South Carolina Research Authority’s investment affiliate, SC Launch, Inc., recently held its first Investor Day, bringing together pre-selected Member and Portfolio Companies with investment funds from four states. The event, held in Greenville over a day and a half, provided opportunities for networking, learning about the region, and connecting with promising startups. The event was made possible through sponsorship from the Greenville City Economic Development Corporation.
Investor Day is part of SC Launch, Inc.’s broader effort to engage investment firms beyond South Carolina, aiming to connect them with the state’s startup ecosystem. This initiative began with SC Launch, Inc.’s involvement in Venture Atlanta this past October, where they took 20 startups to Atlanta to meet with investors and learn from industry peers. Through this experience, SC Launch, Inc. built relationships with investors across the Southeast and discovered significant interest in South Carolina’s growing startup scene.
The event kicked off with a networking happy hour co-hosted by NextGEN, where attendees had the chance to connect informally and discuss the upcoming pitch sessions. Investors also enjoyed a dinner that evening, providing further opportunities for relationship-building and a guest appearance from Mayor of Greenville, Knox White.
“We wanted to give investors a well-rounded view of South Carolina’s business environment, quality of life, and entrepreneurial support systems—especially in Greenville—so they could see the comprehensive resources available to startups here,” said Patrick Bailey, Investment Portfolio Associate at SC Launch, Inc. and the event’s organizer.
Pitch Day, moderated by SC Launch, Inc. Executive Director Matt Bell, began with presentations from NextGEN, the Greenville City Economic Development Corporation, SCbio, Clemson University, and the Medical University of South Carolina’s tech transfer offices, which help spin out startups from research and development projects. Following these sessions, startups participated in one-on-one pitch meetings with investment funds, each getting 30 minutes to present before moving on to the next investor.
A diverse range of startups, from software to medical technology companies, collectively held over 50 individual meetings with investors. More follow-up meetings are expected in the coming weeks as SC Launch, Inc. continues to foster connections between its portfolio companies and potential funders.
With a strong turnout and positive feedback, SC Launch, Inc. looks forward to building on the success of its first Investor Day and expanding its efforts to bring more investment opportunities to South Carolina’s startups.
