On Tuesday, October 29, NextGEN hosted an impactful Founders Forum event titled “Equitable Access to Capital” at Flywheel Coworking in Greenville. In partnership with South Carolina Minority Business Accelerator, Village Launch, and CommunityWorks, NextGEN brought together a panel of influential local entrepreneurs, including Dayna Lee (founder of Comal 864), LaChandra Brown (founder of Logan Chris Salon), Gustavo Nieves (founder of Echo Base Expeditions), and Samantha Brown (founder of EatKlean). Moderating the panel was Ebony Sullivan, CEO of Cassy Electric, who guided the conversation on navigating funding challenges and local resources.
Founders Forum is part of an educational series created by NextGEN to foster community connections and inspire entrepreneurs with relevant insights for startups across the Greenville area. This particular session took a deep dive into the intricacies of securing capital, uncovering financial resources, and sharing lessons learned from founders who’ve been in the trenches of business building.
The energy at the event was palpable. The audience felt the collective support and shared stories from founders on their journeys to finding funding. As one attendee put it, Being a founder can be lonely, so finding local resources and support is crucial. The discussions emphasized that finding allies within the entrepreneurial ecosystem can make all the difference.
The panelists shared several key insights on preparing for funding:
The forum also showcased local resources. Representatives from Village Launch, CommunityWorks, the South Carolina Minority Business Accelerator, and the Greenville Chamber of Commerce were present, offering invaluable support and information to attendees. Greenville is home to a unique network of resources, and the event encouraged founders to actively seek out and take advantage of these local opportunities.
As the Greenville startup scene continues to flourish, events like the Founders Forum serve as essential touchpoints for connection, support, and learning, equipping entrepreneurs with the knowledge and resilience needed to build successful, impactful businesses in our community.
Every startup has a pitch. But not every pitch is actually working.
Too often, founders are walking around with a deck or a one liner that explains what they do, but does not land, connect, or clearly communicate the value of what they are building. That is the gap NextGEN’s brand new Fix My Pitch program is designed to address.
One of the best things about Greenville’s entrepreneurial community is that there is no single way in. Some founders come through accelerators. Some start as side hustles. Others begin with a class, a skill, or a moment of curiosity.
This Tuesday, February 10, Greenville Literacy Association is launching a brand new program that adds another meaningful entry point into the local startup ecosystem.
Greenville’s startup scene just got a little tastier! Hone, a shared kitchen space, has officially opened, giving local food entrepreneurs the tools, space, and community they need to grow their businesses. For food founders, access to commercial-grade kitchen space can be a big hurdle, and Hone is here to change that.