Last week, Furman’s Hill Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, together with the Furman Alumni Council, hosted a thoughtful conversation about the future of Greenville at Flywheel Coworking. Designed as a “What’s Next” event, it brought together founders, civic leaders, investors, and alumni to explore the next chapter of Greenville’s growth.
Setting the Stage: A Conversation About the Future
Bryan Davis, Executive Director of the Hill Institute and a Greenville native, opened the morning by framing the question at the heart of the program: What’s next for GVL? He spoke about the components shaping the region’s future such as the long game played by big companies, the role of civic leaders in defining policy, the impact of investors who create a flywheel effect, and the founders who are willing to take risks and build something new here.
A Look Back to Look Ahead: John DeWorken
After Bryan, longtime business owner, lobbyist, and Greenville City Council member John DeWorken offered a unique perspective from both the business and government sides. John emphasized Greenville’s long-term commitment to improving quality of life, pointing to examples such as Soby’s, the Drive stadium, and the Swamp Rabbit Trail. These projects required vision at a time when many thought the ideas would never work. They now serve as reminders that talent and economic vibrancy follow places where people want to live.
John also talked about areas where the city still has work to do, particularly economic development. After the retirement of key leaders like Nancy Whitworth, Greenville entered a period of transition. The creation of GCEDC is a step toward filling that gap, but structural challenges remain, including annexation rules that make the city less competitive in recruiting companies. On entrepreneurship, John noted that the city does not need to duplicate what partners already do well. Instead, it should focus on being a strong strategic partner.
The Panel: Collaboration, Capital, and Community
Following John’s remarks, Steve Stewart, Furman professor, moderated a panel featuring three local leaders:
Steve spoke briefly about the joy of teaching and the promise he sees in the upcoming generation, encouraging attendees not to believe the negativity often portrayed in national media.
Growth and Talent
The panel addressed Greenville’s rapid growth. Greenville County is projected to reach 750,000 residents within the next 10 to 15 years. More than 570 international companies already have a presence here. With growth comes both opportunity and responsibility. The panel discussed talent retention, affordability, and the challenges of attracting top technical talent when major companies like Google can draw graduates away. Shay noted that most Clemson computer science graduates still leave the state. He stressed the importance of building exciting companies here that can compete for that talent.
Building Companies in Greenville
Karly shared the story of discovering Greenville on Instagram in 2018 and later choosing to move here because of the community. For founders, she emphasized solving real problems, talking to customers, and starting local. She also noted the importance of community resources, naming NextGEN and GVL Starts as particularly helpful programs.
Shay talked about the flow of capital in the region. His firm has invested 4.5 million across 11 local companies, and he described how that money circulates through the ecosystem. His long-term vision is clear: build a unicorn here and keep it here.
The aging demographic was another point of discussion. By 2040, 25 percent of Greenville County’s population will be over 65. The panel reflected on how to deploy the wealth and experience of older residents while still supporting the energy and risk tolerance of a younger, growing population.
What Attracts and Retains Talent
When asked what she would tell young talent considering Greenville, Karly highlighted the city’s accessibility. “You’re two handshakes away from meeting the right person,” she said. In larger markets, that same introduction might take ten or fifteen. It was a clear reminder of Greenville’s deeply connected and collaborative culture.
The Vision Ahead
To close, the panel shared the types of companies that excite them, from service businesses creating new efficiencies to niche, defensible models. John noted that Greenville is known for its collaborative spirit. Shay pointed to the role of public and private partnerships. Karly added that people here genuinely care about their dogs, which says something about the city’s warmth and personality.
Someone in the room painted a picture of a future headline: “How Greenville Became America’s Most Surprising Entrepreneurial Hub”
A story built on collaboration, quality of life, community, and bold vision. If the momentum in that room was any indication, that headline may be closer than we think.
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.