Dig South Tech Summit (May 1-2, 2025) is the South’s top tech event for executives, founders, investors and innovators. With a focus on mid-market companies, we connect leading brands to the South’s most scalable startups. Dig South Tech Summit will anchor the 1st annual Charleston Tech Week, April 23-May 2, 2025.

ATRIUM – 1st FLOOR

ATRIUM first floor | Topline Gold Lounge – offer.topline.com/gold

Join the Topline founding team at their exclusive Gold Lounge at Dig South! Take advantage of the special event offer to update your professional profile, enhance your Topline Inferred Rate, explore the innovative tools included with Topline Gold membership, and get your complimentary professional headshot. PLUS Open Bar sponsored by Topline at GeekOut Finale Party!

About Topline.com:

Topline.com is the all-in-one growth platform designed specifically for top independent professionals, consultants, freelancers, and growing service firms. Combining powerful AI-driven tools for sales, marketing, admin, and lead generation, Topline empowers professionals to effortlessly attract high-value business, streamline operations, and stand out in a crowded marketplace—all without relying on costly middlemen or outdated methods.

ROOM 180, 1st floor | Startup Demo Lounge sponsored by Nelson Mullins Sign up to give a mini-pitch, schedule office hours with investors and mentors, and get expert legal advice. production@digsouth.com

ATRIUM, 1st floor | Querri: The Simplest Way to Talk with Your Data – querri.com
Querri provides the simplest way to clean, combine, analyze, and move data by asking questions in natural language — using AI to put messy data to work. And with their reboot launched on May 1, Querri.AI is here. It’s faster. Smarter. Better at reasoning. And built with a whole new experience that’s as transparent as it is powerful. This isn’t just a version update. It’s a full-on reboot of our promise: To make data ridiculously easy to use for anyone in business.

ATRIUM, 1st floor | Redwood Materials Booth
Redwood is building a circular battery supply chain to power a sustainable world and accelerate the reduction of fossil fuels. We’re localizing a global battery supply chain and producing battery materials in the U.S. for the first time – from as many recycled batteries as possible.

ATRIUM, 1st floor | Level Up Video – levelupvideo.org
Build your own AI clone, podcast and video production, storytelling and more with Matt Grason

ATRIUM, 1st floor | Influencer Media Lounge
Dig South Tech Summit speaker interviews, audience Q&As with speakers, social media advice and more.

• Stephen Michael, Creator coach & Tech Content Creator
  Stephen Michael is an Atlanta-based content creator specializing in cinematic tech and lifestyle. He blends visual storytelling with accessible insights, helping aspiring filmmakers and photographers simplify complex tools and techniques. A North Carolina A&T graduate, Stephen uses his platform to educate, inspire, and connect with a growing creative community on Instagram, YouTube, and beyond.
• Molly Goldrick – @mollygoldrick, Global Hackathon lead – Meta, independent lifestyle content creator
• Bill Olson – @the.bill.olson
  Bill Olson is a top‑producing Charleston Realtor and content creator who uses video to build brand awareness, educate, and engage his audience. A passionate tech and AI enthusiast, he taps into these tools on a daily basis to streamline workflow and lighten his workload. Across his social media accounts, his innovative approach generates millions of views each month and attracts thousands of followers, many of whom he’s converted into clients.
• Taylor Arent – @taylorarent
  Smith Spencer Real Estate & Independent Content Creator
• Matt Peacock – @mpeacockmedia
  The Palm Social, independent content creator, photographer, and videographer
• John Condlin – @johnchsrealtor
  Realtor & independent content creator
  John Condlin is a Charleston-based Realtor, content creator and Navy veteran helping people relocate and reimagine their lives in the Lowcountry. With over 5 years of experience and nearly 100 successful transactions, he blends deep market knowledge with creative storytelling to make real estate approachable and engaging. Through his popular videos and social media presence, John shares insights about moving to Charleston, navigating the housing market, and discovering life in the Southeast — all with a dose of authenticity and humor. When he’s not helping clients or creating content, you’ll find him volunteering locally, scouting out new restaurants, or searching for sharks’ teeth on the beach.

ROOM 181, 1st floor | Q&A Lounge

ROOM 175, 1st floor | Wild Pitch & Judges Prep Lounge

ATRIUM, 1st floor | Meeli Social Media Booth
MeeLi is a soulcial media app built for deeper connections, self-discovery, and real life. Prioritizing health, safety, and trust, our success is offline connections, not engagement.

ATRIUM – 2nd FLOOR

ATRIUM, 2nd floor | Build Better Lounge featuring “Dig South on The New Frontier: 10 questions in 10 minutes,” hosted by JT White, Co-founder, CPO, Augie. Learn more: Podcast can be found on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and the website HERE; Book can be found HERE

ATRIUM, 2nd floor | CAMA Cast: Charleston Marketing Podcast
Mike Compton: co-founder / President of rūmbo advertising, a creative content marketing and strategy agency in Charleston and Tampa, and CAMA President.
Stephanie Barrow, founder of Stephanie Barrow Consulting, a digital marketing strategy agency based in Charleston CAMA past president.

ROOM 280, 2nd floor | Reforged Gaming Lounge
RGL Pop Up Featuring: Nintendo Switch, Playstation 5, Nintendo 64, SNES

ATRIUM, 2nd floor | Play2Code: Empowering Future Coders to Build Tomorrow’s Digital World – play2code.xyz
We don’t just build products; we create digital journeys that redefine boundaries and inspire innovation.

“Welcome to the New Frontier”
Stanfield Gray, founder, Dig South & Charleston Tech Week

Your Marvelous MCs:

Emmett Robinson Theater:
Stacey Bailey, Senior Consultant, The Intention Collective
Recital Hall
Juan Garzón, Managing Director, Innovate Charlotte 
Black Box Theater
Thomas Heath, Founder & Personal Branding Specialist, Thomas Heath Advisors

ABOUT WES CARTER
Wes Carter is the third-generation leader of Atlantic Packaging, the largest privately owned industrial packaging company in North America. Atlantic supports major consumer products packaging needs across virtually every manufacturing vertical, specializing in packaging optimization through technology and comprehensive programs to drive sustainable value.

Today, as the president of Atlantic Packaging, Wes is also the founder of and driving force behind A New Earth Project, the company’s defining framework that encompasses wellness, sustainability, and conservation initiatives to acknowledge that the health of our people and our planet are intertwined and that our positive actions today will benefit generations to come.Wes is an avid outdoorsman, lifelong surfer, and traveler who resides in Charleston, South Carolina. He serves on Boards of Directors for The Conservation Alliance, where Atlantic Packaging is a Pinnacle Member, WildAid, the California SB-54 Packaging Producer Responsibility Advisory Board, the Lowcountry Land Trust Board, and the UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Visitors in addition to other local and regional organizations working to shape a vibrant, resilient future for generations to come.

Track: Supply Chain, Emerging Tech, Materials Science, Sustainability, Culture

Nancey Trevanian Tsai, MD brings innovations for the benefit of humanity through creating choice, efficiencies, and joy. 

Dr. Mario Roxas serves as Director of Scientific & Medical Affairs at Thorne. With over 25 years in the nutrition and botanical medicine industry and his years in private practice, Dr. Roxas brings a wealth of both clinical and commercial experience to his role. Dr. Roxas received his Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine from the National University of Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon, where he also completed his residency in Family Medicine. He maintained medical practices in Oregon and Idaho collectively for over 15 years. During his time in practice, he focused on digestive and endocrine-related disorders, including inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes, thyroid issues, and adrenal dysfunction. He also served as a medical advisor for several leading nutraceutical companies. READ MORE: dignation.co

David Thedinga is a seasoned sales and marketing leader with a proven track record of driving revenue growth to high eight figures. His innovative strategies and successful programs have been widely adopted in his previous organization, while his leadership and recruitment efforts consistently engage and empower CEOs and business owners. He is now in the process of founding Tikvah Health and Wellness, a company dedicated to improving health insurance accessibility through non-conventional medical approaches.Inspired by his own journey of finding hope outside conventional medicine, Thedinga realized that many people lacked the financial support and guidance to find help on their own, leading him to start Tikvah Health. From 2003 to 2022, Thedinga held various roles at American Family Insurance, including Sales Leader, where he managed high-performing teams across multiple states, generating annual revenues of $60-80 million. With over 20 years in sales, he has earned numerous accolades. He holds an undergraduate degree from UNLV and an MBA from Colorado State University.

Thomas Cutler, Vice President, Warner Bros. Discovery, Partner, Gentlemen SmugglersEmmy award-winning media executive who’s been instrumental in building one of the fastest growing brands in television. With a specialization in true crime content and expertise in strategic and creative development, he uses IP to build successful businesses. Gentlemen Smugglers is inspired by one of America’s true legends, Barry “Flash” Foy. Barry’s crew was infamous for sailing from Jamaica to Lebanon and owning the East Coast cannabis market. For a dozen years, these southern entrepreneurs outran the FBI, DEA, Interpol, and Customs and in a very real way, were the dispensaries of their time until Operation Jackpot, the opening act in President Reagan’s War on Drugs, brought them down. The eponymous brand now focuses on marijuana products where it’s legal and hemp products everywhere else. 

MC: Juan Garzón, Managing Director, Innovate Charlotte
Judges

• Bill Drohan, Chairman, Deal Flow Committee, Charleston Angel Partner
• Joe Alalou, Co-founder and General Partner, Daring Ventures
• Krissa Watry, Co-Founder / CEO of Dynepic

Joe Alalou is Co-founder and General Partner at Daring Ventures in New York City. A former community college dropout and Enterprise rental car washer turned Columbia grad and Lazard (NYSE: LAZ) investment banker, Joe’s journey gave him a firsthand education in America’s opportunity gap. At Lazard, he advised on over $15B in M&A transactions before founding Wall St. After Community College (WACC), helping overlooked students break into elite schools and finance careers. Joe’s ability to spot exceptional hidden talent—shaped by lived experience—now fuels his investment approach at Daring Ventures.

Krissa Watry, Co-Founder / CEO of Dynepic, Inc., is a US Air Force veteran, rocket scientist, and multi-preneur with more than a decade’s experience as a technology executive founding multiple companies and commercializing a multitude of hardware and software products. Krissa holds 15 patents and was named XR Leader of the Year in 2023.

ALBON
Founder: Tom Bessell
Headquarters: Sydney, Australia
Website: albon.com.au
At ALBON, we reverse climate change, empowering Australian businesses to reduce their environmental impact and drive sustainability.

BEEnevolent
Founder: Sade Shofidiya
Headquarters: Savannah, GA
Website: beenevolentapp.com
BEEnevolent provides IoT solutions for beekeepers experiencing colony loss. We design and sell high-technology beehives that mimic the bees’ natural environment and operate with minimal operator intervention or the need for high levels of skill and experience. We also provide support tools via an online community that encourages shared learning and interconnectivity amongst beekeepers and connects all in Environmental Justice. Additionally, we provide V/R trainings for apiculture workforce development.

CareHome
Founder: Aaron (AJ) Trelease
Headquarters: Wilmington, NC
Website: carehomehealthsolutions.com
CareHome Health Solutions is a wellness innovation company specializing in agetech to enhance the quality of life for seniors and their caregivers. Our flagship product, the Graciela, is a smart medication management device that leverages advanced technology, including 5G connectivity, to simplify and secure the process of dispensing medications. The device tracks schedules, ensures proper dosage, and provides real-time notifications to both users and caregivers if medications are missed or taken incorrectly.

CogBias AI
Founder: Anatoly Shilman
Headquarters: Atlanta, GA
Website: cogbias.ai
Our platform allows users to turn their unconscious cognitive biases from liabilities into assets. We provide a cutting-edge solution that surpasses traditional GPT-based platforms. Grounded in rigorous scientific research and advanced statistical techniques, our platform accurately detects cognitive biases and heuristics in market research questions, interviews, and email communications. By utilizing objective mathematical models based on linguistic feature frequencies, we deliver unbiased insights crucial for making informed strategic decisions.

Contextual
Founder: Andrew Brooks
Headquarters: Leesburg, VA
Website: contextual.io
Contextual is a fully managed, visual/low code platform for designing, developing and deploying complete AI Orchestration, AI Automation, and Agentic AI systems. From simply adding AI intelligence into existing tasks, functions, or processes to recreating entire systems with AI at the core or replacing underperforming SaaS or on-premise software, Contextual dramatically accelerates time-to-value and time-to-ROI. We specifically focus on enabling the tens of thousands of technology advisors, including Digital Agencies, Managed Services Providers and IT Consultants, who will sit at the center of the AI transformation for mid market companies across any number of industries.

As AI continues to revolutionize industries, business leaders are faced with the challenge of adapting existing businesses and products to thrive in an AI-driven world. This panel will explore the profound implications of AI for business strategy, addressing how companies can evolve their operations, reimagine products, and stay competitive in a rapidly changing landscape. Join us as industry experts share insights and actionable advice for leveraging AI to unlock new opportunities and future-proof your business.

Key Takeaways

1. Learn how AI can drive innovation, improve efficiency, and create a competitive advantage while effectively managing data as a vital asset.
2. Understand the ethical implications of AI, strategies for building trust, and its impact on workforce dynamics.
3. Gain actionable insights to adapt your business and integrate AI seamlessly into your strategy for future success.

Track: AI, Business Strategy

The Mad Scientist: Matthew Gough is a co-founder at Spindle. He started his first company out of college and never stopped, experiencing several exits (and several failures) followed by Fortune 500 consulting stints and eventually returning to his roots – building startups. His passion for data and transformative concepts fueled the creation of five ventures, where he played pivotal roles as founder, CEO, mentor, advisor, and investor, amassing over $250M in collective funding. At Spindle, he illuminates the startup path, seamlessly blending big ideas with practical experience and data-driven insights to guide companies toward success. At the end of the day, Matt wants to help build startups not run startups.

Matt Rosa – Founder & CEO of Alita
Matt is a healthcare technology expert who has built his career at the intersection of innovation and impact. Specializing in automation, artificial intelligence, and blockchain solutions, he has driven record-breaking growth at leading health tech startups in post-acute care, helping three achieve unicorn status. As a top-performing sales leader, Matt has negotiated some of the largest deals in the industry while working directly with technology teams to turn customer insights into real product innovation. His strong technical knowledge allows him to bridge the gap between operators and developers, pushing the boundaries of what software can deliver for healthcare organizations. His healthcare expertise is grounded in years spent working side-by-side with Owners, Operators, and Nurses on the front lines, gaining a deep, practical understanding of the real challenges healthcare organizations face. This frontline insight fuels the AI solutions Matt now builds, helping post-acute care organizations solve their most complex problems and drive meaningful results at scale.

David Boardman is the visionary founder and CEO of EveryPoint, with the mission that Every Point on the planet will be digitized every second of every day. With the
entrepreneurial mindset for developing business solutions at scale, David has
successfully commercialized EveryPoint’s proprietary 3D reconstruction algorithms,
digitizing large-scale, industrial environments. From pallets to stockpiles, from haul
trucks to rail cars, EveryPoint’s intelligent software is deployed to fill gaps in real-time information about global supply chain assets. As an innovator in edge processing, David introduced the world’s first enterprise scanning app on the iPhone 4. Beginning in 2012 as a boot-strapped startup, David strategically scaled the enterprise SaaS platform, StockpileReports.com, to serve diverse business and government segments. StockpileReports.com digitizes more than a billion dollars of bulk assets each month with a fully automated workflow using
imagery from iPhones, drones and installed cameras. By introducing SR Measure
Professional, thousands of individuals around the globe now measure stockpile volumes in seconds every day using an iPhone and EveryPoint’s proprietary iOS measurement technology.

Grady Johnson is the executive director of the Harbor Entrepreneur Center. Prior to joining the staff of the center, Johnson served as group publisher of SC Biz News. Johnson is one of the founding partners of the Charleston Regional Business Journal and oversaw the creation of the
SC Biz News brand and statewide expansion to include multiple titles and brands serving the business news niche in the Carolinas.
Johnson is a lifelong resident of the Charleston region, and prior to starting the Business Journal, he owned and operated numerous small businesses including Island Images Surf Shop in Mount Pleasant.
Johnson is a graduate of Clemson University and is past president of the Alliance of Area Business Publications, the international trade organization serving business publications, as well as a past board member of the Charleston Regional Development Alliance, SustainSC, the Center for Women and past chair of the Palmetto Conservation Foundation, the builders of the Palmetto Trail. The Harbor Entrepreneur Center occupies 36,000 sq.ft of space in Mt Pleasant, SC and is the driving force for entrepreneurial innovation in the Charleston region. With the mission to create Collision! that empowers entrepreneurs to thrive at every step of the journey. By immersing them in a vibrant ecosystem of like-minded peers, experienced mentors and subject-matter experts, the Harbor provides a community where entrepreneurs can flourish through business accelerators, peer advisory groups, collaborative workspace, educational initiatives, and
engaging social events.

Sean Tracey is Co-Owner of Tracey Express Logistics LLC and has 20 + years of experience in transportation working for an airline and aviation authority before opening a small logistics company in 2020. His company focuses on dedicated truckload freight and specializes in TVAL pharmaceutical, medical supplies, hazmat, and TSA cargo.
Outside of logistics, he enjoys watching Liverpool FC with his sons and attending live music performances with his wife.

Track: Business, Supply Chain, Inventory Management, Merchandising

MC: Juan Garzón, Managing Director, Innovate Charlotte
Judges: TBA
Track: Startups, Pitching, Demos, Funding, Scaling

Eskuad
Founder: Max Antonio Echeverría Sierra
Headquarters: Atlanta, GA
Website: eskuad.com
Imagine you are in the middle of nowhere working with your squad, taking care of them, while writing data into a notepad for your boss. You might not finish, so you end up building a report and sending an email, at home two hours later. This is a typical day for a field operator. We are eskuad, we help simplify teamwork for field operations, by democratizing BI and AI tools streamlining data collection and report creation, reducing reworks, retyping and helping make better decisions. When you are running field operations, it’s likely that your process is not efficient, cost effective and your employees are tired. It means reworks, retyping, and untimed management decisions, in an industry that loses over 12 billion dollars every year. Eskuad’s SaaS Automates those processes. Simplifying Teamwork, bringing timely online insights, saving time, and making the work easier for field operators. In forestry and maritime, they won’t need to worry about connectivity while working, and they are already saving 15% in operational costs, while keeping a nice UX for field operators that perform under the sun or in the middle of a storm, with their big muscular fingers with calluses. Our business model is B2B SaaS with a 60 dollar license per user per month.

Fuel Well
Founder: Serhii Dubinevych
Headquarters: Charlotte, NC
Website: fuel-well.com
FuelWell is a fuel combustion improvement technology plug-in devices range for various internal combustion engines. Reduces fuel consumption by up to 20% and CO2 emission by 15%.We improve the fuel and environmental efficiency of vehicles on the aftermarket by upgrading internal combustion engines with an additional FUELWELL device that reduces fuel consumption and reduces emissions of harmful substances.

Heartbeat Tech
Founder: Kristen Quinn
Headquarters: Charleston, SC
Website: heartbeattechsc.com
The Heartbeat Tech™ team is an interdisciplinary, diverse, and experienced team of surgeons, medical students, engineers, and designers who are collaborating to improve medical outcomes. Leveraging their first-hand experiences in the medical field as well as their Human-Centered Design training, the team is uniquely positioned to make lasting impacts on healthcare outcomes. The team functions at the intersection between healthcare and design and strives to create innovative solutions, one unmet need at a time.

Averi AI
Founder: Tommy Tannenbaum
Headquarters: Charleston, SC
Website: https://www.averi.ai/
Averi AI is a new way of running marketing. One simple-to-use and AI-native marketing management platform to design strategy, on-brand content, activate teams & tools, and manage efficient marketing operations. All in one place.

Track: Digital Marketing, AI, Hospitality, Social Media, Influencers

This session explores how businesses can leverage digital strategies to engage modern travelers. It highlights the importance of personalized content, social media, SEO, and data-driven insights to enhance customer experiences. The panel discusses emerging technologies like AI, chatbots, and automation in travel marketing, emphasizing the role of mobile-first strategies and influencer partnerships. It also covers the significance of user-generated content, real-time engagement, and multi-channel marketing to build brand loyalty. By adopting these tactics, businesses can effectively reach and convert today’s digitally savvy travelers.

Key Takeaways:
Personalization is Key – Tailor content and offers based on traveler preferences and behavior to enhance engagement.
Leverage Social Media & Influencers – Utilize platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube to inspire and attract travelers.
Optimize for Mobile – Ensure seamless experiences with mobile-friendly websites, apps, and booking processes.
Harness AI & Automation – Use chatbots, predictive analytics, and automation to streamline marketing efforts.
Encourage User-Generated Content – Leverage reviews, photos, and videos to build trust and authenticity.
Master Multi-Channel Marketing – Integrate email, SMS, social media, and paid ads for a cohesive strategy.
Emphasize Real-Time Engagement – Respond to inquiries, trends, and feedback quickly to enhance customer experience.

Barbara Skidmore, principal of Outside Center Consulting and influencer @blushingalpacas, @chucktownfoodie and @skidmorediaries knows the value of social media and technology and how to make it work for small to medium size businesses. Not only has she grown her own brand from zero to 48.5k followers through travel and food influencing but she also works with brands, influencers and businesses to leverage the power of social media to produce a documented return on investment. Additionally, Barbara Skidmore has established bylines in Condé Nast Traveler, Eater, and OpenTable.

As a partner at Pinckney Harmon, Glenn Harmon leads the digital marketing strategy and analytics for the agency. His relevant expertise is in data management and analysis, SEO, PPC, social media, web design, account-based marketing, and mixed media. Glenn holds a degree in Social Science with a focus on Data Science and Mathematics. He has over 15 years of experience in marketing, product design, and manufacturing, working with diverse and complex industries and applications. His career path has been an eclectic mix of advanced manufacturing and digital development/marketing. The result has been unique skillset and proficiency in digital marketing technologies, software and physical product development, ERP/CRM integrations, Six Sigma, ISO 9001:2015, responsive web design, and cloud-based IT services.

Michael Rentz is the Chief Revenue Officer at Gnosis Freight. He joined the company in the Summer of 2020. Before joining Gnosis, he got his start in the industry with the South Carolina Ports Authority and Maersk. He left Maersk in 2018 to pursue his own endeavors, which eventually led him back to Charleston, SC, where he worked for Techstars in an attempt to stand up the first ever Supply Chain and Logistics Accelerator. The pandemic put an unexpected halt to that, which is when he fortuitously
met Austin McCombs (CEO/Founder of Gnosis) and Jake Hoffman (CTO of Gnosis).

Baron leads the Supply Chain solutions at CONA Services, which hosts Enterprise IT Applications for the North America Coca Cola Bottling system. The scale of this system is extensive producing over a billion cases of product per year to over 500,000 outlets resulting in many billions of dollars in revenue. Baron is responsible leading teams and IT solutions for Supply Chain Planning, Production Execution, Asset Maintenance, Warehousing, Transportation and Delivery Execution. In this role as IT Systems Leader, Baron as worked with niche supply chain startups, in-house built solutions, as well as some of the largest Enterprise Solution providers on the market today. Here at DigSouth, Baron looks forward to sharing insights and experiences in technology gained over a career spanning multiple decades and continents around the globe.

MC: Juan Garzón, Managing Director, Innovate Charlotte
Judges: TBA
Track: Startups, Pitching, Demos, Funding, Scaling

IOVue
Mark Semler, CEO
Website: iovue.io
HQ: Mount Pleasant, SC
IOVue: A Better Vue of Intraocular Pressure
IOVue is building the next generation of glaucoma monitoring. Our device offers a patient-friendly alternative to traditional tonometry — no air puff, no eye drops, and no corneal contact. Designed for both clinical and at-home use, IOVue delivers real-time, continuous intraocular pressure (IOP) readings, with automatic data upload to a secure cloud platform.
This is more than a new tool — it’s a smarter way to manage one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide. With early detection and ongoing monitoring, physicians can intervene before irreversible vision loss occurs. Our subscription-based model not only enables recurring revenue but empowers care teams with actionable insights from anywhere. And with a platform built for future expansion, our core sensing technology has the potential to support the early detection and management of other ocular and neurological diseases. We’re currently in the R&D and clinical phase, with FDA clearance and market launch projected in 2.5 years. With a strong IP position, experienced leadership, and a clear go-to-market plan, IOVue is positioned to transform glaucoma care and redefine the standard for ocular health monitoring.

Nuream
Founder: Rob Cooley
Headquarters: Wilmington, NC
Website: nuream.com
Nuream solves the sleep epidemic today. Sleep is critical to every system in the body. More than 50% of people state they do not sleep well enough. Short term poor sleep is dangerous, chronic sleep loss is deadly. Current SleepTech tools and methodologies are invasive, inaccurate and do not provide the necessary data to assess and improve true sleep categorization information. Nuream delivers transformative, advance neurosensing materials to allow sleep data collection as easy as putting your head on your pillow at night. We will be able to collect, protect, curate and deliver sleep information to truly assess sleep stages in a long-term view. With this sleep data, we can then apply deep neuro ML/AI to predict sleep improvement opportunities.

Reel Analytics
Founder: Cory Yates 
Headquarters: Atlanta, GA
Website: reel-analytics.net
Reel Analytics (formerly Recruiting Analytics) is a sports data and technology company. We’re changing the game for athletes and sports organizations by using patented AI-powered computer vision technology to extract athleticism data from video, addressing the $18B misevaluation problem in collegiate and professional sports. Traditional evaluation tools like the stopwatch, the tape measure, and the scale haven’t evolved since the early 1900s, resulting in a staggering 67% misevaluation rate. This costs organizations billions in salaries, scholarships, and financial aid, while leaving millions of talented athletes unnoticed.

Renoverse
Founder: Nola Solomon 
Headquarters: Charleston, SC
Website: renoverse.ai
Renoverse AI is renovation assistant built for homeowners to simplify the overwhelm and time wastage in planning renovations with an education layer to help them understand what they don’t know or answer any question they have along the way. Through an interactive and collaborative AI experience, homeowners can start projects (our MVP is bathroom) and design the space they want to renovate by leaning on the GenAI helper to guide them through decisions and generate ideas and visualizations that they can interact with and make changes to.

Adam Constantine is the Founder and CEO of ACE Creatives, a full-service social media agency crafting digital content to maximize ROI and brand affinity. With a decade of experience, Adam has curated captivating content for creators, brands, and Fortune 500 companies, including MrBeast, Amazon, and Champion. Since founding ACE Creatives in 2017, Adam has created digital strategies, social media, and full-scale productions across the retail/e-commerce, hospitality, and automotive industries. A 3x Telly Awards recipient, with a 6’8″ frame and an ever-growing shoe collection, Adam is passionate about the art of digital storytelling and strategies for building a powerful social media presence that connects brands with audiences that matter the most.

Margaret Seeley, Founder, LOULOU
Margaret is a relentless creator—part inventor, part storyteller, and always a visionary. She builds brands, designs spaces, crafts experiences, and develops products with one unwavering purpose: to connect people to something bigger than themselves. Whether as a tech innovator, a wellness advocate, or a strategic thinker, Margaret approaches every project with the belief that great ideas don’t just solve problems—they inspire movements. A serial entrepreneur, Margaret has mastered the art of hospitality from every angle—brand builder, owner, and operator. She has not only scaled her own multi-location brand but has also been the spark behind countless others, helping businesses not just grow, but thrive with purpose. Seeing the hospitality industry’s ongoing struggle with staffing, Margaret founded LOULOU AI with a bold vision: to reimagine operations and elevate guest experiences through innovation. For Margaret, it’s not just about solving a problem; it’s about challenging the norm and building something extraordinary. Because at the heart of everything she does is a belief in creating connections, sparking imagination, and leaving the world a little better than she found it.

As a Founder and Managing Partner at Digital Ignite, Chris Clark is at the forefront of digital innovation, combining strategic foresight with a relentless focus on measurable performance. Under his and business Partner Mike Samet’s leadership, Digital Ignite has evolved into a premier marketing performance agency renowned for integrating data science, AI, and modern marketing channels into full-funnel campaigns that deliver real, tangible results. Specializing in advanced programmatic media solutions, AI/ML-driven audience insights, CTV/OTT advertising, social media marketing, and comprehensive analytics, DI ensures that every campaign is backed by data intelligence and cutting-edge technology. Their forward-thinking approach empowers clients to navigate the ever-changing digital landscape confidently and precisely. Since 2013, Chris has thrived amid the rapid evolution of MARTECH, content consumption trends, and consumer behavior, guiding clients across diverse industries including travel and tourism, sports and entertainment, consumer products, education, and hospitality. This commitment to innovation and performance has led Digital Ignite to partner with some of the world’s most respected brands, including Le Creuset, Love’s Travel Stops, Diamond Baseball Holdings, Hoover Vacuums, and many others all while calling Charleston home. Chris’s passion lies in continuously pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in marketing, helping brands grow by embracing technology, data, and creative strategy in equal measure. With a foundation built on results, ingenuity, and adaptability, he remains a driving force in redefining success for clients in today’s complex digital economy.

Matthew Grason is the founder of Level Up Video where AI Video Clones that look and sound exactly like you increase results in your business while you spend less time in the office. After a 5 minute filming session, you never need to film again. From this, your AI clone is ready to find leads, warm up prospects, train your team, or deliver announcements to your clients. When you’re out of the office your clone can be working for you, and even your closest family won’t be able to tell the difference between you and your clone. Level Up AI was born when Matthew was working at Stanford University, and his cofounder was working on the video team at Facebook. Realizing how rapidly video was growing, they took proprietary knowledge to create a new filming system, and with the addition of AI, creating videos is easier than ever. Film once, and create hundreds of videos in minutes. For hundreds of years busy professionals have dreamed about cloning to make work easier, and now with AI, you CAN clone yourself. Whatever your industry, or whoever your clients are, your AI clone can complete tasks you hate. Double sales, put marketing on autopilot, or finally get the time to train each employee individually. If you can dream it, your clone can do it. Schedule your 5 minute filming at levelupvideo.org

Technology and Philanthropy share a common goal to advance the human condition and quality of life. How are technologists drawn to become philanthropists? What are ways that an entrepreneur can expand their business in a manner that complements their philanthropic pursuits?

What are ways giving gives back to the entrepreneur (tax, goodwill, contentment)?

Rethink AI
Founder: Bart Cant 
Headquarters: Charlotte, NC
Website: msg2ai.xyz
Msg2Ai is an innovative text messaging assistant that leverages advanced AI and a proprietary knowledge base to provide personalized, on-demand assistance. Designed for flexibility and efficiency, it transforms ordinary text conversations into productive interactions across various industries, including hospitality, and event management. 

Thrive Data
Founder: Jackie McKelvey
Headquarters: Charleston, SC
Website: thrivedata.ai
Thrive is transforming legal workflows through an advanced AI-powered platform designed to streamline high-volume document analysis and management for personal injury and medical malpractice cases. By leveraging knowledge graphs enriched with medical ontologies and standards of care, Thrive helps legal teams and medical expert witnesses extract key insights from unstructured data like medical records and legal documents.

Tranzlation AI
Founder: Ron Nussbaum
Headquarters: Emerald Isle, NC
Website: tranzlationai.com
TranzlationAI is a real-time voice and text translation platform built specifically for the trades. Designed for fast-paced, multilingual jobsites, it eliminates miscommunication between field crews, foremen, and subcontractors, improving safety, reducing rework, and keeping projects on track. Unlike generic tools, TranzlationAI is trained on construction-specific language, works offline, and auto-logs communication for compliance and accountability.

TRaVis Attack Surface Management
Founder: Aaron Birnbaum
Headquarters: Concorde, NC
Website: travisasm.com
TRaViS provides a detailed picture of external vulnerabilities in web applications, APIs, websites, and other systems. There are many working parts to TRaViS including recon, vulnerability scanning, Dark Web intelligence and more. TRaViS acts like a human hacker with tools and techniques developed and used by security professionals, with enhancements and Artificial Intelligence to help provide remediation advice, time, and cost.

At Outsyde we recognize the opportunity to shift land preservation standards. We want to combine forest management with blockchain to foster positive change in emissions trading.

Outsyde values its properties not based on the resources they could yield, but rather on the tonnage of carbon they sequester. We focus on restoration to unlock the greatest environmental potential of each of our properties.

Going into 2023, Outsyde will oversee more than US$50 million in land assets across the country, with 92% of every investment dollar spent on acquiring and conserving at-risk lands.

How We Do It

Outsyde maximizes the potential environmental and financial value of our properties by implementing a number of strategies:

• Carbon Offsets
• Forest Protection and Restoration
• Mitigation Banks
• Low-Impact Solar
• Sustainable Forestry Recreation

Aaron Bumgarner is Chairman of the Board and Founder of Outsyde Global Inc., soon to be Yadkin Inc., a real estate fintech focused on tokenizing agriculture and forestland assets into liquid and tradable assets. Aaron is a proud North Carolina native and grew up on the family farm in the mountains of North Carolina, USA. Aaron has over 20 years of experience in designing and implementing projects focused on forest management for wildlife for private landowners in the southeast United States. Since early 2019, Aaron has been fully committed to leading Outsyde Global, Inc., a company with a core strategy of tokenization of agriculture and forestlands to build land and natural resources into liquid and tradable assets. 

In 2023 Outsyde was named one of the top 50 technology companies globally to watch by Price Waterhouse Cooper. From boots on the ground to visionary and strategic guidance, Aaron is skillful and very familiar with all aspects of land conservation,  forest management, private property rights, financial markets, outdoor industry, climate tech, alternative investments, conservation, carbon/biodiversity markets and digital assets. Aaron’s unique background has positioned him in a strategic position to recognize opportunities in early stage companies focused on sustainability, climate tech and supporting companies via strategic partnerships within his vast network. Aaron’s Angel investing philosophy is “focus on the space that you know inside out!” A graduate of Lenoir Rhyne College in Hickory, NC Aaron holds a degree in Business Marketing and Finance. Aaron splits his time between between Richmond VA and Emerald Isle, NC, with his wife, daughter, and, his Foxhound sidekick “Molly.”

Build Your Story Workshop:
What if you could have an instant advantage over all your competition? What if you could quadruple appointments, shorten sales cycles, and skyrocket profits, all through the application of one powerful technique? If you need this kind of edge, “Build Your Story Playbook®” provides the breakthrough you’ve been looking for. Shift away from the uncomfortable bulldog tactics of the past, to a new, relaxed, and scientifically proven methodology that consistently multiplies results, guaranteed.

Security professionals will:

1. Address the increasing threats of cyber attacks and data breaches.
2. Offer strategies for safeguarding digital assets and maintaining customer trust.
3. Explore global data protection laws like GDPR and CCPA.
4. Discuss how compliance not only avoids penalties but also enhances brand reputation and customer loyalty.
5. Investigate how emerging technologies like AI and blockchain are being used to detect and prevent cyber threats. Learn how adopting these technologies can fortify defenses and create business opportunities.

Carter T. Kennedy
A serial entrepreneur with a passion for software, Carter has built SaaS businesses for over a decade, combining his 35+ years of expertise in finance, management, compliance, audits, fundraising, high frequency algorithmic trading and managing software teams.
Before investing $MM of his personal money into Soloinsight, Carter founded a SaaS platform called Airtight Compliance, which automates compliance processes for hedge funds and Registered Investment Advisors. Carter entered the world of finance after graduating from Hamilton College, where he provided fixed
income options trading strategies to institutional customers. As the founder and manager of proprietary trading firm Tuscarora Trading, which specialized in trading debt options, and as an algorithmic trader with Tuscarora Capital Management, he traded money for Goldman Sachs and other professional investors. Under his leadership, TCM raised $25M from institutional investors and high net worth individuals. Goldman Sachs also contributed $5M to Carter’s Commodity Trading Advisory. He lead Soloinsight’s fundraising to the tune of more than $10M from high net worth investors, including $MM from Stanley Black and Decker’s venture capital arm, Stanley Ventures. Under his leadership, the company grew from 15 to 112 employees, converted several Fortune 500 companies and Class A portfolios and healthcare chains into happy customers, won several awards including the SIA New Product Award, Chicago Innovation Award, and 4th Revolution Award in addition to being granted 2 patents.

What if the key to avoiding burnout and unlocking sustained business success lies in leveling-up your consciousness?

Krissa Watry, Co-Founder and CEO of Dynepic, Inc., and the first-ever winner of Dig South’s Wild Pitch (2014), has faced the highs and lows of entrepreneurship—failure, sexism, self-doubt, and more. Her story isn’t about an “overnight success,” but rather about the grit, evolution, and sacrifices that come with years of hard work and learning.

In this talk, Krissa will share how embracing self-care, balance, and conscious leadership can help entrepreneurs navigate the inevitable challenges of building and scaling a business. Through her own journey, she will reveal four proven ways to level-up your mindset, foresee your business’s path, and harness inner strength to overcome obstacles.

Whether you’re just starting out or scaling your business, join us for a transformative session that combines spiritual growth and entrepreneurial wisdom to empower your journey. 

Krissa’s bio:

Krissa Watry, Co-Founder / CEO of Dynepic, Inc., is a US Air Force veteran, rocket scientist, and multi-preneur with more than a decade’s experience as a technology executive founding multiple companies and commercializing a multitude of hardware and software products. Krissa holds 15 patents and was named XR Leader of the Year in 2023.

Company description:

Dynepic, Inc. is a venture-backed technology company working to level up humanity by powering the future of multi-dimensional knowledge. Dynepic is recognized as a global leader in the eXtended Reality (XR) space and its MOTAR Platform serves the US military and Fortune 500 clients. Dynepic was named Best Metaverse Enterprise Solution in 2024 and is a two-time honoree on the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing private companies in America and the Vet 100.

Track: Biohacking, HealthTech, Wellness, Marketing

They’ve built fast. They’ve scaled smart. And they’re redefining what it means to launch a tech company in the Lowcountry. From healthcare analytics and freight automation to social impact and defense tech, these four founders are proving that Charleston doesn’t just sip sweet tea and mint juleps — it builds serious startups.

Join Jonathan Yantis (QuicksortRx), Jeremy Berman (GoodUnited), Krissa Watry (Dynepic), and Austin McCombs (Gnosis Freight – invite pending) as they trade candid stories about growth, grit, and why one of them left Charleston to chase the dream somewhere else. No filters, no fluff — just the real talk on what it takes to build bold in 2025.

What You’ll Learn:

• How to scale outside traditional tech hubs (and why Charleston works… until it doesn’t)
• The founder mindset: lessons in leadership, hiring, and staying sane
• Fundraising in the Southeast — tips, traps, and tactical pivots
• Cross-industry insights from SaaS to social good to defense tech

Jonathan Yantis, the co-founder and CEO of QuicksortRx, is a Charleston native who turned his early passion for technology into a transformative career in healthcare. As a network architect at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), Yantis gained extensive insights into healthcare operations. His decision to start QuicksortRx came once he met MUSC pharmacist, Matt Hebbard, and learned about the outdated state of pharmacy supply chain management. In 2018, Yantis and Hebbard co-founded QuicksortRx within MUSC, aiming to simplify pharmaceutical purchasing by navigating complex pricing structures and uncovering savings opportunities. The startup’s immediate success in generating significant cost savings at MUSC led Yantis to commercialize the technology and assemble a team of expert pharmacists who use the software’s insights to help health systems optimize their pharmacy supply chain. Under Yantis’ leadership, QuicksortRx has enabled over $150 million in savings across over 35 hospital systems nationwide. Yantis remains committed to his community and the broader healthcare sector, driven by a need to create tech solutions for complex healthcare challenges.

Jeremy Berman, CEO / Co-founder / GoodUnited
I’m an entrepreneur, author, speaker, community builder, and social fundraising expert. I’m on a mission to help nonprofits build relationships and increase revenue in social networks.

Krissa Watry, Co-Founder / CEO of Dynepic, Inc., is a US Air Force veteran, rocket scientist, and multi-preneur with more than a decade’s experience as a technology executive founding multiple companies and commercializing a multitude of hardware and software products. Krissa holds 15 patents and was named XR Leader of the Year in 2023.

Thomas is the Chief Technology Officer at Strolid, a company that engages car buyers on behalf of dealers, making it easier to take care of the customers in the store. He is the co-author of vCon, a key component in data-centric artificial intelligence and machine learning, and a leader of teams that design and develop cutting-edge communication solutions. In both roles, Thomas thinks you should listen to customers. For real. With over 30 years of experience in the real time communications space, Thomas has been a noteworthy leader and a founder of several companies that have gone public or have been acquired. He has received multiple awards and 15 patents for his innovative work in VoIP, SIP, ADSL, and voice architecture. He is passionate about creating products that enhance customer experience, agent satisfaction, and productivity. He holds a degree from the University of Massachusetts and currently resides on Cape Cod.

Jeff Pulver is a tech industry icon, a pioneer in the field of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), and a leading advocate for internet freedom. In the late 1990s, Pulver saw the potential for VoIP to revolutionize the way we communicate and founded the company Vonage, one of the first VoIP service providers. As VoIP began to gain traction, Pulver faced resistance from traditional telephone companies and regulators. In 2003, he took on the establishment and petitioned the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). In response, in 2004, The FCC issued the “Pulver Order,” which ensured that VoIP services would not be subject to traditional telephone regulation. This decision paved the way for the widespread adoption of VoIP and transformed the way we communicate. Pulver has an impressive career spanning more than 30 years, having been involved in multiple startups, and is one of the most well-known figures in the telecom and blockchain industries. He is recognized as a pioneer in the world of communications technology and ‌one of the most famous and renowned figures in the voice-over-IP (VoIP), having been involved in multiple startups globally. As a speaker and thought leader, Jeff is known for his forward-looking approach and passion for technology. He continues to inspire and influence the industry, making him a sought-after speaker and a valuable asset to any organization.

Whether you’re running product across time zones, producing a broadcast package for the Super Bowl, or scaling a startup from your kitchen table, building a top-tier tech team in a remote world takes more than Slack channels and good WiFi. Join Amy Jordan (formerly CNN Sports), Carrie Jaquith (Global Head of Product at Abaxx), and Joy Sybesma (Founder of ScaleJOY) for a no-fluff conversation on what it really takes to attract, lead, and retain badass talent in the new era of distributed work. Expect battle-tested tactics, spicy truths, and a few “you had to be there” moments.

This one’s for founders, product leads, producers, freelancers, and team builders who know geography is just a suggestion.

Joy Sybesma is the Founder & CEO of ScaleJOY, where they develop and deliver leadership development for CEOs, leadership teams and managers. Prior to founding her company, Joy served as the Chief People Officer for Dataiku and Kargo, which followed over a decade spent in L&D, talent and HR roles in the retail and media industries. Additionally, Joy co-founded an HR consulting firm called P5 Collaborative Consulting and Wendy Road, an invite-only Chief People Officer Community. Joy’s mission to help people, teams and companies become sustainably high performing! Joy is an alumnus of the University of Minnesota, a Harvard University certified leadership coach and lives on Isle of Palms with her family.

Carrie Jaquith (she/her) is a Global Head of Digital Product at Abaxx Technologies, an Advisory Board Member, and Educator. Previous to Abaxx Technologies, she was Global Head of Digital Enablement for AXA XL’s Data, Intelligence
& Analytics group and founded the first IT Emerging Tech group at Lazard Frères. She has taught at Columbia University’s Master of Science in Applied Analytics program, and collaborated with groups at Credit Suisse, Morgan Stanley, and Merrill Lynch.  She’s a member of Think Tanks focused on AI and genomics and is an Advisory Board Member of Smarter Markets Podcast TM . A classically trained musician, she is inspired by experiences in voice, video games, and machine shops for things that go fast.

Amy Jordan is a seasoned sports media and marketing professional with a passion for creating impactful partnerships and unforgettable live experiences. With over a decade at CNN Sports, she led global business development, sponsorship strategy, and production for some of the world’s biggest events — from the Olympics and World Cups to the Super Bowl and NBA Finals.
Amy has worked with top leagues like FIFA, the NFL, and F1, and has partnered with brands such as Ford, Verizon, and AT&T to bring their stories to life across platforms. Today, she consults on live events and branded content, including work with NCAA partners and Salon Culture Conversations at Cannes Lions. Amy thrives at the intersection of creativity, strategy, and execution — always focused on delivering results and elevating the game.

Rapid Growth The Lazy Way:
Do you feel you are on an endless hamster wheel, just trying to keep your business going? You provide an amazing product or service, but despite all your efforts and good intentions, your day-to-day is a constant struggle to find interested people, set yourself apart, and make the sale – all while competing against established industry players and dealing with customers who seem to care about only one thing… PRICE. In this game-changing keynote, you’ll walk away with a complete understanding of where you’ve been going wrong, and you’ll know the three instantly-implementable strategies to turn it all around.Track: Business, Rapid Growth, True Differentiation, Niche Marketing, Sales Systematization

Top Tier Media
We connect local business with local talent and local talent with opportunity. We strategically partner with local businesses in fashion, magazine publishing, nightlife, live events, and other creative adjacent industries to provide local freelancers opportunities to develop their portfolios and make meaningful connections.