Learn About The Founders
Changing the World… from Greenville, South Carolina
Nicole Johnson
Co-owner, Boyd Cycling
Nicole Johnson and her husband Boyd moved to Greenville because the weather and terrain were an ideal mix for professional cyclists. They stayed because they built a great life and found the resources to grow a successful business with a young daughter along for the ride.
Passion, grit, and determination helped the couple excel, first in cycling and now in business. Paired with their unflinching optimism and a lot of local support, Boyd Cycling is expanding and thriving in Greenville.
Ryan Johnston And Ryan Heafy
Co-Founders of 6AM City
There’s no doubt the guys behind one of the fastest growing local media companies in the nation love Greenville. Suffice it to say “the Ryans” are dialed in. They are visible. They are involved. Even as their daily eblast, GVL Today, expanded into a nationwide enterprise, they kept the connection to their home base. They say the city has a cheerleading mentality and supports entrepreneurs who are moving HERE from somewhere else.
Dr. Nika White
Nika White Consulting
A Forbes Books featured author, podcaster, speaker, and consultant, Dr. Nika White works to maximize the effectiveness, potential, and capacity of people’s and organizations’ through organizational development, focusing specifically strategic and intentional efforts fostering diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
David Stefanich
Co-founder Of Rymedi
Co-founder of health care tech company Rymedi, David Stefanich is running in six countries worldwide. But he always comes back to Greenville. Stefanich talks about why Greenville is a great place to live, work and raise a family.
Lashonn Edmunds
Founder, CAIRS Shoes
LaShonn Edmunds is using her problem-solving skills to take her life back from an incurable condition that stopped her in her tracks. The founder of CAIRS Shoes is an inventor, an entrepreneur, and an advocate. Edmunds has been a champion of founders in her community, and she has cultivated a network of people ready and willing to help her overcome any obstacle.
A global pandemic, supply chain issues, and production problems may have slowed her down, but nothing is going to stop LaShonn from bringing her product to market. She’s on a mission to give women who suffer from chronically swollen feet a little bit of their “sass” back. Watch how she’s changing the world FROM HERE.
David Raad
Founder, Six & Twenty Distillery
David Raad built Six & Twenty Distillery with one principle in mind: “Thou shall own your own market.” While his products are distributed in 17 states, it’s South Carolina—his home base and strongest market—that continues to matter most. Based in Greenville, the business is built like a three-legged stool: the neighborhood bar located in Poe West, bottle sales, and wholesale distribution.
With years of global experience in consumer goods and investment under his belt, David brings both humility and sharp strategy to his work. “I’m learning every day,” he says—and that mindset has helped him grow a sustainable, scalable brand rooted in relationships, resilience, and relentless local focus. He is a great supporter of the #StartupGVL ecosystem, mentoring other founders, and he gives credit to the mentorship he has found in organizations like SCORE, SBA, and the SBDC.
Rob Brunner
Founder, Parks Automation
Rob Brunner is the founder of Parks Automation, a startup focused on bringing smart, non-invasive technology to national parks. A mechanical engineer by training, Rob developed the idea while working in factory automation and seeing firsthand how outdated systems were holding parks back. After moving to Greenville for Furman University Hill Institute’s GVL Starts program, he quickly became embedded in the startup ecosystem through NextGEN’s Growth Labs and Flywheel Coworking. Rob’s love for the outdoors—and a long list of hands-on hobbies—fuels his work to create tech that improves park operations without changing the visitor experience. He’s currently preparing to launch his first prototype and is excited to scale from the Southeast outward.
Erik Crouch and Mark Lyons
Co-Founders, Precision Anatomy
Erik Crouch founded Precision Anatomy alongside Co-Founder Mark Lyons to transform medical training through ethically grounded, operationally relevant, and data-driven education. A decorated Special Operations veteran and former medic with over 15 years of trauma experience, Erik brings deep operational insight to the company’s mission. Launched in February 2024 at the Rupert Huse Veteran Center, Precision Anatomy became the first company awarded a catalytic loan from United Way and Abundance Capital. The company delivers turnkey simulation programs using high-fidelity human anatomical models that replicate real-world complexity and stress. By integrating advanced tissue realism, cognitive stress, and objective performance evaluation, Precision Anatomy improves clinical readiness and patient outcomes. Its research driven programs support teams responsible for prehospital care and trauma surgical intervention—preparing them for the full spectrum of care, from point of injury to definitive surgical treatment.
Precision Anatomy remains committed to ethical donor use, measurable impact, and mission-critical excellence.
Toni Carter
Founder, Toni & Tucker Co.
Toni Carter founded Toni & Tucker Co. to rethink how clothes fit by focusing on body shapes rather than traditional sizing. A fashion and technical designer with experience working for major apparel brands, Toni’s master’s research explored how people carry their weight differently and how apparel can be designed to accommodate those unique shapes. Early in her journey, she noticed patterns among individuals who struggled to find well-fitting clothes due to proportions that don’t align with standard size categories. This insight inspired Toni’s inclusive approach to design, crafting apparel that fits bodies, not just numbers. Since relocating from Los Angeles to Greenville nearly four years ago, she has tapped into the local entrepreneurial ecosystem through programs like Village Launch, NextGEN, and Platform at Greer, gaining valuable support and connections that have helped shape her business. Toni & Tucker Co. is growing steadily and remains committed to designing apparel that empowers people to feel confident in their bodies.
Adrienne Tellier
Founder, Musical Chess
Adrienne Tellier is the founder of Musical Chess, a creative education program that blends chess, music, and movement to help young children build both academic and emotional skills. Adrienne studied musical theatre and built a career in New York City as an actor, educator, and curriculum writer before returning to Greenville during the pandemic with her husband, drawn to the city’s strong arts and food community. The idea for Musical Chess came while driving to work—when a tune for the bishops popped into her head—and quickly grew into a full curriculum that introduces chess through songs, dance, and play. With flexible lessons for families and partnerships with schools, the program makes chess accessible earlier than traditional models while fostering resilience and critical thinking. Adrienne is now focused on expanding her reach through new partnerships and her upcoming participation in GVL Starts.