SwampFox

Swamp Fox Partners With Southeastern Innovation Organizations

Contact:John Warner
JohnWarner@SwampFox.ws
864-561-6609

Swamp Fox Partners With Southeastern Innovation Organizations

Asheville, NC—The Swamp Fox Community announces that it is partnering with twenty one entrepreneurial and innovation organizations to connect people with great ideas with others who have access to expertise, resources and customers.

“The southeast is fortunate to have a number of great organizations that provide the entrepreneurial and innovative infrastructure in the region,” said John Warner, Swamp Fox President. “By combining the local relationships these organizations have with the southeastern reach of Swamp Fox, together we can provide people in the southeast with great ideas better access to resources, expertise and customers they need.”

Initially, in exchange for Swamp Fox broadly promoting the events of partnering organizations, these partners will promote the Swamp Fox Community at their events. A foundation of the Swamp Fox Community is online portals of personalized information, including personal profiles, news and event videos. As the number of people with personal profiles grows, the Swamp Fox Community becomes a more valuable resource.

The initial organizations partnering with the Swamp Fox Community include the following:

Blue Ridge Entrepreneurial Council, Asheville, NC
Center for Hydrogen Research, Aiken, SC
Charleston Digital Corridor, Charleston, SC
Columbia Information Technology Council, Columbia, SC
Creative Coast Initiative, Savannah, GA
ETSU Innovation Lab, Johnson City, TN
EngenuitySC, Columbia, SC
FuelCellSouth, Columbia, SC
GSA Technology Council, Greenville, SC
NEXT, Greenville, SC
New Carolina, Columbia, SC
Piedmont Triad Entrepreneurial Network, Greensboro, NC
SC Launch!, Columbia, SC
Spiro Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership at Clemson University, Clemson, SC
The Tate Center for Entrepreneurship, Charleston, SC
Technology 2020, Oak Ridge, TN
Technology Association of Georgia, Atlanta, GA
ThinkTEC, Charleston, SC
USC/Columbia Technology Incubator, Columbia, SC
Wilmington Investor Network, Wilmington, NC
Zoom Zone Showcase, Anderson, SC
Below are details of partner organizations:

Swamp Fox, (SwampFox.ws), Southeastern Innovation Corridor
The Swamp Fox Community connects people with great ideas to those with access to resources, expertise and customers. The power of the Swamp Fox to connect people is created through the strong synergy between access to online personalized information and personal relationships created at InnoVenture and other events. Swamp fox Anchors include major partners like Michelin, Milliken, GE, Blue Cross, Zeus Industrial, SC Launch, Clemson, and UNC Charlotte. The Swamp Fox website receives 55,000 monthly visitors. Since 2004, approximately 1,500 have attended the annual InnoVenture conference produced by Swamp Fox. Of 50 emerging companies that have presented to investors at InnoVenture conferences, at least 15 have had an investment round with public announcements of over $85 million raised.

Blue Ridge Entrepreneurial Council (www.brecnc.com), Asheville, NC—Pam Lewis, Director, Director, Regional Programs & Events, AdvantageWest North Carolina
The Blue Ridge Entrepreneurial Council, or BREC (www.brecnc.com), is a program of the AdvantageWest Economic Development Group (AdvantageWest.com) Western North Carolina’s regional economic development commission; BREC is a nurturing organization for entrepreneurs in western North Carolina that focuses on education, networking and mentoring, communications and capital formation.

Center for Hydrogen Research (www.scch2r.org), Aiken, SC—Fred Humes
Located near the Savannah River Site in Aiken County, South Carolina, the Center for Hydrogen Research is a unique facility specifically designed to realize the full potential of hydrogen and its commercial applications. The Center for Hydrogen Research is a strategic partnership and collaborative effort between the Aiken County Economic Development Commission and the Savannah River National Laboratory. It is by far the largest repository of hydrogen research, data and expertise in the United States today.

Charleston Digital Corridor (www.charlestondigitalcorridor.com), Charleston, SC—Ernest Andrade, Executive Director
The Digital Corridor is a creative effort to attract, nurture and grow Charleston's knowledge economy. This is accomplished through a combination of technology enabled initiatives and business incentives, private business support and member-driven programming. With the goal of offering tangible resources to the business community, the Digital Corridor serves as a portal to government, infrastructure, real estate, education, venture capital, professional resources and a trained workforce.

Columbia Information Technology Council (www.columbiachamberitc.com), Columbia, SC—Kendall Johnson, Liason
The Columbia Information Technology Council is an assemblage of technology leaders promoting Columbia as a desirable location for IT companies. Drawing upon their combined knowledge and experience, the ITC identifies, cultivates and promotes those characteristics that IT businesses require for efficient and successful operations. Members endeavor to help develop a well-educated and dynamic workforce, provide guidance based on their professional expertise, and advance the amenities offered by the Greater Columbia Area.

Creative Coast Initiative (www.thecreativecoast.org), Savannah, GA—Chris Miller, Founder and Executive Director
The Creative Coast Initiative is a public/private partnership created by city, county and technology leaders in 2003. We are chartered by the Savannah Economic Development Authority (SEDA), the City of Savannah, the Chatham County Commission and closely allied with a whole host of other organizations.

ETSU Innovation Lab (www.etsuilab.org), Johnson City, TN— Dave Lawrence, Director
The ETSU Innovation Lab is a full service incubator designed to support entrepreneurs and investors to affect the successful establishment of technology-based start-up and spin-off businesses in order to achieve technology transfer, create jobs, and enhance economic development within the region. The ETSU Innovation Laboratory is an economic development initiative of East Tennessee State University, partnered with the Tennessee Small Business Development Center and the ETSU Entrepreneurial Leadership Program.

EngenuitySC (www.engenuitysc.com), Columbia, SC—Neil McLean, Executive Director
EngenuitySC is a non-profit economic development leadership council with a mission to
coordinate actions that generate the creation and growth of knowledge based companies in Richland and Lexington Counties. Its primary goals are building ties between the University of South Carolina's research activities and the local business community, developing sources of venture capital for local entrepreneurs, and taking actions to create a business environment that supports entrepreneurial ventures.

FuelCellSouth Partners Forum, Inc. (www.fuelcellsouth.org), Columbia, SC—Tom Militello, Executive Director
FuelCellSouth is a non-profit organization with industry, academic and government sponsors from the Southeastern United States. FuelCellSouth was formed as an outgrowth of the collaborative work between industry and researchers to identify and index the opportunities for collaboration in the delivery of fuel cell-based solutions in the commercial and consumer markets.

GSA Technology Council (www.GSATC.org), Greenville, SC—Phil Yanov, Executive Director
The GSA Technology Council is a board driven, not-for-profit technology networking organization supporting the continued growth of Upstate South Carolina’s technology economy. The GSATC provides networking, education, business development, and community service opportunities to technology professionals and entrepreneurs through its technology newsletter, monthly meetings, annual job fair, and FastTrac training. Founded in 2002, the council has grown to over 11,000 subscribers.

NEXT (www.nextgreenville.com), Greenville, SC—Brenda Laakso, Executive Director
NEXT is a resource collaborative that supports and attracts high-impact entrepreneurs and their ventures in the greater Greenville area and throughout the Upstate of South Carolina through concierge service, infrastructure development, advocacy, and marketing.

New Carolina (www. newcarolina.org), Columbia, SC—George Fletcher, Executive Director
New Carolina, South Carolina’s Council on Competitiveness, seeks to develop and drive South Carolina’s long-term economic strategy by working with companies, government, universities, economic development organizations, and other groups to identify and implement actions and policies that are aligned with the long-term strategy, and that will boost the competitiveness of South Carolina firms.

Piedmont Triad Entrepreneurial Network (www.pten.org), Greensboro, NC—Jon Obermeyer, CEO
PTEN was formed in 1985 as Piedmont Entrepreneurs Network and was the founding organization for Piedmont Angel Network (PAN). PTEN offers programs and resources to high-growth, high-impact ventures in four main specialized areas: Education through FastTrac Tech Venture, Mentoring, Networking and Capital Formation with its Growth Accelerator Program and Capital Connects! networking breakfast for accredited investors and growth-minded firms. A collaboration of leadership in Greensboro, High Point and Winston-Salem, PTEN also produces two industry conferences: NC Nanotech Conference (www.ncnano.com) and the NEXUS Supply Chain Strategy Summit (www.nexusnc.com).

SC Launch! (www.sclaunch.org)—Miriam Wilson, Resource Network Manager
SC Launch! was created to facilitate applied research, product development and commercialization programs, strengthen South Carolina’s Knowledge Economy and create high wage-earning jobs by executing the mandates of the South Carolina Innovation Centers Act of 2005. SC Launch! is building equity in the future by generating technology-based jobs which enhance the state’s quality of life and provide strong prospects for all South Carolinians in the Knowledge Economy.

Spiro Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership at Clemson University (www.business.clemson.edu/Spiro), Clemson, SC—Kim Dawson, Associate Director
The mission of the Arthur M. Spiro Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership at Clemson University is to support educational, research, and outreach programs that promote entrepreneurial activity and economic development of the region, state, and nation. The focus is on wealth creation through entrepreneurial activity.

The Tate Center for Entrepreneurship, (www.cofc.edu/~tate/index.html), Charleston, SC—John Clarkin, Director
The Tate Center for Entrepreneurship’s mission is to positively enhance the entrepreneurial and educational opportunities in our region and state through education, innovation, research and advocacy. The Tate Center is the first entrepreneurship center established in South Carolina. An integral part of the College of Charleston’s School of Business and Economics, the Tate Center serves as a bridge between the School and the business community.

Technology 2020 (www.tech2020.org), Oak Ridge, TN—Tom Rogers, President and CEO
Technology 2020 is a public-private partnership headquartered in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, whose mission helps grow new businesses and high quality jobs by capitalizing on the unique technology resources in the Tennessee Valley Corridor and to advance the region’s reputation as a nationally recognized center of technology-based entrepreneurship. Since its inception in 1995, Tech 2020 has helped its client companies create more than 1,700 jobs, generating more than $108 million in direct annual payroll in the region.

Technology Association of Georgia (www.tagonline.org), Atlanta, GA—Tino Mantella, President
Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) is a non-profit organization that serves the technology community in Georgia. TAG is dedicated to the promotion and economic advancement of the state's technology industry and provides leadership in driving initiatives in the areas of policy, capital, education and giving. TAG helps to bring the technology community together through events, initiative programs and networking opportunities. Founded in 1999 through the merger of the Business & Technology Alliance (B&TA), the Southeastern Software Association (SSA) and Women in Technology (WIT); TAG is one of the largest state technology associations in the nation. TAG is made up of more than 3,200 members representing technology leaders from Georgia-based companies, affiliated technology and business organizations.

ThinkTEC (www.thinktec.org), Charleston, SC—Pennie Bingham, Director
In 1997, the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce established the ThinkTEC initiative in an effort to facilitate start-up companies, grow existing business and attract new business in the high-tech arenas. ThinkTEC works to promote a business climate that will accelerate the growth of high-tech and knowledge-based industries throughout the tri-county area. These efforts include industry-specific conferences, public policy and legislative initiatives, program development, and educational events.

USC/Columbia Technology Incubator (www.incubator.research.sc.edu), Columbia, SC—Joel Stevenson, Executive Director
The mission of the USC/Columbia Technology Incubator is to increase the vitality of the regional economy by recruiting and nurturing start-up companies that advance technological development, employ highly skilled workers and contribute to the economic development of the area.

Wilmington Investor Network (www.wilmingtoninvestor.com), Wilmington, NC—Michael Cain, Managing Member
Wilmington Investor Network (WIN) is a private equity fund of angel investors located in Wilmington, North Carolina. Membership is comprised of an elite group of serious investors from all areas of business. As a network, WIN is interested in high-growth companies with potential to provide a high return on investment. WIN provides capital to early-stage companies of this caliber throughout eastern North and South Carolina.

Zoom Zone Showcase (www.zoomzoneshowcase.com), Anderson, SC—Walker Bowen, Coordinator
Anderson and the Upstate of South Carolina are zooming into the new knowledge-based economy. Zoom Zone Showcase is an example of how businesses, higher education, and the community build synergy to create the competitive advantage your business needs.