Category: News
-
New clean energy accelerator launches in Tennessee
The nation’s top innovators have the opportunity to advance their promising energy technology ideas at the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in a new program called Innovation Crossroads. Up to five entrepreneurs will be selected to transform their ideas into clean energy companies with a fellowship that covers living costs, benefits…
-
12 Southern cybersecurity companies making the Internet safer
Cybersecurity: what was once just a concern for your IT guy is now becoming a trending topic (and a critical matter for citizens, businesses, and governments). Whether you’ve binge watched Mr. Robot, heard “the cyber” discussed during election debates, or been affected by the recent Dyn hack and subsequently massive Internet outage on the…
-
12 venture capital firms investing in the South
According to the National Venture Capital Association, 2016 has seen $32.4 billion raised so far, putting this year on pace to be a record-breaking year for investment. And yes, when you think of venture capital, major markets like San Francisco, Boston, and New York dominate the game. But research firm PitchBook points out that DC,…
-
Chew on these hot Atlanta food-based startups
There’s nothing better than a food startup making waves — we are guaranteed to get delicious food in exciting new ways. From staying true to natural ingredients to finding new convenient routes to deliver meals, the intersection between food and technology is always one we are a fan of. Our friends at Hypepotamus put together a list…
-
How 12 Southern startups can offer Hurricane Matthew relief
Hurricane Matthew is finally behind us, but residents of Haiti, parts of the Caribbean, and much of the Southeastern US are still dealing with its disastrous effects. Severe weather events like Matthew have a tendency to bring people together — government officials pulling long hours, emergency response crews bravely rescuing those in need, and neighbors…
-
11 Southern tech companies brewing up beer innovations
Oktoberfest may be officially coming to an end, but that doesn’t mean your celebrations have to. Brewers, developers, and entrepreneurs are using technology to disrupt the massive and traditional $300 billion beer industry…and it’s working. According to Brewers Association, craft breweries have doubled their market share since 2010, and in 2014, startups in the…
-
Cast your vote for these 10 political startups in the South
With the first presidential debate behind us and less than six weeks to go until we cast our ballots in the election, it’s hard not to have politics on the brain. Even for the most politically active citizens, government affairs can feel especially confusing and overwhelming around election time (how exactly does the Electoral College…
-
11 Southern co-working spaces where you can get sh*t done
Coworking spaces are definitely having a moment. And while most new shared offices are hip and youthful (think: ping pong tables, beer on tap, and funky ergonomic furniture), they’re also a great place to make connections, build a community, and grow a business. If you’re a freelancer, remote worker, or entrepreneur, you’re likely very familiar…
-
Get outdoors with these 10 Southern companies
Summer is officially over, and while it may not feel like fall quite yet here in the Southeast – boy, are we jumping at the chance to get outside in cooler weather. We’re already dreaming up weekend sailing trips, hiking excursions, and generally any outdoorsy activity (we can include porch sitting, right?) knowing that the…
-
9 Southern companies getting in the eSports game
If you spent much of Labor Day Weekend watching college football and dusting off your favorite NFL jersey, you may not know that there’s another sports season in full swing right now, too. It’s called eSports and the global playoffs take place from now till late October. eSports, or competitive video gameplay, isn’t what you…
-
10 Southern Innovation Stories You May Have Missed This Summer
Maybe you’ve been on a mission to make headlines of your own and haven’t had the time (or energy) to check Twitter for summer’s newsworthy happenings. Or maybe you’ve been off the grid fishing, swimming, or sipping margaritas since May. Whatever your reason, we know it can be hard to keep up with who’s who…
-
Get schooled with these 11 Southern education startups
Ah, back to school season. For some, late August conjures happy memories of new outfits, organized pencil pouches, and fresh composition notebooks ready to be filled with doodles. For others (we’re guessing you’re a college senior, a tired parent or teacher, or a school administrator…), perhaps this time of year fills you with some looming…
-
RaftUp: An Arkansas entrepreneur’s startup journey
Corey Boelkens left behind a successful corporate career to pursue his vision for RaftUp, and made some significant sacrifices to pursue his dream. Read his story via Tim Freeman at HARK. December 2014: After 10 years as a highly successful strategy consultant, Corey Boelkens was ready to leave the office, leave it behind, and spend…
-
Raise a glass for these 16 Southern booze businesses
Last week’s DIG 500 gave you Southern-made cold brew, juices, and craft soda, and this week we’re back, barware in hand, with a roundup of Southerners in the business of booze. This is the land of mint juleps and moonshine, after all. And just like a good mullet, alcohol startups know how to mix business…
-
11 Southern Beverage Startups to Quench Your Thirst
School calendars might dictate that summer is coming to an end, but the weather has us thinking it’s still in full-force here in the South. With heat and humidity that lingers six months out of the year, it’s no wonder Southern cities have birthed refreshing favorites like sweet tea, Coca-Cola, and Cheerwine*. But as soda…
-
VC FinTech accelerator hosts global investor Demo Day
Originally posted by our friends at HARK. By: Tim Freeman LITTLE ROCK – The Venture Center, a Little Rock-based Entrepreneurial Support Organization, in partnership with FIS, a global leader in financial services technology, hosted Demo Day for the inaugural cohort of the VC FinTech Accelerator, an aggressive 12-week program designed to accelerate the growth of…
-
12 must-see makerspaces for Southern creators
If you’re not familiar with the maker movement, we think AdWeek sums it up well: “The maker movement, as we know, is the umbrella term for independent inventors, designers and tinkerers. Makers tap into an American admiration for self-reliance and combine that with open-source learning, contemporary design and powerful personal technology like 3-D printers.” The…
-
2017 SXSW Accelerator Startup Season Now Open – Are You In?
SXSW Accelerator returns for its 9th edition on March 11-12, 2017 to showcase some of the world’s most exciting innovations. This event provides an opportunity for startups to present to a panel of industry experts, VC and Angel investors. Categories are: Augmented & Virtual Reality, Enterprise & Smart Data, Entertainment & Content, Health & Wearables, Innovative…
-
Gotta Catch ‘Em All: 10 Mobile Gaming Startups in the South
Photo credit: iMore If words like “Lure Modules,” “Stardust,” and “Bulbasaur” come up in regular conversation, either your friends are dehydrated, or you know firsthand the rapid and widespread rise of Pokemon Go. According to Apple, the game had more downloads in its first week than any other app in history. And while it might…
-
14 Unique Workplaces for Digital Nomads in the South
More and more people are ditching the traditional office environment to work remotely or launch businesses on their own. If you subscribe to the digital nomad lifestyle, you could certainly work from home or join one of the many co-working spaces popping up around the country, but what happens when your mailman (or cat) gets…
-
Sun’s Out, Guns Out! 10 Southern Startups with Your Summer Fitness Fix
As temperatures heat up and bathing suits find their way back into your wardrobe rotation, how will you keep your fitness regimen on track while still enjoying weekend cookouts and ice cream truck stops? You could certainly try Kanye’s workout plan, or you could turn to these 10 Southern startups that make it more convenient…
-
10 Southern Startups Helping Parents Make This the Best Summer Yet
It’s officially summer, and while kids rejoice to the raucous chants of Alice Cooper, parents are feeling the heat as they balance normal adult life with three months’ worth of unoccupied youngsters. Thanks to some innovative Southerners, though, there is hope! These 10 startups have new and easy ways to keep your kids entertained, educated,…
-
Essential Resources for Female Founders in the South
If you’ve been on Twitter or Facebook this week, you probably caught some clips of this week’s United#StateOfWomen Summit. The daylong event celebrated what’s already been done by and for women, and took a collective pulse check on our unfinished business. Not surprisingly, one of the key gender equality issues discussed was entrepreneurship and innovation.…
-
11 Southern Startups That Will Save Your Summer Travel
When you think of the travel industry, words like “convenience,” “speed,” and “transparency” probably aren’t the first that come to mind. Perhaps your memory wanders to a TSA agent testing your emotional stability, a thrilling day spent in a rental car lobby, or forking out extra dough for service fees and taxes you didn’t even…
