3 Charleston, SC Area Projects Receive Grants from the Relentless Challenge

The South Carolina Department of Commerce announced 3 Charleston, SC area projects were included in its 15 Relentless Challenge grant recipients.

Congratulations to Charleston Digital Corridor – Education Foundation – CDC Learning Center, Harbor Entrepreneur Center of Charleston – PROPEL – Re-accelerate Companies Beyond Startup Stage and Hi Mark Capital Foundation of Charleston – SC Innovation Business Simulation Program.

All projects participated in the Relentless Challenge, a statewide competitive grant program for projects that foster a sustainable innovation ecosystem. Each winning project had to meet at least one of four goals:

• Catalyzing high-growth entrepreneurship
• Increasing access to risk capital
• Supporting collaboration between industry and South Carolina-based institutions of higher education
• Enhancing talent development for a sustainable knowledge economy

The 2024 recipients will each receive a portion of $880,000 and include:

• Build Carolina of Greenville – Build Carolina Minimum Viable Product Studio
• Clemson University Research Foundation – Piloting a New Capital Investment Strategy for High-Growth MedTech Startups
• FRESH at Clemson University – Clemson University Cultivate – Sustainable Packaging Entrepreneurs: Connecting SC Businesses with the Next Generation of Sustainable Packaging Designers
• NEXT SC – NEXT SC Entrepreneur in Residence Program
• OneSpartanburg – Spartanburg Area Ecosystem Foundations Project
• Platform at Greer – Platform at Greer Bootcamp: Expanding to Help Established Small and Medium-Sized Businesses Statewide
• SCbio – SCbioDrive Life Sciences Accelerator
• The Hill Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Furman University – The Summer Business & Innovation Bootcamp

• Charleston Digital Corridor – Education Foundation – CDC Learning Center
• eMYRge of Myrtle Beach – SaaSConn: Creating the Flywheel Effect for SaaS-Inspired Economic Growth in SC
• GrowCo – Catalyzing Columbia: ColaStarts Bootcamp for Enhancing Statewide Networks and Beyond
• Harbor Entrepreneur Center of Charleston – PROPEL – Re-accelerate Companies Beyond Startup Stage
• Hi Mark Capital Foundation of Charleston – SC Innovation Business Simulation Program
• SC Tech College System Foundation – Create Opportunity Expansion Project
• USC – Faber Entrepreneurship Center – Faber Entrepreneurship Center Expanded Opportunity Workshops

“S.C. Commerce is proud to continue supporting the implementation of new projects that open pathways to entrepreneurship and technology development,” said S.C. Secretary of Commerce Harry M. Lightsey III. “Each Relentless Challenge grant recipient helps make South Carolina an exceptional place for innovative companies to thrive. We are excited to see the impact this year’s projects will have on the state’s innovation ecosystem.”

Since 2013, S.C. Commerce has awarded more than $8.9 million, supporting over 80 local innovation projects.