StartupGVL

Game Night
2026-04-18 17:00 - 20:00, 2026-05-16 17:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | NEXT Innovation Center, 411 University Ridge, Greenville, SC, 29601, United States
Join us for Game Night at Bletchley Commons – a relaxed evening of free pizza, board games, and new friends. Whether you’re into classics like Uno, party favorites, or strategy games like Catan, we’ll have something for everyone.
Open to all members, students, and young adults aged 16-25, as well as their guests.
Bring a friend, or come solo and meet new ones.
Why come?
🍕 Free pizza (enough said)
🎲 Tons of board & card games
🌟 A chance to meet other game lovers in Greenville

Fix My Pitch Workshop Series #1: Messaging
2026-04-21 10:00 - 11:30 (America/New_York) | NEXT Innovation Center, 411 University Ridge, Greenville, SC, 29601, United States
You might have the right product. But are you telling the right story?
In this Fix My Pitch workshop, Nathan Robinson from SHOWOFF will walk founders through the fundamentals of strong storytelling. Learn how to frame your problem, articulate your value, and connect the dots in a way that makes people lean in.
From problem and origin to traction and vision, you will learn how to structure your message in a way that feels clear, compelling, and memorable.
If you have ever struggled to explain what you do in a way that truly lands, this session is for you.

Separating Personal & Business Finances Seminar
2026-04-21 18:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual
Help keep your business and personal finances separate as you make progress toward your work and life goals. Join the Chamber’s seminar on how to keep your finances separate for long-term success!

Community Day
2026-04-22 09:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Flywheel Coworking Greenville, 101 N Main Street, Greenville, SC, 29601, United States
Take a tour, grab some coffee, join us for a light lunch, and work from Flywheel for the rest of the day!

We invite you to join us for a Community Day here at Flywheel! Free coworking and while you’re here, enjoy our You’re So Fly member lunch. It’s a day to see how Flywheel coworking can help you be more productive in your work, more connected in your community, and accelerate your business.
Come enjoy the open coworking space, private offices, high-speed Wi-Fi, and always freshly brewed local coffee and beer!
We look forward to seeing you! To learn more about Flywheel or to sign up for a membership or private office visit: flywheelcoworking.com
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Take advantage of our Community Day to explore our space, get some work done, and join in our special events happening that day. Registration for Community Day is required for free coworking.
You’re So Fly, Tell Us Why (Member Lunch) | 12-1 pm | Social Commons
This members-only (and Community Day guests) social is a great opportunity to get to know fellow Flywheel community members. A light lunch will be provided and a pre-selected member will share what they are working on and passionate about.

Women's Coworking Day
2026-04-23 10:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | OpenWorks Coworking, 101 N Main Street Suite 302, Greenville, SC, 29601, United States
Join us on Thursday, April 23 from 10am – 5pm for the now monthly free Women’s Coworking Day at OpenWorks Coworking.
​You can drop in anytime! Settle in for some focused work, creative time, or just enjoy a change of scenery. Connect with other women and our event partner Molly’s Moms, a nonprofit organization that helps moms turn ideas into income through free resources, mentorship, and a supportive community!
​Snacks will also be provided. RSVP to attend and get event updates. If it’s your first time visiting OpenWorks Coworking, check out our Guest Access page for tips on finding us and parking. We are located at ONE City Plaza in downtown Greenville.

Advantage Greenville
2026-04-24 07:30 - 09:30 (America/New_York) | Roam Greenville ONE, 2 W Washington St Suite 200, Greenville, SC, 29601, United States
Advantage Greenville returns with a topic that feels like the future, because it is. Venturing Beyond Earth: The Future of Space and Entrepreneurship is a high energy morning built for people who care about what’s next and want to understand where opportunity is moving before it becomes obvious.
Space is no longer a distant government only arena. It’s becoming a real platform for startups, new career pathways, and regional growth. This session will connect the dots between innovation on Earth and what’s being built for orbit, launch, data, hardware, software, and the supporting ecosystems that make it all possible.
Our keynote speaker is Antonio Peronace, Executive Director of Space for Humanity, bringing a clear and engaging perspective on how the space economy is evolving and where entrepreneurs, builders, and community leaders can plug in. Following the keynote, we’ll host a panel conversation on how South Carolina is actively building momentum through local South Carolina startups and initiatives like SC CubeSat Launch, powered by the South Carolina Research Authority and NASA-connected expertise.
You don’t need a technical space background to enjoy this. If you’re curious, you’ll leave with a sharper understanding of what’s happening right now, what’s coming next, and why it matters for Greenville and the Upstate.
Coffee, networking and light continental breakfast will be served. Come early, connect, and get ready for a morning that will beam you up to new horizons.

NextGEN Office Hours with Eric Weissmann & Tony Nolte
2026-04-24 11:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | NEXT Innovation Center, 411 University Ridge, Greenville, SC, 29601, United States
NextGEN’s very own, Eric Wiessmann, will be hosting Fix My Pitch Office Hours focusing on storytelling & stage presence. If your pitch deck or simply your pitching skills need a refresher, these office hours are a great chance to get free help. Link to sign up: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1tI0mXdxk0oYphsDoceuBKZjA8y5U1Msqf0dPybB1LJ8/edit?usp=sharing
Tony Nolte will also be here for his usual monthly office hours: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/17obs1qCHNazyJkCtUDtE0NGZsuAf9F2C9TbHDtxD05Y/edit?usp=sharing

Women, Life and Science Conference & Retreat 2026
2026-04-30 08:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Prisma Health Welcome Center at Unity Park, 111 Welborn Street, Greenville, SC, 29601, United States
If you missed last year’s conference, this is your sign not to miss it again!

Women, Life, and Science is committed to creating a dynamic forum that brings together women thought leaders and industry experts from across the country to Upstate South Carolina. This full-day conference and retreat is designed to accelerate and empower women at every stage of their journey—whether they are entrepreneurs, executives, leaders, founders, or emerging professionals.
Now in its third year, our annual conference and retreat will spotlight the science of self, women’s health and advocacy, and will challenge all attendees to apply what they’ve learned from the day towards their personal call to action.
Join us for a day of inspiration, connection, and empowerment!
Why you absolutely should attend
This event isn’t just another conference: it’s a purposeful gathering aimed at accelerating and empowering women at every stage—whether you’re an entrepreneur, executive, innovator, educator or emerging professional in the science / health / leadership space.
Here are the key reasons:
1. Solve the “feeling stuck” problem
If you’re at a point where you’re wondering: What’s next for my career? How do I make bigger impact? How do I step into leadership or entrepreneurship? — this event addresses exactly those questions.
It focuses on navigating career transitions, finding your purpose and passion, and discovering practical tools for life + work.
2. Overcome isolation and lack of network
One of the big challenges for women in science / life / leadership roles is lack of access to supportive networks, mentors, sponsors, and peer champions.
This conference creates a space where you can connect with like-minded women, share experiences, get visible, and build relationships that extend beyond one day.
3. Raise your visibility & credibility
If you’re looking to be more than a participant—if you want to be seen, heard, credited and positioned as a leader or innovator—this event offers you a platform. Whether you seek to present your work, engage in thought-leadership, or simply align yourself with a movement of women doing big things in science and life, this is your stage.
4. Get inspiration + actionable tools
Events like this can often feel warm and fuzzy—but this one promises interactive sessions: exploring “science of self”, harnessing strengths for impact, attending panels about diverse workplace experiences, and getting practical career/entrepreneurship tools.
So you walk away not only inspired, but with tangible next-steps.
5. Be part of something bigger
Attending isn’t just about your own growth — it’s joining a community, a movement. The organizers of this event (Women, Life & Science) specify their mission as elevating women entrepreneurs, leaders and innovators in the science industry.
By being part of this, you also contribute to changing the landscape, increasing representation, and strengthening the ecosystem for women in science/life.

Founder Friday
2026-05-01 17:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | SC
​Founder Friday is a relaxed evening for entrepreneurs across the greater Greenville area to meet up, swap ideas, and enjoy some seriously good pizza at Todaro Pizza GVL. Whether you’re building your first business, growing something already in motion, or just curious about what others are working on, it’s a great chance to connect with people who get the ups, downs, and late-night brainstorming that come with starting something of your own.
​Come hungry, bring your ideas, and settle in for good conversation, new introductions, and a fun Friday-night atmosphere. Hosted by Launchpad, this is a laid-back way to meet fellow founders, share what you’re working on, and maybe leave with a few fresh connections and a spark of inspiration.

Village Launch Night Market
2026-05-01 17:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Village Launch Market, 1225 Pendleton Street, Greenville, SC, 29611, United States
Join us for our first Mill Village Night Market! We’ll have food trucks, beer, and 20+ vendors at our Village Launch Market, along with live music. Come grab a bite, shop around, and enjoy an evening with Mill Village!

Village Launch Block Party
2026-05-02 12:00 - 18:00 (America/New_York) | Village Launch Market, 1225 Pendleton Street, Greenville, SC, 29611, United States
Stop by our Mill Village Block Party for some fun for the whole family! Grab a bite to eat from one of our many food vendors and trucks, then shop at over 20 vendors at our Village Launch Market. We’ll have a FREE petting zoo, children’s activities, and a few surprises to help celebrate Mother’s Day! You won’t want to miss this!

Tailwind Tech Summit
2026-05-04 09:00 - 18:30 (America/New_York) | DoubleTree by Hilton Columbia
The Tailwind Tech Summit is South Carolina’s premier gathering for founders, investors, and builders who believe the best chapter is still being written.
We bring together early-stage startups ready to scale, active investors looking for their next great bet, and the service providers, mentors, and community leaders who make it all possible.
This isn’t another conference where you trade business cards and forget names by Tuesday. Tailwind is designed from the ground up to create real relationships, real deals, and real momentum for the region’s most ambitious builders.
We’re holding a seat for you.

Line Up:

Every hour is engineered for impact. Here’s how the day unfolds.

8:30A – Registration & Networking

9:30A – Keynote: Dan Roselli

10:45A – Panel: Beyond the Glass Screen: Women Driving Technology Forward

11:45A – Lunch & Networking

1:00P – Keynote: Jim Roberts

2:00P – Breakout Sessions

3:00P – The Pitch Deck (moderated by Taylor McLemore)

Science Cafe
2026-05-04 17:00 - 18:30 (America/New_York) | M. Judson Booksellers, 130 South Main Street, Greenville, SC, 29601, United States
Topic: “Own the Shift: From Concept to Reality in Business and Career”
In today’s environment, career paths and businesses are no longer linear: they are shaped through intentional pivots, experimentation, and ownership. This session explores how women in organizations and in business can move from idea to execution while simultaneously redefining their professional identity. Through a short speech and guided discussion, participants will reflect on what it truly takes to “own the shift” and turn uncertainty into momentum.
The session will be facilitated by Anastasia Mizitova, SCP, PCC, CEO of Talent14, global speaker, and author of Your Career Your Way. She has built and leads global business initiatives, serves as SHRM faculty, and previously served on the SHRM Board at HRVA. Anastasia is also an executive coach with Blanchard, bringing a practical, real-world perspective on career growth, leadership, and transformation.
Questions for discussion:
– What shift are you currently navigating in your career or business — and what makes it challenging to fully own it?
– Think of a time when you successfully moved an idea forward. What specifically helped you turn that concept into action?
– Who are the 2–3 types of people or connections that make the biggest difference when bringing an idea to life?
– How do you know when it’s time to pivot your business idea?

Test event
2026-05-05 08:00 - 17:00 UTC | test venue, xyz, new york, AL, 400423, United States

Fix My Pitch Workshop Series #2: Design
2026-05-05 10:00 - 11:30 (America/New_York) | NEXT Innovation Center, 411 University Ridge, Greenville, SC, 29601, United States
Part of the Fix My Pitch Workshop Series
Not a designer? Not “artsy”? This workshop is for you.
You do not need to be a designer to make your pitch look strong. But you do need to understand the basics.
In this workshop, Ross McClain, Head of the Art Department at Furman University, will break down the core principles of design in a way that is practical and approachable for founders. Learn what makes a presentation feel clear, cohesive, and credible and why certain slides work while others fall flat.
Whether you are refining an investor deck, a sales presentation, or client materials, this session will help you make more confident design decisions.

Empowering Entrepreneurship
2026-05-06 17:30 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | Avenue, 110 E Court St Suite 600, Greenville, SC, 29601, United States
A celebration of Small Business Week and the achievements of entrepreneurs and community champions.

CommunityWorks is excited to host our Second Annual Empowering Entrepreneurship event on Wednesday, May 6th, at Avenue in downtown Greenville, SC. Join us for an inspiring evening as we celebrate Small Business Week 2026 and recognize the resilience, innovation, and impact of local entrepreneurs and community champions. This special event will feature food, drinks, networking, and an awards ceremony honoring outstanding small businesses and organizations that are making a difference in our community.
We welcome entrepreneurs, community members, partners, and supporters to attend as we come together to recognize the vital role small businesses play in shaping strong, thriving communities. This event is designed to bring people together to celebrate success stories, build connections, and highlight the power of entrepreneurship.
To celebrate the accomplishments of our local small businesses and organizations, we will present three awards:
Community Champion Award – Recognizing a business, nonprofit, or organization that has gone above and beyond to uplift the community through advocacy, partnership, and service.
Emerging Small Business Award – Celebrating a rising small business that has demonstrated innovation, resilience, and strong potential for long-term success.
Business Excellence Award – Honoring an established small business that continues to thrive, lead, and contribute to the strength of our local economy.
This event is an opportunity to connect with fellow entrepreneurs, business leaders, and community supporters who share a passion for small business success. Join us as we celebrate those driving growth and making a lasting impact. Contact CommunityWorks Communications Coordinator Madi Coggin at mcoggin@cwcarolina.org or 864-235-6331 ext 502 for more information.

SUDs (Startup Drinks)
2026-05-07 16:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | Southernside Brewing Co, 25 Delano Dr., Greenville, SC, United States
SUDs, short for Startup Drinks is back! This unstructured networking event is open to entrepreneurs, ecosystem allies, and all community members of the #StartupGVL ecosystem. The first drink is free, so get this one on your calendars.

Founder Series Greenville
2026-05-09 09:00 - 11:30 (America/New_York) | Venture X, 141 Traction St, Greenville, SC, United States
Join the Lovable Founder Series at Venture X in Greenville, hosted by Cassandra! Spend the morning learning from experienced builders, exploring what’s possible with Lovable, and meeting local founders, creatives, and aspiring entrepreneurs who are using AI to turn ideas into real-world solutions. Whether you’re sitting on a startup idea, exploring a side hustle, or just curious about building something of your own – this is a space to learn, experiment, and get inspired. 🗓️ Saturday, May 9, 2026 ⏰ 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM 📍 Venture X Greenville Who is this for? – Aspiring founders who have an idea but don’t know how to get started – Career-changers exploring entrepreneurship or side hustles – Students or recent grads looking to build something of their own – Anyone in the community who is ready to ship something real with Lovable.

i4 Series: Build it. Guarantee it. Sell it. A founder's unfiltered story.
2026-05-12 16:30 - 18:30 (America/New_York) | Flywheel Coworking Greenville, 101 N Main Street, Greenville, SC, 29601, United States
Elias Bustos guaranteed his software would work. In 20 years, he never paid out once. Then he sold for millions. Come hear how.

Most vendors who try to sell into the nonprofit world fail, not because their product isn’t good, but because they never took the time to understand how nonprofits actually work. The budgets are different. The decision-making is different. The rules are different and if you get it wrong, you won’t get a second chance.
Elias spent 20 years figuring all of that out and built a software company so effective he backed every engagement with a 10–12% profitability guarantee. In two decades, not a single client ever needed to collect. Then he sold his company for millions.
Join us for a fireside chat as Elias sits down with Doug Kim, founder of the Kim, Lahey & Killough Law Firm who was there from the earliest days of the company through the closing of the sale, to unpack the full story.

Innovation Exchange
2026-05-13 09:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | The 405, 405 Westfield St, Greenville, SC, 29601, United States
Innovation Exchange connects senior enterprise leaders with curated early-stage companies to surface real business challenges and explore aligned solutions.
This is not a demo day or vendor expo. It’s a structured working session designed to clarify enterprise demand and foster meaningful, high-value conversations.
What to ExpectA limited number of startups will be selected through an application process to present solutions aligned with clearly defined enterprise priorities. Pitch sessions are followed by structured, small-group exchanges designed to validate fit, explore applicability, and encourage thoughtful discussion — without procurement pressure. With curated participation and limited capacity, conversations remain focused, candid, and actionable.
Who Should Attend• Enterprise leaders responsible for innovation, technology, operations, or strategic growth• Startups building enterprise-facing solutions• Investors seeking visibility into emerging enterprise demand

Code & Crush
2026-05-13 17:30 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | Flywheel Coworking Greenville, 101 N Main Street, Greenville, SC, 29601, United States
STOP LETTING TECH COMPANIES
HAVE ALL THE GOOD STUFF.

You’re running an entire organization on limited resources — and somehow still expected to “figure out AI.” This event is different.
Most AI advice is built for tech companies. This session is different — hands-on, no-fluff, with live demos, practical use cases, and real conversations about where AI actually makes an impact.
Code & Crush = Code & Trust’s product designers + Crushable’s engineers.
From operations to fundraising to day-to-day efficiency — we’ll cover where AI actually works and how to put it into action. No buzzwords. No theory. Just things you can actually use.
Come ready to take what works and put it into action.

Office Hours with Sam English
2026-05-15 09:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | NEXT Innovation Center, 411 University Ridge, Greenville, SC, 29601, United States
Raising capital from pre‑seed to Series A is harder than ever, but founders don’t have to navigate it alone. Sam will be hosting office hours at NextGEN to dig into funding strategy, investor readiness, and how to align a startup with the right capital sources. He’ll break down the major pathways, angels, seed funds, venture, and grants, and what it takes to position a company for each. Entrepreneurs and founders are invited to bring their questions about angels, funds, and non‑dilutive capital.
Sam brings 25 years of experience in the trenches of tech commercialization and early‑stage investing, building companies, backing founders, and strengthening the ecosystems that help them grow. He co-founded and led four tech startups, oversaw due diligence for pre-seed and seed investments, helped launch a 100-member angel group, and helped establish a new accelerator program and facility. As a founder and advisor, he has raised over $8M in angel capital, helped structure capital vehicles ranging from a $12M regional investment fund to multimillion-dollar grant and equity programs. He has advised more than 15 startups and mentored dozens of founders. Currently, he runs the VMS mentoring program at NextGEN.
Sign up for a time slot: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Wwl9TMiKPMGh5tHXowFM-DVVHJmqV2YIBCuRzRyaCus/edit?usp=sharing

Pixel Pushers
2026-05-18 17:30 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Flywheel Coworking Greenville, 101 N Main Street, Greenville, SC, 29601, United States
​Hey pixel pushers in the Greenville area. We’re looking to to get a taste of some good design, developer, and web creator community in Greenville. Let’s spend some time together and get some good vibes from your local internauts.
This session featuring Heather Haley, SVP and Managing Director of Production at Working Title Partners. She’ll be sharing the process behind a recent ad spot her team put together that aired during the World Series. And of course, there will be plenty of pizza, beer, NA drinks and convos to go around.

Village Launch BEA Graduation
2026-05-19 18:00 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | Long Branch Baptist Church, 28 Bolt Street, Greenville, SC, 29605, United States
Join us as we celebrate our Business Entrepreneur Academy Graduates! Graduation will be held at Long Branch Baptist Church, and will include presentations from the graduating businesses. Come help us support these incredible small business owners!

1st Annual Golden Day at BridgeWay Station
2026-05-23 14:00 - 18:00 (America/New_York) | Bridgeway Station, 1000 Via Corso Ave, Simpsonville, SC, 29681, United States
Presented by Good Dogs of Greenville, GoldenDay is Greenville’s first-ever golden retriever community gathering — inspired by the viral golden meetups happening in cities across the U.S.

Imagine:
✨ Hundreds of golden retrievers
✨ Smiling dog parents everywhere
✨ A curated dog-friendly vendor market
✨ Photo-worthy moments at every turn
If you have a golden — bring them.
If you love goldens — come anyway.
If you just need a serotonin boost — we’ve got you. 💛🐕

Office Hours with Clay Johnson & Tony Nolte
2026-05-29 11:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | NEXT Innovation Center, 411 University Ridge, Greenville, SC, 29601, United States
If you have fundraising-related questions or you’re in need of some one-on-one legal advice for your startup or small business, Clay Johnson & Tony Nolte are available for free, 30 minute time slots to talk through your business with you.
Clay sign up here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1GeUASYGm4LGQtlwEY8qn9QHHJDbqrI0X1RRvSu5sWZ8/edit?usp=sharing
Tony sign up here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/12VabC5ozwR6hBwJNaZITcTY5oa5zuqENUuH0fT1T6_A/edit?usp=sharing

Fix My Pitch Workshop Series #3: Creative Tools
2026-06-02 10:00 - 11:30 (America/New_York) | NEXT Innovation Center, 411 University Ridge, Greenville, SC, 29601, United States
Part of the Fix My Pitch Workshop Series
You do not need expensive software or a full creative team to improve your pitch. You just need to know which tools to use and how to use them well.
This workshop focuses on practical, accessible tools that founders can start using immediately, including platforms like Canva and other easy-to-use design resources. Learn how to build clean slides, improve visual consistency, and avoid common mistakes that undermine credibility.
Walk away with tools, templates, and confidence to elevate your pitch without overcomplicating it.

Village Launch Night Market
2026-06-05 17:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Village Launch Market, 1225 Pendleton Street, Greenville, SC, 29611, United States
Join us for another Mill Village Night Market! We’ll have food trucks, beer, and 20+ vendors at our Village Launch Market, along with live music. Come grab a bite, shop around, and enjoy an evening with Mill Village!

Village Launch Block Party
2026-06-06 10:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Village Launch Market, 1225 Pendleton Street, Greenville, SC, 29611, United States
Stop by our Mill Village Block Party for some fun for the whole family! Grab a bite to eat from one of our many food vendors and trucks, then shop at over 20 vendors at our Village Launch Market. We’ll have a FREE petting zoo, children’s activities, and a few surprises!
