From founders to executives to researchers, South Carolinians are developing life-changing technologies and products every day.
South Carolina mobilizes the dynamic flow of resources and information among people, industries and institutions for the prosperity of our citizens. Elevating and connecting the state’s people-driven ecosystem is at the forefront to ensuring global competitiveness and driving future economic growth. The innovation team at SC Commerce embraces a risk-taking culture as we identify, prioritize, develop and launch new assets to support South Carolina’s business community in their relentless pursuits of transformational ideas.
No innovator’s story is the same.
We interviewed over 30 innovators across South Carolina to learn what it takes to break the mold. See more of their stories.
Mike Finnern on Proterra’s Innovation in Sustainable Vehicles
1:54 MIN
Andrew Lee on IMCS’s Innovation in Biotechnology
1:02 MIN
Vernita Brown on Natalist’s Innovation in Fertility
2:87 MIN
James Townsend on Dopple’s Innovation in 3D Visualization Software
1:32 MIN
Elizabeth Rhue on Sonoco’s Innovation in Global Packaging
2:19 MIN
South Carolina has the capital, talent, lab space and vibrant entrepreneurial community to help startups flourish and established companies stay at the forefront of their field.
Research & Development
Bring new ideas to market alongside communities and industry with South Carolina’s 60 colleges and universities. Find a sampling of the state's R&D resources below.
Research
universities
Startup Culture and Support
From mountains to coast and everywhere in between, South Carolina buzzes with a thriving entrepreneurial culture full of support.
Funding Sources and Opportunities
Funding is the life-blood of innovation activities and startups. South Carolina has seen a 27.5x increase in capital invested in startups since 2011 (Pitchbook, Dec. 2022).
Developing New
Risk Capital
- Palmetto Venture Fellowship: developing new risk capital investors in South Carolina
Federal
Grant Support
- 3Phase: free SBIR/STTR federal grant support for South Carolina small- and medium-sized businesses
Talent
An ever-present, highly-skilled talent pipeline is critical for business growth and sustainability.
Relentless
Challenge Grant
S.C. Commerce’s Relentless Challenge Grant is eligible to South Carolina-based nonprofit organizations, higher education institutions and municipalities that are implementing new programs that break down barriers to innovation.
Of Note is a podcast on
South Carolina innovation
We're opening up the notebooks of some of the most interesting business minds in the South.
Listen now on:
