Columbia, SC – South Carolina Research Authority’s investment affiliate, SC Launch Inc., has invested in New Forge LLC. The $250,000 investment will help the Rock Hill-based startup continue transforming the manufacturing and healthcare industries with its augmented reality software and hardware.
New Forge became an SCRA Member Company in 2021 and has received Demonstration Grants totaling over $37,000 between 2021 and the present. In addition, they became an SC Launch Inc. Portfolio Company with this $250,000 investment.
New Forge offers customized AR solutions that enhance an organization’s frontline productivity. Their solutions make manufacturing operations safer, more efficient, and less costly. Functions that benefit from this service include order picking, maintenance, inspections, part assembly, remote assistance, training, and communication.
“What New Forge has developed is an evolutionary step for how manufacturing companies can interact on the manufacturing floor with suppliers, internal trainers and support, and customers,” said SC Launch Director Matt Bell.
“With more time, people, and skills shortages than ever, industries are pressured to do more with fewer resources. Our AR solutions allow organizations to capture knowledge and transfer step-by-step instructions to its frontline anytime and from anywhere,” said New Forge Founder Javier Ortiz. “We appreciate our partnership with SCRA and SC Launch Inc. and credit them for our continued success.”
“The digital transformation in manufacturing is producing higher qualities products and services, and we’re excited to continue our support of New Forge,” said SCRA Executive Director Bob Quinn.
New Forge recently presented tech talks at the South Carolina Manufacturing Conference and Expo, where they engaged with hundreds of potential customers and partners.
goal of market research is to capture what people say, what they say they do, and what people actually do. They then incorporate all these insights into successful product launches.
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Established in 2006, SC Launch Inc. is the investment affiliate of the South Carolina Research Authority. The independent, nonprofit corporation provides convertible loans and equity investments to selected South Carolina-based companies participating in the SC Launch program.
Chartered in 1983 by the State of South Carolina as a public, nonprofit corporation, South Carolina Research Authority fuels South Carolina’s innovation economy through the impact of its four programs. SC Academic Innovations provides funding and support to advance translational research and accelerate the growth of academic startups. Second, SC Facilities offers high-quality laboratory and administrative workspaces for technology-based startups and academic institutions. Third, SC Industry Solutions facilitates and funds technology advancements and partnerships with industry, startups, and academic institutions. SC Launch mentors and funds technology-based startups that may also receive investments from SCRA’s investment affiliate, SC Launch Inc.
Media Contact
Adrianne Grimes
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O: (854) 888-2033
C: (843) 277-7295
adrianne.grimes@scra.org
