Last week, founders, manufacturers, investors, corporate leaders, and ecosystem partners gathered in Greenville for Innovation Exchange, a new event hosted by NextGEN focused on strengthening connections between startups and enterprise companies.

There’s something special about walking into GROK and immediately spotting familiar faces.
Not just one or two, but dozens. Founders, operators, creatives, technologists. People from the StartupGVL community who are all building, questioning, experimenting, and showing up.

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.

Greenville’s tech community thrives when more people have access to pathways into learning, building, and growing. That’s why we’re excited to welcome Bletchley Institute and Clarke College into the StartupGVL community. These organizations bring new approaches to hands-on learning and early career exploration, adding to the strong foundation already built by groups across the region.

South Carolina’s entrepreneurial future was on full display as Clemson University hosted the 6th Annual Palmetto Pitch Competition at the Brook T. Smith Launchpad and this year set a new record. Nearly 200 attendees gathered to watch student founders from colleges and universities across the state compete, connect, and showcase ideas with the potential to shape South Carolina’s next decade of innovation.

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.

When the federal government scaled back many grant programs in early 2025, local nonprofits began asking an urgent question: What’s next? Enter RevUp GVL, a first-of-its-kind event designed to help nonprofits think like startups, find new revenue sources, and strengthen the foundation that keeps Greenville’s community thriving.