Southeast Shoutouts | VentureSouth and Vicinity announce new collaboration
Florida Power & Light accepting applications for its 15-month 35 Mules accelerator..
From Greenville, SC:
VentureSouth and Vicinity are pleased to announce a powerful new joint venture to create the premier platform for local alternative investing – Vicinity Ventures.
According to a news release from VentureSouth, Vicinity Ventures combines the strengths of VentureSouth and Vicinity Capital. VentureSouth provides accredited investors access to professionally curated opportunities in the most innovative early stage technology companies in the Southeast. Vicinity’s industry-leading public funding portal is a highly selective platform for engaging local investors in a wide variety of unique investment opportunities. The combined platform will provide a single source for investors to identify, evaluate, invest in, and track a broad array of alternative investments in early stage companies, small-cap private equity deals, and creative real estate projects.
The joint venture combines the strength of two experienced investment teams and their investor bases, along with a robust roadmap for advancing the technology to support investors and issuers in the private capital marketplace. VentureSouth will retain its brand as a premium, exclusive offering for accredited investors on the platform, while Vicinity will leverage the VentureSouth footprint in the Southeast to broaden its local offerings to both experienced and aspiring investors across the region.
“With the support of investors across the region, we have been proud to build VentureSouth into one of the country’s leading early-stage investing networks over the past 10 years,” said VentureSouth Managing Director Matt Dunbar. “We are thrilled to now partner with Vicinity to add more value for our investors through a world-class technology platform and access to a broader range of investment classes, while also opening new access to capital for issuers of many types across many local markets.”
Another from Greenville, SC:
As South Carolina’s start-up ecosystem surges, Worthwhile is stepping up with a bold new model to accelerate high-growth software and artificial intelligence (AI) ventures. The Greenville-based software innovation firm has launched Worthwhile Venture, an enhanced version of its venture studio that systematizes start-up success—reducing risk and accelerating growth for entrepreneurs and corporate innovators.
With start-up failure rates as high as 90 percent, Worthwhile Venture is rethinking the way software companies are built. By combining AI-driven insights, expanded early stage capital, and a structured, repeatable process, Worthwhile Venture aims to boost the success rate of emerging tech companies.
“The traditional start-up model is broken. Too many founders burn time and capital figuring things out the hard way,” said Dan Rundle, Chief Executive Officer of Worthwhile. “With Worthwhile Venture, we’ve built a smarter way to launch software and AI startups—one that de-risks the process, speeds up time-to-market, and gives founders a real shot at success.”
Worthwhile Venture isn’t just an incubator or accelerator—it’s a fractional co-founding team that helps entrepreneurs and corporate innovators launch a software or AI business in just 16 weeks. The revamped 2.0 model includes:
- Stronger vetting of ideas and entrepreneurs – ensuring only high-potential startups move forward;
- Expanded early stage capital network – unlocking more funding for founders;
- AI-powered human insights – leveraging AI to refine business strategies faster;
- New strategic partners and industry experts – connecting start-ups with top-tier advisors; and
- More value-added services – extending support beyond the launch phase.
From Raleigh, NC:
More than 100 start-ups are listed as pitching during the upcoming Venture Connect event that opens its two-day run on March 26 and 27. Declaring that “we are the catalyst for emerging entrepreneurial giants to grow and succeed in North Carolina,” the event is organized by the Center for Entrepreneurial Development (CED), a nonprofit founded 40 years ago by individuals who were committed to growing opportunities for entrepreneurs in North Carolina.
Venture Connect is a summit that brings together groundbreaking companies from the biotech and technology communities alongside top investors from across the U.S., standing as a testament to the robustness of our tech and life science ecosystems. CED invites you to support entrepreneurs and seasoned experts as they join forces with investors and stakeholders for three days of unparalleled content and connections at Venture Connect 2025.
From Juno Beach, FL:
35 Mules, an innovation hub powered by Florida Power & Light Company, is now accepting applications for its next cohort. This exclusive program offers selected start-ups:
- $100,000 as a no-equity cash grant;
- Access to subject matter experts;
- Leadership and entrepreneurial coaching; and
- Unparalleled resources to scale and grow
35 Mules is designed to support Pre-Seed to Series A start-ups, but companies at any stage and in any industry are encouraged to apply. Founders from Florida, across the U.S., and internationally are welcome.
Applications close at 5 p.m. EDT on April 1. There is a residential requirement for the 15-month program. To apply, click here.
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