2023 Annual SCRA Summit

Hundreds gathered at South Carolina Research Authority’s annual summit in Columbia yesterday, where Charleston-based GoodUnited was awarded Company of the Year, and Lanford Holloway, CEO of Columbia-based TerraStride, was awarded Founder of the Year. GoodUnited developed an application that helps nonprofits raise money with their innovative two-way messaging platform that integrates with social media. TerraStride offers two products, TerraStride PRO, which allows users to tour a piece of land virtually, and HuntStand, the most popular hunting app in the country. TerraStride was recently acquired by industry giant GSM Outdoors.

Themed Founders First, the summit is a time for SCRA-supported and funded entrepreneurs, startups, and project leaders, as well as 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 startups results in economic growth and new jobs for the state. The keynote speaker was Joe Hanna, Chief Product Officer at Magnit Global, which acquired ENGAGE Talent, a startup he founded. SCRA supported and funded ENGAGE Talent, which helped revolutionize talent acquisition and management. Read more.

Founder of the Year: Lanford Holloway

Company of the Year: GoodUnited

Ideate Fireside Chat

Listen as our panelists discuss concept/market validation, tech feasibility, and company formation.

Featuring: Lindsey Calcutt, CEO & co-founder of Incora Health, Michael Voevodsky, president and CEO of MitoChem Therapeutics Inc, and Steve Johnson, SCRA senior investment manager

Develop Fireside Chat

Listen as our panelists discuss product development to minimum viable products, clinical testing, and regulatory path.

Featuring: Dial Devaney, founder of Infinity Collar, Amanda Clark, founder and CEO of PulManage Inc., and Lee MacIlwinen, SCRA senior investment manager

Accelerate Fireside Chat

Listen as our panelists discuss product/market fit, working prototypes, beta testing, and initial sales.

Featuring: Kendrick Pullen, co-founder of LifeTagger, AJ Richichi, founder and CEO of Sprockets, and Matt Bell, Director SC Launch Inc.

Scale Fireside Chat

Listen as our panelists discuss repeatable models and funding, term sheets, and cap tables.

Featuring: Nick Black, founder & CEO of GoodUnited, Jon Scott, founder and CEO of ScopeStack, and Derek Willis, SCRA senior investment manager

Funding Fireside Chat

Listen as our panelists discuss venture capital investment strategy, Bbnchmarks, and partners.

Featuring: Ryan Heafy, co-founder & COO of 6AM City, Scott Pancoast, founder and CEO of Zylö Therapeutics, and Will Cruz, investment portfolio manager