Greenville’s New Innovation Hub Sparks Excitement Among Startups
Greenville has officially stepped into the spotlight as a budding hub for innovation and entrepreneurship with the recent opening of the Crescent Innovation District! This fresh initiative not only brings state-of-the-art facilities to the heart of the city but also aims to attract startups from across the country. Located just north of downtown at 25 Goldsmith St., the startup accelerator is making waves within the entrepreneurial community in a big way.
A Collaborative Dream Team
What makes this project so exciting is the teamwork behind it. The Crescent Innovation District is a fantastic collaboration among Hartness Development, Flywheel Coworking, and Furman University’s Innovation Lab, which is part of The Hill Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Sean Hartness, CEO of Hartness Development, expressed his enthusiasm at the opening of the district, stating, “We foresee hundreds of ideas and businesses that will be generated here as we bring together and champion our entrepreneurial community.”
What’s Inside the Crescent Innovation District?
Once fully utilized, this incredible 23,000-square-foot facility is set to house a vibrant community of about 250 to 300 members. The space is designed to be functional and welcoming, offering private offices, seminar and meeting areas that can accommodate up to 300 people, and even a fitness center! Additionally, there’s 2,000 square feet designated for a future business tenant, opening up more opportunities for collaboration and growth.
But it doesn’t stop there! Membership will include a variety of players from the startup ecosystem such as entrepreneur support organizations, investment funds, consultants, and professional service providers. According to Peter Marsh, a founding partner at Flywheel, “Our value proposition is very different from other co-working spaces. Our passion is economic development through entrepreneurship.” This is more than just a working space; it’s a place to grow both professionally and personally.
Introducing the Founderville Startup Residence Program
As Shay Houser, one of the co-founders of Founderville stated, “As we get these things moving, it starts to open up people’s eyes about Greenville.” His ambition is to recruit 20 new software or tech-enabled startups to Greenville over the next five years, and a whopping 80 startups in the next decade! Applications for the first cohort of five tech startups will open in January, and local entrepreneurs couldn’t be more thrilled.
Strengthening the Startup Ecosystem
While the goal is to assist new startups, Houser and fellow co-founder Scott Millwood have a bigger vision in mind. They aim to strengthen Greenville’s existing startup infrastructure, which will, in turn, attract more venture capital funding to the city. Millwood offered his insight by saying, “I think that we’ll have a more connected, more robust deal system here that is both attracting more entrepreneurs to move here and growing more of them from here.” This creates a ripple effect, ultimately benefiting the entire community.
What’s Next?
With so much potential on the horizon, it’s safe to say that the Crescent Innovation District is not just another facility; it’s a breath of fresh air for Greenville and its entrepreneurial spirit. If you’re someone looking to make waves in the tech space, make sure to keep an eye on the Founderville Startup Residence Program and consider calling Greenville your next home!
