NEXT Membership

2007-08-27T08:04:00.000-05:00

NEXT membership is available for high-tech, high-growth potential startup firms in the Upstate of South Carolina (or any where else for that matter!).

If you would like to be involved and your company (or soon to be company) will benefit from sharing with other entrepreurs then contact NEXT at 864-239-3711.

Thanks and happy company building!

SC Tech Directory

2007-08-14T08:59:00.001-05:00

This is cool...

http://www.sctechdirectory.com/

But we need all SC tech firms to add themselves!

So, what are you waiting on....

2007-08-07T07:50:00.000-05:00

NEXT has had two of our member companies make announcements regarding funding of their firms in the last two weeks.

www.zipitwireless.com
www.promopipeline.com

That is very exciting. And pretty decent percentage for little ole' Greenville - two of the 40 or so member firms have received VC-type funding. That is 5% of our membership.

Who's NEXT? (pun intended)

What would you use funding for? Where would you funnel the dollars to help you grow?

On being a leader

2006-01-22T19:08:00.000-05:00

A leader knows when something is wrong he must act. A leader knows that when something is right, she must acknowledge it. A leader thinks that he must tirelessly fight for his vision, but knows he will not always get others to see it. A leader makes mistakes. Big Ones. A leader gets it right, a lot. A leader makes bad decisions. A leader smiles, a lot. A leader knows that not everyone will be happy, but he leads on, certain in his mission, questioning the plans laid, adjusting to fit the circumstances and situations, and finally, at the end of the journey – when his brilliance is being glorified – he politely says thank you, hides away from the crowd, cries a few tears, then steps up to do it again.

The future ahead of us

2006-01-06T19:07:00.000-05:00

I can imagine a time, not too far long from now, when the citizens of Greenville County have a wealth unheard of in cities our size. I can see a vibrant, diverse economy that designs and develops products made and sold around the world. A city that mixes the best of old-Southern hospitality, a county of strong technology and service companies, a region of national leaders in their fields. A strong partnership between local and national Universities. A well-educated, motivated, highly-productive workforce. An environment that has taken the inevitable thrashing of the textile barons and emerged scathed but changed to be Green once again. A future of high-speed light-rail zipping its racially, ethnically, experientially, politically and morally diverse citizen-base to high-paying, satisfying jobs contributing to the greater good of society.

My favorite definition of diversity (The mosaic of individuals and groups with varying backgrounds, experiences, styles, perceptions, values and beliefs.) guarantees that you and I will not agree at times. But I like to think that the logical extension of how we live in this world does guarantee that I hear you and you hear me. And somewhere, sometime along the way we will work together to be better.

Greenville's place in the Inc. 500 List

2005-11-26T10:09:00.000-05:00

Inc Magazine's November issue featured its annual listing of the nations 500 fastest growing companies (http://www.inc.com/resources/inc500). This year South Carolina had 4 companies that made the list; and three of them were from the Upstate; and one in Greenville (our very own Joe Milam represents them on our monthly Best Practices Forum).

Not only did we make the list but an Upstate company is number 1 - the folks at Video Gaming Technologies (http://www.vgt.net) did a great job this last year. VGT is in Roebuck, up Hwy 221 near Spartanburg.

SDI Networks (http://www.sdinetworks.com) placed 172 on the list. SDI just moved their office from Downtown Greenville to the old Greenville Association of Realtor Building near the University Center.

Shred First (http://www.shredfirst.net) placed 377 on the list. Shred First is in Spartanburg.

Simonini Builders (http://www.simonini.com) down in Charleston placed 321 on the list.

Congratulations to all these great companies and let's get more recognition next year, go register at http://www.inc.com/inc500_app/apply06.jsp. I am a big believer that we only need to spread the word about our community for it to be universally recognized for its achievements.

- jeff

What it Means to Be an Entrepreneur...

2005-11-25T18:46:00.000-05:00

humorous, yet a little too close to home for many of us...

What it means to be an entrepreneur <--click here.

What is Greenville's NEXT??

2005-11-09T11:32:00.000-05:00

I was going to write an entry explaining what NEXT is, but a recent email from John Moore at the Chamber really did it best...
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Regarding the Digital Alliance (now NEXT), we are very busy formalizing that program into a more tangible, staff-supported economic development group and hope to have the new program announced and fully active by early January. The main focus of the group is to foster greater technology entrepreneurship in the area and to provide critical support services and infrastructure for existing tech startups. Much of the early stage work that we are presently doing as well as into 2006 will be focused on providing support service to our existing entrepreneurs and addressing their issues & problems. We are also focused on linking them to the various support programs and organizations in the area that specifically address tech entrepreneur needs.

John M. Moore
Senior Vice President - Economic Development & Small Business
Greater Greenville Chamber of Commerce
jmoore@greenvillechamber.org
(864) 239-3714
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Stay tuned for more information...

- jeff

Economic Development is Entrepreneurial Development

2005-11-01T12:00:00.000-05:00

This forum will be used to comment and discuss issues relating to Greenville's NEXT - a new group of technology entrepreneurs that wish to work together, network and prosper. In coordination and partnership with the Greenville Chamber of Commerce we are making a formal organization to nuture the economic development of our city - our way - by creating and nuturing entrepreneurs.

In the coming days I'll post information on NEXT and our core members. I'll provide information on how to contact our Executive Director who is here for all Technology Entrepreneurs to help cut through the red-tape and mystery of starting a business.

I will provide information on the abundant opportunities for you as an entrepreneur to receive help and assistance from existing groups.

And, yes, I'll probably rant on from time to time about things that strike me as odd.

-jeff