The seventh annual NEXT Venture Summit wrapped up with Greenville-based cyber security company Hook Security advancing to Venture Atlanta in October.

Ahead of the pitch competition, summit attendees learned how to catapult their business, use design as a competitive advantage and build a team.

Then, finalists made their last pitches and judges selected the Hook Security as startup that will advance to the showcase competition in Atlanta.

“You never know what is considered valuable,” said Adam Anderson, founder of Hook Security. “At the end of the day, you go up and tell your story. Maybe it will resonate. Maybe it doesn’t. When it doesn’t resonate, you’ve got to go tell the story again.”