup, a three-day competition scheduled for June 17–19 in Baton Rouge. The multi-day event, which is designed to showcase Louisiana’s top tech talent, is open to high school and college students as well as developers across three tracks. The tracks are: (1) High school; (2) College; and (3) an open track that welcomes anyone building innovative technology.

To participate, applicants must meet several eligibility requirements.

1. Each team must have at least one designated team lead/point of contact
2. Projects must be original and developed primarily by the team members.
3. Lead point of contact must be able to compete in person on June 18 (hardware) and June 19 (software) in Baton Rouge, LA.
4. Participants must agree to the event’s code of conduct and intellectual property policies.
5. All teams must submit an application and presentation by the respective deadlines.

To apply by the April 30 deadline, click here.

From Savannah, GA:

There’s a new organization that hopes to make Savannah a hotspot for tech-based start-ups.

Launched in March and named the Savannah Harbor Innovation Partnership (SHIP), the new organization builds upon the foundation of the Savannah Logistics Innovation Center (SLIC), which was created by organizations such as Georgia Southern University’s Business Innovation Group (BIG) and the Savannah Economic Development Authority (SEDA).

SHIP will coordinate efforts among regional entities that each contribute unique expertise to an innovation ecosystem to drive strategic alignment, establish best practices, and encourage interconnectivity while maintaining an eye on measurable outcomes. The currently forming board of directors will include leaders from research institutions, technology and entrepreneurship experts, and investors from key businesses and organizations in and around the Savannah Harbor region. Maintaining a nimble, efficient, multidisciplinary, and market-driven board is critical to SHIP’s mission of defining, building, and continuously evolving the innovation ecosystem for the Savannah Harbor.

The organization’s Executive Director is Erem Latif.

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