
STANDARD SUMMIT BADGE
Dig South Summit Ticket
+ Annual Membership
$499
($599 after June 10)
VIP-INVESTOR BADGE
VIP-Investor Ticket
+ Annual Membership
$599 with code: EARLYBIRD
($699 after June 10)


$1,000,000 Wild Pitch
w/ startup world cup
Dig South’s Wild Pitch is the South’s Capitol of Capital. Show why you’re the Summit’s smartest investment. Win the chance to pitch for $1,000,000 in Silicon Valley at Startup World Cup.
Secure a Startup Alley exhibitor space and maximize your lead-gen, networking impact.
For details, email: info@digsouth.com
Application closed: April 1, 2026


Enter Wild Pitch for a chance to win a
$1,000,000 Investment Prize
at Pegasus Tech Ventures Startup World Cup


APPLY TO speak
AT DIG SOUTH
Dig South welcomes innovators building the future, top-shelf speakers working in real-time in emerging technology – AI, Energy, Fintech, Martech, Cybersecurity, Defense, Supply Chain, Healthtech, Transportation, Hospitality, Creative Industries, Investment Capital, Deep Experts & beyond.
We focus on Founders, Funders, Executives, Entrepreneurs Builders, and Experts currently in the trenches scaling companies.
Keynotes, Panels, Fireside Chats, Workshops, Demos and other formats welcome – get creative!
2026 Summit Theme
think biggeR!
Raise a round, find top talent, learn, and land new clients.
The 14th annual Dig South anchors the 2nd annual Charleston Tech Week, June 8–12, 2026!
Special Features
$1M PITCH OPPORTUNITY
Co-Sponsor: Charleston Angel Partners
Dig South’s Wild Pitch winner will pitch for a $1,000,000 investment prize at the Startup World Cup in Silicon Valley.
INVESTOR HOT SEAT PANEL
Sponsor: info@digsouth.com
Ticket included with 2-day badge, or buy a separate ticket. On sale soon.
Capital Access: From Angel to VC, PE and Beyond. Attend our rapid-fire forum featuring expert investors. Learn how deal flow really works in the South.
UPLOAD CHARLESTON SHINDIG:
Dig South’s signature welcome shindig since 2013
Sponsor: info@digsouth.com
Ticket included with 2-day badge, or buy a separate ticket. On sale soon.
The ultimate Summit kickoff. Mingle with top tech talent, founders, and VCs over spirits, local bites, and electric conversation. Charleston charm meets tech’s boldest minds.
SPEED-DATING FOR STARTUPS
Sponsor: info@digsouth.com
By invitation only.
Founders, entrepreneurs, and tech pros casually pitch to seasoned investors for a 3–minutes before rotating to the next table.
MONEYBALL: INVESTOR-VIP-SPEAKER SHINDIG
GAME ON!
Sponsor:
info@digsouth.com
Tickets included with badges at the VIP-Investor-Level and also sold separately.
Meet Top Funders – Angels, VCs, LPs, & Private Equity Players – Plus Dig South Speakers at Charleston’s Most Essential Investor Bash.
THINK BIGGER: CLOSING SHINDIG
Sponsor: info@digsouth.com
Ticket included with 2-day badge, or buy a separate ticket. On sale soon.
Couldn’t make the full Summit? Drop by the “Think Bigger Farewell Bash,” your last chance to do the network dance. Beer & wine included.
SUMMIT TRACKS
ALL THINGS AI & THEN SOME
Explore advancements in the cutting-edge cosmos of technology

AI, ML & Data Analytics: Dive into the world of AI, where robots aren’t just taking over—they’re making our lives smarter, faster, and easier. AI is the co-pilot we need, from deep learning to digital assistants.

Service & Hospitality: Experience how AI is turning customer service into customer wow! From personalized experiences to robot concierges, tech is serving up innovation with a side of southern charm.

Healthcare: Get ready to learn how AI-driven diagnostics, wearable tech, and telemedicine are revolutionizing how we stay healthy—and maybe even live forever!

Supply Chain, Transportation & Energy: Whether it’s drones delivering your dinner or AI optimizing global logistics, this track explores the tech that’s ensuring everything gets from point A to point B at the speed of innovation.

Sales & Marketing: Say goodbye to boring campaigns! This track is all about leveraging AI and data analytics to craft marketing strategies that are more engaging than a cat on a unicycle.

Dig South’s Wild Pitch: The South’s Capitol of Capital. Pitch for a chance to win a $1,000,000 investment prize at Pegasus Tech Ventures Startup World Cup. Take the stage and show why you’re the Summit’s smartest investment. Apply here.

Cybersecurity & Defense: As we boldly go where no data has gone before, this track ensures your secrets stay safe in the digital universe. Explore the latest in cyber armor and defense tech.

TBA

Fintech, Legal & Blockchain: Money and law are getting a futuristic facelift. Blockchain, smart contracts, and AI-driven legal tools are rewriting the rules of finance and justice—no time travel required (but maybe trekcoin.)

Push boundaries. Stretch. Grow. Invent the future at Dig South Tech Summit, June 11-12, 2026. Contact us for opportunities: info@digsouth.com
2026 Dig SOUTH TECH SUMMIT Agenda
* THINK BIGGER *
1. Grow your business
2. Get a job
3. Level up!
Founders, Funders, Executives, Experts, Coders, Creators, Builders
& Other Innovators!
THURSDAY
6.11.26
1:00 – 3:00pm
Sponsor:


Accelerating Career Readiness Pitch at Dig South Tech Summit
Charleston County High School and SC Technical College Students Practice Pitching Newly Created Products & Services
Hosted by College of Charleston, Simons Center Recital Hall. Supported by ATI Foundation and Charleston County Economic Development. Free to attend. Register HERE
Show more
Welcome to the 2026 Dig South Tech, Venture & AI Summit, anchoring the 2nd Annual Charleston Tech Week!
In our opening event, Charleston County High School Students and South Carolina Technical College students guided by personal mentors practice pitching newly created products & services.
The pitch is hosted in the Simons Center for the Arts at College of Charleston. Parking is available off street and in two garages, one on the corner of St. Philip and Calhoun Streets, and the other on the corner of St. Philip and George St. Ride share encouraged.
1:30 – 3:30pm
Presented by:

The Harbor Entrepreneur Center Accelerator Pitch
Hosted by College of Charleston, Albert Simons Center for the Arts Recital Hall, Free to attend. Must register HERE.
Show more
The HEC’s 16-week program is designed to help early-stage founders sharpen their focus, test ideas, find traction, and build with confidence. Each founder works alongside other entrepreneurs and gets direct access to mentors who’ve built companies from the ground up.
Welcome to the 2025 Dig South Tech Summit, anchoring the 1st Charleston Tech Week!
The pitch is hosted in the Simons Center for the Arts at College of Charleston. Parking is available off street and in two garages, one on the corner of St. Philip and Calhoun Streets, and the other on the corner of St. Philip and George St. Ride share encouraged.
Purchase a ticket for the full 2-day Summit at digsummit.com.
2:00 – 2:45pm
Sponsorship available
Speed-Dating for Startups + Investors
Hosted by College of Charleston, Cougar Mall, off of St. Philip Street behind Randolph Hall. Investors are invited to purchased a Summit badge and attend this event HERE.
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*Speed-dating is by invitation-only and is open to startups accepted into the Dig South Wild Pitch event, and accredited investors with Dig South Tech Summit badges. The purpose is to connect investors directly with founders from the most scalable companies at the Summit.
Welcome to the 2026 Dig South Tech Summit, anchoring the 2nd annual Charleston Tech Week! Hosted on the gorgeous outdoor Cougar Mall at College of Charleston, 44 George Street, the weather will be spectacular.
Parking is available in two garages, one on the corner of St. Philip and Calhoun Streets, and the other on the corner of St. Philip and George St, and off street. Rideshare encouraged.
Purchase a ticket for the full 2-day Summit at digsummit.com.
3:00 – 3:45pm
Sponsor:

INVESTOR HOT SEAT: Capital Access From Angel to VC & Beyond
>Moderator: Larkin Ellzey, Partner, Reed Smith
>Lindsey Peterson, Deal Flow Committee Member, Charleston Angel Partners
>Jeff Baxter, Partner & Head of Platform, 11 TribesVC
*This event is included w/2-day VIP ticket.
*Tickets also sold separately, and include the VIP-Investor-Speaker Shindig
Hosted by College of Charleston, Randolph Hall, 66 George Street.
BUY HERE
Show more
4:00 – 5:00pm
Sponsor:


Investor-VIP-Speaker Shindig at Dig South Tech, Venture & AI Summit
Hosted by College of Charleston, Randolph Hall, 66 George Street. Tickets included with 2-day VIP Summit badges. Also sold separately to guests and the general public. Very limited supply.
BUY 2-DAY BADGE HERE
BUY SEPARATE EVENT TICKET HERE
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Meet all 20 companies joining the Wild Pitch, speakers, regional and national investors, sponsors and other VIPs.
4:30 – 6:30pm
Presented by:

Hacker Theater with CharlestonHacks, Albert Simons Center for the Arts, Room 180, 54 St. Philip Street, Free to Attend. Must Register Here.
Show more
Contact CharlestonHacks for further details HERE.
5:00 – 7:00pm
Premium sponsorship available – Email info@digsouth.com
14th Annual “Upload Charleston” Welcome Shindig to Dig South Tech, Venture & AI Summit, Hosted by College of Charleston, Cougar Mall, 66 George Street
Meet speakers, founders, funders, innovators and all attendees.
Tickets included with 2-day Summit badges. Sold separately to guests and the general public. Limited supply.
BUY HERE

Show more
2-day Summit badges include one ticket to the Upload Shindig.
Purchase: GUEST TICKETS (includes beer, wine and light bites)
Welcome to the 2026 Dig South Tech, Venture & AI Summit, anchoring the 2nd annual Charleston Tech Week! Upload Charleston is our signature welcome event, hosted on the gorgeous outdoor Cougar Mall at College of Charleston, 44 George Street. Featuring DJ Milli Marco!
Parking is available in two garages, one on the corner of St. Philip and Calhoun Streets, and the other on the corner of St. Philip and George St, and off street. Rideshare encouraged.
Tickets are included with 2-day Summit badges and also sold separately to guests and the general public. Very limited supply.
Buy your guest tickets here
FRIDAY
6.12.26
8:00am – 5:30pm
Dig South Tech, Venture & AI Summit – Sessions
Hosted by College of Charleston, Albert Simons Center for the Arts, 161 Calhoun Street, Entrance on St. Philip Street.
Buy Tickets at DigNation.co
8:00 – 8:45am
(Simons Center)
Coffee sponsored by:

Doors open: Time to think bigger, much bigger.
Rev up for the Summit with complimentary coffee, meet new clients, make friends, have fun and get deals done.
Show more
Dig South Tech, Venture & AI Summit (June 11-12, 2026) 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 anchors the 2nd annual Charleston Tech Week, June 8-12, 2026.
9:00am – 4:00pm (Simons Center Atrium & Adjoining Rooms)
Exhibitors, Podcasts & Special Features at the Summit – To exhibit email: info@digsouth.com
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ATRIUM – 1st FLOOR
FIRST FLOOR ATRIUM
ATRIUM, 1st floor | Booth 2
ATRIUM, 1st floor | Booth 3
ATRIUM, 1st floor | Booth 4
ROOM 175, 1st floor | Wild Pitch & Judges Prep Lounge
ROOM 180, 1st floor | Lounge 1 | Code/+/Trust AI Lounge
ROOM 181, 1st floor | Speaker Q&A Lounge
ATRIUM – 2nd FLOOR
ATRIUM, 2nd floor | Build Better Lounge featuring “Hot to Think Bigger” at Dig South: 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: Meta Quest 3, Nintendo Switch, Playstation 5, Nintendo 64, SNES

ATRIUM, 2nd floor
9:00 – 9:10am (Emmett Robinson Theatre)
Sessions begin! Think Bigger with us at 2026 Dig South Tech, Venture & AI Summit!
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“Welcome to your Bigger, Better, More Brilliant Brain”
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
9:10 – 9:55am (Emmett Robinson Theatre)
Kickoff Keynote – Wake Up and Win: The System to Evolve Yourself, Your Teams, Your Ideas and Your Finish Lines
Danelle Delgado, Founder, Engage Training
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ABOUT DANELLE
Forbes, Entrepreneur and Success Magazines leading lady, the global superpreneur Danelle Delgado, known as the “millionaire maker” is one the most sought after speakers & corporate trainers on sales, business strategy, marketing, communication and human development in the world. She builds superhumans and superhuman teams who profit. From CEOs, solo-preneurs to sales teams, her impact is in the billions, and that keeps her in the headlines.
“Training should be life changing and entertaining” Delgado says. And she does exactly that, bringing in International Speaker of the Year 2026. She is the CEO of The Alpha Group, scaling leaders and corporate teams through world class leadership development training, corporate health insurance and payroll tax protocols and also the leading expert scaling profit for CEOs and entrepreneurs. She is the brilliance behind many big name brands, the best-selling author of I Choose Joy, a cancer survivor and champion mom of 3. Danelle is one of the truest underdog champion comeback stories you will ever experience… her life, her words change people. She is the true ‘Titan of Progress’ and if you find yourself in a room with her, you’re blessed.

10:00 – 10:30am (Emmett Robinson Theatre)
Sponsorship available
AI in the Real World: How to Unlock Digital Transformation From Models to Production at Scale
Focus: How enterprise-level companies are deploying AI at scale. Conversational analytics. Why data quality outweighs model complexity. Bridging the AI gap by democratizing artificial intelligence in federal agencies.
- Swetha Sekhar — Staff Data Engineer, Safety Systems, OpenAI
- Prasad Sundaramoorthy — Sr Distinguished Leader, Data Analytics & AI, Nordstrom
- Sandeep Chittimalli — Senior Data Scientist, Synectics for Management Decisions
- Moderator: Carrie Jaquith, Global Head of Digital Product, Abaxx Technologies
Show more
Swetha Sekhar is a Staff Data Engineer on OpenAI’s Safety Systems team, building scalable data infrastructure that ensures safe and reliable AI. With 8+ years of experience in big data, cloud computing, and ML analytics, she designs resilient pipelines, mentors engineers, and shares insights on data automation and responsible AI practices.
Prasad Sundaramoorthy is a Senior Engineering Leader at Nordstrom leading the transformation of data architecture and driving advancements in data insights and AI capabilities. By managing multidisciplinary teams, he delivers agile, scalable Data & Analytics solutions that enhance operational efficiency and business outcomes. Prasad’s role blends technical expertise with strategic leadership, focusing on optimizing data pipelines and fostering a culture of innovation. Passionate about leveraging data-driven strategies, Prasad aims to align technology initiatives with organizational goals, creating measurable impact and driving customer-centric solutions.
Sandeep Chittimalli is a Senior Data Scientist with over a decade of experience, primarily in the federal space driving innovation in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), satellite image processing, remote sensing, and data engineering. His interdisciplinary expertise spans machine learning, image analytics, and large-scale data systems, with a strong foundation in both academic research and applied technology development. Sandeep previously served as a Research Scientist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, where he worked on satellite sensor calibration, anomaly detection, and aquatic science applications using data from MODIS, VIIRS, Landsat, and Sentinel missions.
Carrie Jaquith (Add bio)
10:00 – 10:30am
(Black Box Theater)
Sponsorship available
Make Them Work for You: How to Fully Leverage AI-Powered Marketing, Messaging, Sales, Branding & Social Platforms
Discover how to harness AI across marketing, messaging, sales, branding, and social platforms to drive real results. This panel explores practical strategies, tools, and workflows to amplify impact, personalize engagement, and scale growth—turning AI from a buzzword into a powerful engine that works smarter, faster, and more effectively for your business.
- Kasper Hytonen – Founder, Synchro Social
- Becket Fusik – CEO, Titan
- Moderator: Michael Houck – Founder, Founding Journey & Megaphone
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Kasper Hytonen is the Founder of Synchro Social, a social media agency that has grown over 8 million followers and generated over 1 billion content views for high-profile coaches, authors, and thought leaders. Through these campaigns, he has sold out live events, driven record enrollments in online programs, and established clients as recognized authorities in their fields. These outcomes are built on a repeatable system that Kasper pioneered — precise content architecture paired with creative that captures attention and converts, without relying on hacks or shortcuts.
At the forefront of conscious content architecture and social media growth strategy, Kasper Hytonen has risen to the very top of his field. He has transformed how thought leaders and impact-driven entrepreneurs reach global audiences, setting new industry standards, earning recognition from leading media, and shaping the cultural conversation in the United States and beyond. His mission is clear: to expand the reach of leaders driving monumental impact and ensure their voices shape the global dialogue.
Becket Fusik is Founder of Titan, a media infrastructure company solving the $850 billion gap between valuable companies and their audiences. Through his career, Becket has generated over 1 billion impressions and driven 8-figures in revenue by building media systems that make good companies impossible to ignore.
As co-host of The Big Picture podcast with Randall Carlson and creator of the Amplified Impact Workshop, Becket has pioneered frameworks like the Flirt-Date-Commit Content Continuum that help organizations build authentic relationships at scale. At Titan, he’s integrating AI across every process, from storytelling to data analysis, proving that technology is no longer the limiting factor for creation.
Having bootstrapped multiple ventures and invested in five companies without raising capital, Becket brings a practitioner’s perspective to building sustainable media businesses. His work with leaders like Matt Beall (CEO, Bealls) and George Howard (Founder, Restoration Systems) demonstrates that relationships, not transactions, drive lasting business value.
Michael Houck – Founder of Founding Journey & Megaphone
After raising $23M from a16z, Balaji Srinivasan, and others for his hacker-house-turned-venture-fund, Michael Houck has built a 300,000+ person audience and bootstrapped a personal holding company to $3M in revenue. He’s an early investor in startups like Figure.ai and Beehiiv who started his career as part of the early team that built Uber Eats, and a product manager at Airbnb.
10:00 – 10:30am
(Room 180)
Sponsorship available
Workshop Available
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10:00 – 10:30am (Recital Hall)
Co-sponsorship available

Wild Pitch, Round 1:
Altra – Redmond, WA – altrainfusion.com
Altra is reinventing infusion therapy with a next-generation pump designed to eliminate drug delivery errors. It delivers higher accuracy, safety, and reliability across hospitals, transport, and home settings while reducing cost and complexity.
Annlex Systems – Charleston, SC – annlex.com
Annlex is an AI-powered legal research platform grounded in real court opinions. It anchors every response to verifiable sources, enabling lawyers to conduct more reliable and compounding research.
Data Moose – Charleston, SC – datamoose.org
Data Moose is the AI-ready data infrastructure layer purpose-built for the nonprofit mid-market. It unifies donor, financial, and operational data into one governed warehouse and makes it accessible through AskMoose, a natural-language AI interface. The company serves nonprofits nationwide with 100% renewal and zero churn.
Foresight Grid Inc. – Austin, TX – foresight-grid.com
Foresight Grid built a specialized AI foundation model that learns the physics of the electricity grid to forecast wholesale prices and optimize trading decisions for energy generators, traders, and large consumers. The company is initially focused on Texas, the most volatile electricity market in the U.S.
Genesis 1 Technologies – Charlotte, NC – genesis1.tech
Genesis 1 deploys smart recycling stations on college campuses monetized through digital advertising. The company combines recycling infrastructure, incentives, accountability, and media revenue into a scalable platform.
Show more
MC: Juan Garzón, Managing Director, Innovate Charlotte
Judges
- TBA
10:40 – 11:10am (Emmett Robinson Theatre)
Sponsor:

Innovations in HealthCare
- Moderator: Kaitlyn Crobar, Associate Dir. of Digital Health & Creative Works, MUSC
- Mark Newman, CEO & Co-Founder, Nomi Health
- Sairohith Thummarakoti, Consultant Application Engineer, HCA Healthcare
- TBA
- TBA
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Key Takeaways
10:40 – 11:10am
(Black Box Theater)
Sponsor:

Conscious Capitalism 2.0: Why Being a Fully-Human Business Owner is Critical in the Age of AI
In this motivational talk, Matt explores from his own heart: What AI cannot replace, academic studies showing relationship between profit and purpose—including definable HOW, the huge trust differential between community and large institutions, the opportunities ahead for owners to save/grow their companies in AI era and yes—perhaps, contribute to saving the world
- Matthew Pardieck, Managing Principal, Harbour Wealth Management
Show more
Matthew Pardieck is the author of Bottom Line of Happiness (a Conscious Capitalism reading resource), owner of Harbour Wealth Management, and generally a super big-hearted intelligent dude.
10:40 – 11:10am (Recital Hall)
Co-sponsorship available

Wild Pitch, Round 2:
Iguana Cyber – Charlotte, NC – iguanacyber.com
Iguana Cyber has built an EDR cybersecurity platform designed for the AI era. Unlike traditional systems that rely on historical threat matching, Iguana Cyber uses a patent-pending consensus model to identify new and evolving threats in real time.
IQExit – Wilmington, NC – iqexit.com
IQExit is the defining platform in a new category: Exit Readiness Intelligence™. It captures business owner intent, timing, and readiness 24–60 months before a transaction begins.
Maxsis – Knoxville, TN – maxwellbookkeeping.com
Maxsis is an AI financial intelligence platform that analyzes accounting and financial data to detect liquidity risk, anomalies, and compliance issues. It provides actionable insights for organizations without full-time CFO oversight.
OntoDrive – Los Angeles, CA – bennudata.com
OntoDrive builds the reasoning layer for enterprise AI, grounding LLMs in structured domain knowledge so outputs are verifiable, explainable, and trustworthy in mission-critical workflows.
PatientX – Mason, OH – patientx.net
PatientX is a women-founded data analytics and insights platform providing real-time measurement of patient experiences in clinical trials. Its AI-powered dashboards identify friction points to improve retention and accelerate therapies to market.
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MC: Juan Garzón, Managing Director, Innovate Charlotte
Judges: TBA
Track: Startups, Pitching, Demos, Funding, Scaling
11:15 – 12:00am (Emmett Robinson Theatre)
Sponsor:

MythWorx Session
- Jason Williamson, CEO, MythWorx
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Jason Williamson is the Chief Executive Officer of MythWorx, where he leads the company’s growth and commercialization of next-generation AI innovations. A seasoned technology executive, Jason brings a proven track record of scaling organizations and driving global innovation. He previously served as an Executive Director at Oracle, where he expanded the startup ecosystem from 250 to over 3,000 companies, and held a global leadership role at Amazon Web Services (AWS), building strategic partnerships across private equity and advisory sectors. Jason is also a former non-commissioned officer in the United States Marine Corps, bringing disciplined leadership and strategic focus to every endeavor.

11:15 – 11:45am (Black Box Theater)
Sponsor:

Learning from Learning: How Education Analytics Can Transform AI and Business Dashboards
This session, translates classroom insight into corporate impact. Hickman reveals how educational analytics frameworks—feedback loops, reflection dashboards, and progress tracking—can make AI systems and teams smarter over time. Attendees will see how to turn static business dashboards into adaptive “learning environments” that teach organizations to perform better, not just report performance. You’ll leave with practical models for closing the feedback loop between human decision-makers and AI systems, templates for adaptive KPI dashboards, and a fresh perspective on what it really means for analytics to learn.
Takeaways: Apply learning-analytics cycles to AI and BI strategy. Build dashboards that evolve through feedback. Use educational measurement techniques to drive organizational growth and innovation.
- Carleigh Hickman — Professor of Artificial Intelligence & Computing Technology, Horry-Georgetown Technical College
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Carleigh Hickman is a Professor of Artificial Intelligence and Computing Technology at Horry-Georgetown Technical College, where she is developing the college’s first AI program. With more than eight years of experience in IT project management and digital transformation, she has served as CRM Manager at four-year institutions and Learning Analytics Engineer for the U.S. Department of Defense. Her work bridges human-centered design, data science, and educational technology—translating learning analytics into actionable business intelligence. She specializes in explainable AI, performance dashboards, and evidence-based strategies that help organizations actually use the data they collect.
11:15 – 11:45am (Recital Hall)
Co-sponsorship available

Wild Pitch, Round 3:
PitStop, Inc. – Longview, TX – orderpitstop.com
PitStop is an on-demand parts delivery marketplace serving mechanics and shop owners. It partners with local parts stores to deliver parts in minutes instead of hours, reducing downtime and lost productivity.
Pressiant Health – Charleston, SC – pressianthealth.com
Pressiant Health is building the first remote, non-invasive hemodynamic monitoring system designed to improve heart failure management.
Renoverse AI – Charleston, SC – renoverse.ai
Renoverse AI helps residential construction professionals manage communication, decisions, budgets, and timelines through a centralized collaboration platform. It reduces design-cycle inefficiencies, lowers litigation risk, and improves client communication.
Rovex Technologies – Gainesville, FL – gorovex.com
Rovex is developing AI-powered robotics for hospital logistics. Its autonomous mobile robot attaches to hospital stretchers to transport patients safely and efficiently, improving throughput and reducing labor strain.
SafeShowings – Charleston, SC – safeshowings.com
SafeShowings provides safety technology designed specifically for real estate professionals.
Show more
MC: Juan Garzón, Managing Director, Innovate Charlotte
Judges: TBA
Track: Startups, Pitching, Demos, Funding, Scaling
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.
12:00 – 1:15pm
Summit Lunch Break
Food Trucks Onsite + Excellent options within 3 blocks of the Simons Center: Bar Taco, Legend Deli, Caviar & Bananas, Leyla, Beech, Breizh Pan, Fire Grill, Basic Kitchen
1:30am – 2:00 (Emmett Robinson Theater)
Sponsorship available
Building AI Infrastructure at Global Scale and What it Means for Your Small-to-Midsize Business
Focus: Cloud infrastructure, data pipelines, and large-scale systems. Content enrichment for AI. Building AI-powered detectors and correctors for media assets and metadata. Applying AI to build intelligent agents in Google Cloud for enterprise customers.
- Bhavuk Jain — Senior Software / Lead Engineer, Google
- Anchit Jhingan — Senior Data Scientist, Amazon
- Nithin Mohan — Engineering Leader, HPC & AI Products, Hewlett Packard Enterprise
- Moderator: TBA
Show more
1:30 – 2:00pm (Black Box Theater)
Workshop Available
- TBA
Show more
1:30pm – 2:00pm (Recital Hall)
Co-sponsorship available

Wild Pitch, Round 4:
SenterME – Gastonia, NC – senterme.com
SenterME is a Structural Health Intelligence™ platform for healthcare organizations. It helps leaders identify workforce strain before it leads to turnover or care disruption.
SimuPharma – Richmond, VA – simupharma.tech
SimuPharma develops AI-driven real-time precision health analytics and simulation software.
SiteFit – Boca Raton, FL – sitefit.base44.app
SiteFit is an AI-powered site plan generation platform that uses zoning data to create code-compliant layouts and due diligence reports for developers, architects, and designers.
Sortyx – Chennai, India – sortyx.com
Sortyx is an AI-powered waste and urban infrastructure company that transforms waste bins into connected smart assets using IoT sensors and real-time data. Its platform also integrates digital advertising screens, creating a hardware, SaaS, and media revenue model.
TBA
Show more
2:05 – 2:45pm
(Emmett Robinson Theater)
Sponsor:

Building Innovation Ecosystems & How Scalable Startups Can Take Advantage of Them
- Moderator: CRDA
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2:10 – 2:40pm
(Recital Hall)
Sponsor:

The State of Funding from Bootstrap to Angel, Venture to Equity, and Beyond
- Moderator: Brian Gillespie – Partner, Nelson Mullins
- Charleston Angel Partners
- Will Cruz, CIO, InvestSC
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2:10 – 2:40pm
(Black Box Theater)
Sponsorship available
The AI Startup Frontier: What’s New, Different, and How Should I Approach It?
Building and scaling AI from startup to enterprise. Bridging deep technical expertise with strategic leadership. Delivering measurable business impact through innovation in AI adoption.
- Jack Teitel — Founder & CEO, Title AI
- Rajesh Kumar Kanji – Principle Technical support Engineer, Salesforce (need to contact)
- Austin Embrack — Founder & Fractional CTO, Brack Technical Solutions LLC
- Moderator: Michael Houck — Founder, Founding Journey & Megaphone
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2:45 – 3:30pm (Emmett Robinson Theater)
Sponsor:

How to Pilot, Fund, Launch, Take to Market & Scale Innovations in HealthTech
Moderator: TBA
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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.
2:45 – 3:30pm
(Recital Hall)
Sponsorship available
TBA
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2:45 – 3:15pm (Black Box Theater)
Sponsorship available
Enterprise Engineering in the Age of AI, New Data Platforms, Plus Identity and What it Means to Be Secure in an Agentic World
- Carter Kennedy, CEO & Co-founder, SoloInsight
- Rishabh Srivastava — Tech Lead, MRI Software
- Shivendra Srivastava — Amazon Web Services
- Anshul Sharma — Customer Success Specialist, Cisco
- Moderator: Carrie Jaquith, Digital Head of Product, Abaxx Technologies
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Focus: Modern enterprise data architecture. How to bridge the gap between experimenting with AI and engineering safe and secure, production-grade systems that serve millions of users. How to embed AI into real-world workflows. Attendees will gain a clear understanding of MCP’s architecture and walk away with the foundational knowledge needed to start applying MCP patterns within modern NetOps environments.
Carter Kennedy, CEO, Soloinsight
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 $3M 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.
3:20 – 4:00pm (Black Box Theater)
Sponsor:
g/d/n/a workshop
Start Something Real with Will Horn, Founder/CEO, g/d/n/a and Max Hellman
Additional details and registration for the workshop found HERE.
Join the Mira Game—a fast, engaging, facilitated workshop that transforms a raw idea (or no idea at all) into a clear, fundable pitch in just 2–3 hours. Inspired by the curious, empathetic Mira agent (think kestrel vibes), you’ll progress through structured checkpoints to create real startup artifacts: problem framing, user insights, VTDF business model, MVP plan, and a polished pitch ready to share. Perfect for founders with concepts, aspiring entrepreneurs, or anyone curious about startups. Leave with a tangible pitch to attract funding, co-founders, or launch momentum—all in one focused afternoon.
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Will Horn is the founder, CEO, and Managing Technologist of g/d/n/a (gdna.io), an AWS Advanced Tier and AI Services Partner and data-first transformation company based in Charleston, SC. For 20+ years, Will has built and scaled businesses through technology and operational efficiency, from startups to Fortune 10 enterprises in 45+ countries across a dozen industries.
At AWS, he was a GSI leader in the TCS alliance, bootstrapping the team and operating model that drove two AWS Partner of the Year wins and billions in shared revenue, followed by a tenure as AWS Partner Strategist at Splunk.
Today, through g/d/n/a, he’s transforming companies and communities by bringing enterprise-grade operational excellence to startups and SMBs—and startup-speed execution to enterprises that can’t afford to wait.
In 2025, under his leadership, g/d/n/a delivered 40+ customer successes, tripled revenue, launched its agentic AI product practice (GDNA.AI), and invested in workforce development by actively launching new tech careers—progressing both companies and the people behind them.
Will is a builder, a community connector, and a believer that listening first leads to value creation.
3:40 – 4:30 pm (Emmett Robinson Theatre)
Co-sponsorship available

Wild Pitch Finale 2026!
The top 3 scores from the morning sessions battle it out for the chance to pitch for $1M in Silicon Valley.
Grand Prize: Golden Ticket to Startup World Cup
2nd Prize: $5000 Dig South Sponsorship Package + 2 VIP Badges to Charleston Tech Week 2027
3rd Prize: 4 Tickets to the Charleston Tech Week Geekout Finale Tonight!
Introductions: Pegasus Tech Ventures
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The final three startups of the tournament compete for a chance to pitch for $1,000,000 at Startup World Cup in Silicon Valley.
Closing Shindig & Charleston Tech Week Finale Tickets
“Think Bigger” Shindig: Dig South’s Closing Bash, Sponsored by The Office People, Hosted by College of Charleston
Buy Guest Tickets HERE
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The Office People
The Office People™ is an award-winning, minority-owned and operated business that has been serving the Southeast for over twenty years. Our growth and success have enabled us to service customers in twenty-three (23) states across the nation with outstanding products, service, and support.
7:00 – 9:00pm
Separate event at LiveOak Hotel
BUY HERE
Sponsor:
The Silicon Harbor Shindig (Charleston Tech Week Finale – separate ticket, not included with Summit badge)
Live Oak, Charleston Historic District, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, 425 Meeting Street, Charleston, South Carolina, USA, 29403
Tel: +1 843-718-2327
*Tickets are NOT included with Dig South Tech, Venture & AI badges and are sold separately. This is a Charleston Tech Week event, Not a Dig South event. Grab your tickets here while they last: BUY NOW
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2026 PARTNERS
ThanK YOU FOR MAKING DIG SOUTH POSSIBLE!
who do you need to meet?
SUMMIT SPEAKERS 2026
{Early Confirmations – Speakers Added Weekly}

SHIVENDRA SRIVASTAVA
Software Development Manager – AWS Lambda
AMAZON / AWS

DANELLE DELGADO
Founder
ENGAGE TRAINING

JASON WILLIAMSON
CEO
MYTHWORX

Carrie Jaquith
Global Head of Digital Product
ABAXX TECHNOLOGIES

LARKIN ELLZEY
Partner
REED SMITH

SWETHA SEKHAR
Staff Data Engineer
Safety Systems
OpenAI

BHAVUK JAIN
Senior Software/Lead Engineer

BARON JORDAN
Chief Product Officer, Supply Chain at CONA Services
COCA-COLA

PRASAD Sundaramoorthy
Sen. Distinguished Leader
Data Analytics & AI
NORDSTROM

Carleigh HICKMAN
Professor of Artificial Intelligence and Computing Technology
HORRY-GEORGETOWN TECHNICAL COLLEGE

Jeff baxter
Partner – Head of Platform
11 Tribes Ventures

KASPER HYTONEN
Founder & CEO
SYNCHRO SOCIAL

Will Horn
CEO / Founder
g/d/n/a

Carter kennedy
CEO & Co-founder
SOLOINSIGHT

JACK TEITEL
Founder, CEO
TITLE AI

Becket Fusick
CEO
TITAN

Sandeep Kumar Chittimalli
Senior Data Scientist
SYNETICS FOR MANAGEMENT DECISIONS

austin embrack
President
BRACK TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS

Matthew pardieck
Managing Principal
HARBOUR WEALTH MANAGEMENT

thomas HEATH
Founder & Personal Branding Specialist
THOMAS HEATH ADVISORS

Stacey Bailey
Senior Consultant
THE INTENTION COLLECTIVE

anshul sharma
Customer Success Specialist
CISCO

Juan Garzón
Managing Director
INNOVATE CHARLOTTE

Grady Johnson
Executive Director
THE HARBOR ENTREPRENEUR CENTER

NITHIN
Mohan
AI & Supercomputing Leader
HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISE

ANCHIT
Jhingan
Senior Data Scientist
AMAZON

max
heILman
Agentic AI Architect
g/d/n/a

Straight from the source
Why We Love Dig South Events
FAQs
Sponsor FAQs
Email info@digsouth.com to sponsor Dig South Tech Summit. A limited number of exclusive partnerships are still available and include year-round benefits. Partner with us today for year-round value!
Dig South will register sponsors for the Dig South Tech Summit, May 1-2, 2025, in the Dig Nation member platform. Follow the instructions from the email sent from our team, which includes a unique link to register you and your guest tickets. Sponsors should complete their company profiles and other information asap to maximize the benefits. Email mellonie@digsouth.com for assistance.
2-day badges to Dig South Tech Summit include: May 1 events: Mentor Matchup, Upload Charleston, Benjamin Wallace Author Event; May events: All sessions on the schedule and the New Frontiers Shindig.
View the schedule at digsummit.com for details.
*For year-round Dig Nation membership events, visit digsouth.com/events
Dig South Tech Summit will be held in the Simons Center for the Arts at the College of Charleston. Enter on St. Philip Street between Calhoun and George Streets. The newly renovated Simons Center is a cornerstone for the arts, providing dynamic facilities including an elegant theater, recital hall, black box theatre, dance and sculpture studios, classrooms and the Halsey Institute for Contemporary Art.
Paid parking for the Summit is available in multiple garages, surface lots, and metered spaces around the Simons Center for the Arts. The nearest locations are the garages at 89 St. Philip Street and 34 St. Philip Street. Dig South also encourages using rideshare to attend the Summit.
Yes, you could. But why would you want to miss out on free benefits? The membership is an excellent year-round benefit to attending Dig South Tech Summit at no additional cost, but, we get it, not everyone wants to be listed in a community. Anyway you roll, we’re thrilled to see you at the Summit.
Heck yeah! Important note: Upload Charleston is included with the full ticket to the Summit. Guests who only want to attend Upload Charleston may buy a separate ticket to the event on Thursday, May 1, 5-7pm. Email info@digsouth.com to purchase.
Additional party tickets can be purchased for separate entry to the Upload Shindig for only $50. Email info@digsouth.com. Due to hard costs and capacity, the Summit is unable to accommodate full or single-session passes for guests, including spouses, colleagues, friends or assistants.
Dig Nation members gain access to not only Dig South Tech Summit but also year-round events and a range of excellent benefits, including a curated network, top-shelf content and capital opportunities. Visit dignation.co for benefits and more groovy info about the South’s Tech Tribe.
Badges for Dig South Tech Summit can be picked up on Thursday, May 1, 5:00-7:00pm, at the Upload Charleston Shindig at The College of Charleston President’s House, 6 Glebe Street, Charleston, SC 29401. Or on the day of the Summit, Friday, May 2, 8:00am-5:30pm at the Simons Center of the Arts, located on St. Philip Street between George and Calhoun Streets.
The Dig South “Upload Charleston” event will be held on Thursday, May 1, 5-7pm, at The College of Charleston President’s House – Bishop Robert Smith House, 6 Glebe Street, Charleston, SC 29401.
The oldest building on the College of Charleston campus, the President’s House was the site of the school’s first classes. Today this handsome Georgian mansion with the garden around it serves as the President’s House; it was also the home of the College’s first president over 200 years ago.
The land on which it stands was granted in 1672 to one of the colony’s original settlers, John Coming, whose name is remembered in nearby Coming Street. In 1698, his widow Affra Harleston Coming donated 17 acres of the land to St. Philip’s Anglican Church. The church soon after built a parsonage for its ministers about a block south of this site (approximately where Memminger School stands today).
Around 1770, as this area, known as Harleston Village, was developed, St. Philip’s decided to erect “a new parsonage house” with “a garden, orchard and pasturage,” and received approval and funding from the Royal legislature. A “brick building 48 by 44” with four main rooms on the main floor, two larger ones in the front, smaller ones in the rear, with “Kitchen and other Offices underneath” was agreed upon, with minister Robert Smith and contractor Daniel Cannon empowered to sort out the details. Construction had yet to begin by May of 1774, and although the details are vague, it is likely that the house was finished by 1778. For years, the house was dated “circa 1770.”
The agenda and session schedule will be available in 3 locations:
- Website (limited). Visit the digsouth.com/techsummit website to view a limited, abbreviated agenda. You will not have access to the full Dig Nation member community until you are registered and have a ticket to Dig South Tech Summit. Purchase at dignation.co
- Dig Nation Community (full access). If you are registered and already in the Dig Nation member community, visit dignation.co to view the full Dig South Tech Summit agenda and connect with attendees, sponsors and speakers, and receive your year-round benefits.
- Mighty Networks App (mobile). If you are registered and in the Dig Nation network, download the Mighty Networks app to access the Dig South Tech Summit agenda and network mobile view, and stay connected year-round to the Dig Nation community. The Dig Nation member network will be associated with the email you used for registration.
Dig South will record video and audio portions of most of the sessions and events for our Dig Nation member platform and other Summit marketing channels. With 30+ speakers we may not capture every session in its entirety or provide video files to speakers. Speakers are welcome to self-record the session, or we can connect you to a freelance videographer who can record the event for a fee.
Attendee FAQs
Buy tickets today at dignation.co.
Registering for Dig South Tech Summit is easy and includes a major bonus – year-round membership to Dig Nation: The South’s Tech Tribe. Dig South hosts additional talks, webinars, and happy hours plus event collaborations with Harbor Entrepreneur Center, CRDA and other prominent organizations. The networking is superb. Share your expertise and gain significant knowledge and know-how from fellow members. View benefits and register for Dig South Tech Summit today.
In addition to all Summit sessions on May 2, tickets to the Summit include the following. Additional tickets can be purchased at dignation.co.
> Upload Charleston Shindig, Thursday, May 1, 5-7pm, at The College of Charleston President’s House Courtyard at 6 Glebe Street, Charleston, SC 29401. The President’s House is located two blocks from the Summit venue in the Simons Center for the Arts.
>New Frontiers, Friday, May 1, 4:30-5:30pm. This is the Dig South Tech Summit closing bash. Two sponsorships are available.
>Year-round Dig Nation membership events. View at digsouth.com/events.
Paid parking for the Summit is available in multiple garages, surface lots, and metered spaces around the Simons Center for the Arts. The nearest locations are the garages at 89 St. Philip Street and 34 St. Philip Street. Dig South also encourages using rideshare to attend the Summit.
Dig South Tech Summit will be held in the Simons Center for the Arts at the College of Charleston. Enter on St. Philip Street between Calhoun and George Streets. The newly renovated Simons Center is a cornerstone for the arts, providing dynamic facilities including an elegant theater, recital hall, black box theatre, dance and sculpture studios, classrooms and the Halsey Institute for Contemporary Art.
Yes, you could. But why would you want to miss out on free benefits? The membership is an excellent year-round benefit to attending Dig South Tech Summit at no additional cost, but, we get it, not everyone wants to be listed in a community. Anyway you roll, we’re thrilled to see you at the Summit.
Heck yeah! Important note: Upload Charleston is included with the full ticket to the Summit. Guests who only want to attend Upload Charleston may buy a separate ticket to the event on Thursday, May 1, 5-7pm. Email info@digsouth.com to purchase.
Additional party tickets can be purchased for separate entry to the Upload Shindig for only $50. Email info@digsouth.com. Due to hard costs and capacity, the Summit is unable to accommodate full or single-session passes for guests, including spouses, colleagues, friends or assistants.
Dig Nation members gain access to not only Dig South Tech Summit but also year-round events and a range of excellent benefits, including a curated network, top-shelf content and capital opportunities. Visit dignation.co for benefits and more groovy info about the South’s Tech Tribe.
Badges for Dig South Tech Summit can be picked up on Thursday, May 1, 5:00-7:00pm, at the Upload Charleston Shindig at The College of Charleston President’s House, 6 Glebe Street, Charleston, SC 29401. Or on the day of the Summit, Friday, May 2, 8:00am-5:30pm at the Simons Center of the Arts, located on St. Philip Street between George and Calhoun Streets.
The Dig South “Upload Charleston” event will be held on Thursday, May 1, 5-7pm, at The College of Charleston President’s House – Bishop Robert Smith House, 6 Glebe Street, Charleston, SC 29401.
The oldest building on the College of Charleston campus, the President’s House was the site of the school’s first classes. Today this handsome Georgian mansion with the garden around it serves as the President’s House; it was also the home of the College’s first president over 200 years ago.
The land on which it stands was granted in 1672 to one of the colony’s original settlers, John Coming, whose name is remembered in nearby Coming Street. In 1698, his widow Affra Harleston Coming donated 17 acres of the land to St. Philip’s Anglican Church. The church soon after built a parsonage for its ministers about a block south of this site (approximately where Memminger School stands today).
Around 1770, as this area, known as Harleston Village, was developed, St. Philip’s decided to erect “a new parsonage house” with “a garden, orchard and pasturage,” and received approval and funding from the Royal legislature. A “brick building 48 by 44” with four main rooms on the main floor, two larger ones in the front, smaller ones in the rear, with “Kitchen and other Offices underneath” was agreed upon, with minister Robert Smith and contractor Daniel Cannon empowered to sort out the details. Construction had yet to begin by May of 1774, and although the details are vague, it is likely that the house was finished by 1778. For years, the house was dated “circa 1770.”
Speaker FAQs
Please apply here to speak at Dig South Tech Summit. Speakers are selected on a rolling basis through January 31, 2025 or until sessions are full. Apply today, slots fill up quickly. Sponsors and members are given priority consideration.
Speaker amenities include the Speaker Green Room (located behind the Emmett Robinson stage), which speakers may visit anytime during the Summit to use the co-working space outfitted with refreshments and a concierge. Speakers may also attend all events throughout the Summit.
Speaker badges to the Summit include:
> Upload Charleston Shindig, Thursday, May 1, 5-7pm, at The College of Charleston President’s House Courtyard at 6 Glebe Street, Charleston, SC 29401. The President’s House is located two blocks from the Summit venue in the Simons Center for the Arts.
>Dig South Tech Summit closing bash: New Frontiers, sponsorship is available.
>Year-round Dig Nation membership events. View at digsouth.com/events
Paid parking for the Summit is available in multiple garages, surface lots, and metered spaces around the Simons Center for the Arts. The nearest locations are the garages at 89 St. Philip Street and 34 St. Philip Street. Dig South also encourages using rideshare to attend the Summit.
Stages will be equipped with a tech producer, LCD screen, confidence monitor, lectern and microphones.
Yes, speakers may use Keynote or Powerpoint presentations. It is not required but if a speaker plans to use a Keynote or Powerpoint deck, it should be created in 16:9 ratio and emailed to the Executive Producer, production@digsouth.com, by EOD Friday, April 25 , 2025. Dig South Tech Summit can also provide a template slide and logo in advance by request.
Speakers can expect 300–350 for mainstage presentations and 40-75 people for breakout sessions. Dig South strongly encourages promoting your session in advance in social media and through the Dig Nation app to increase attendance.
Dig South will register speakers for (1) badge for the Dig South Tech Summit, May 1-2, 2025. Speakers will have full access to the Dig Nation member platform up until one week following the Summit. They will then be able to purchase a year-round membership should they so choose.
Speakers will receive confirmation via email with instructions that will send a link to their self-managed speaker profile within the Dig Nation member platform. Speakers should add their headshots, bios and relevant links asap to encourage attendance for their session and benefit from additional networking.
IMPORTANT: assistants are welcome to manage speaker profiles; however, they must log in using the email address the speaker registered with in the platform. Speaker profiles cannot be managed using more than one email address.
Dig South Tech Summit will be held in the Simons Center for the Arts at the College of Charleston. Enter on St. Philip Street between Calhoun and George Streets. The newly renovated Simons Center is a cornerstone for the arts, providing dynamic facilities including an elegant theater, recital hall, black box theatre, dance and sculpture studios, classrooms and the Halsey Institute for Contemporary Art.
No. But you’ll miss out on all of the excellent year-round benefits. Not only do you receive a ticket to Dig South Tech Summit when you join Dig Nation, you will also have access to a fantastic network of innovators, plus meetups and other great benefits. Visit digsouth.com/events for details.
Yes, you could. But why would you want to miss out on free benefits? The membership is an excellent year-round benefit to attending Dig South Tech Summit at no additional cost, but, we get it, not everyone wants to be listed in a community. Anyway you roll, we’re thrilled to see you at the Summit.
Heck yeah! Important note: Upload Charleston is included with the full ticket to the Summit. Guests who only want to attend Upload Charleston may buy a separate ticket to the event on Thursday, May 1, 5-7pm. Email info@digsouth.com to purchase.
The Dig South “Upload Charleston” event will be held on Thursday, May 1, 5-7pm, at The College of Charleston President’s House – Bishop Robert Smith House, 6 Glebe Street, Charleston, SC 29401.
——————-
The oldest building on the College of Charleston campus, the President’s House was the site of the school’s first classes. Today this handsome Georgian mansion with the garden around it serves as the President’s House; it was also the home of the College’s first president over 200 years ago.
The land on which it stands was granted in 1672 to one of the colony’s original settlers, John Coming, whose name is remembered in nearby Coming Street. In 1698, his widow Affra Harleston Coming donated 17 acres of the land to St. Philip’s Anglican Church. The church soon after built a parsonage for its ministers about a block south of this site (approximately where Memminger School stands today).
Around 1770, as this area, known as Harleston Village, was developed, St. Philip’s decided to erect “a new parsonage house” with “a garden, orchard and pasturage,” and received approval and funding from the Royal legislature. A “brick building 48 by 44” with four main rooms on the main floor, two larger ones in the front, smaller ones in the rear, with “Kitchen and other Offices underneath” was agreed upon, with minister Robert Smith and contractor Daniel Cannon empowered to sort out the details. Construction had yet to begin by May of 1774, and although the details are vague, it is likely that the house was finished by 1778. For years, the house was dated “circa 1770.”
Powered by Dig South, Dig Nation is the South’s Tech Tribe. Dig Nation members gain access to not only Charleston AI Summit but also year-round events and a range of excellent benefits, including a curated network, top-shelf content and capital opportunities. Visit dignation.co for benefits and more groovy info.
Badges for Dig South Tech Summit can be picked up on Thursday, May 1, 5:00-7:00pm, at the Upload Charleston Shindig at The College of Charleston President’s House, 6 Glebe Street, Charleston, SC 29401. Or on the day of the Summit, Friday, May 2, 8:00am-5:30pm at the Simons Center of the Arts, located on St. Philip Street between George and Calhoun Streets.
Startup Wild Pitch FAQs
Please apply here to join Wild Pitch at Dig South Tech Summit on May 2, 2025. Companies focused on emerging technologies such as generative AI, sustainable energy, mobility, and SaaS platforms, plus other innovative solutions will be selected and notified by February 1, 2025. Space is limited. Apply today.
Stages will be equipped with a tech producer, LCD screen, confidence monitor, lectern and microphones on the mainstage. The sidestage does not require a microphone.
Yes, startup pitchers may use Keynote or Powerpoint presentations. It is not required but if a pitcher plans to use a Keynote or Powerpoint deck, it should be created in 16:9 ratio and emailed to the Executive Producer, production@digsouth.com, by EOD Friday, April 25, 2025. Dig South Tech Summit can also provide a template slide and logo in advance by request.
Pitches will be presented tournament style with 16 companies presenting over 4 sessions, four at a time. For the first round of pitches, pitchers can expect 40-60 attendees. The finals will include the 4 winners of the previous rounds and will be held on the mainstage in front of an audience of 300–350 attendees.
There is no cost to pitch at Dig South Tech Summit. Pitch teams will receive two comped tickets to the full Summit. If an individual pitcher is also a speaker or panelist they do not receive an additional comp ticket. Additional tickets can be purchased at dignation.co.
Registering for Dig South Tech Summit is easy and includes a major bonus – year-round membership to Dig Nation: The South’s Tech Tribe. In addition to our marquee event for 2025, Dig South hosts additional talks, webinars, and happy hours plus event collaborations with Harbor Entrepreneur Center, CRDA, and other prominent organizations. The networking is superb. You can share your expertise and gain significant knowledge and know-how from fellow members along the way. To view benefits and register for Dig South Tech Summit, visit dignation.co today.
In addition to all Summit sessions on May 2, tickets to the Summit include the following. Additional tickets can be purchased at dignation.co.
> Upload Charleston Shindig, Thursday, May 1, 5-7pm, at The College of Charleston President’s House Courtyard at 6 Glebe Street, Charleston, SC 29401. The President’s House is located two blocks from the Summit venue in the Simons Center for the Arts.
>New Frontiers, Friday, May 1, 4:30-5:30pm. This is the Dig South Tech Summit closing bash. Two sponsorships are available.
>Year-round Dig Nation membership events. View at digsouth.com/events.
Dig South Tech Summit will be held in the Simons Center for the Arts at the College of Charleston. Enter on St. Philip Street between Calhoun and George Streets. The newly renovated Simons Center is a cornerstone for the arts, providing dynamic facilities including an elegant theater, recital hall, black box theatre, dance and sculpture studios, classrooms and the Halsey Institute for Contemporary Art.
Dig South will register pitchers for (1) badge for the Dig South Tech Summit, May 1-2, 2025. Speakers will have full access to the Dig Nation member platform up until one week following the Summit. They will then be able to purchase a year-round membership should they so choose.
Speakers will receive confirmation via email with instructions that will send a link to their self-managed speaker profile within the Dig Nation member platform. Speakers should add their headshots, bios and relevant links asap to encourage attendance for their session and benefit from additional networking.
IMPORTANT: assistants are welcome to manage speaker profiles; however, they must log in using the email address the speaker registered with in the platform. Speaker profiles cannot be managed using more than one email address.
Paid parking for the Summit is available in multiple garages, surface lots, and metered spaces around the Simons Center for the Arts. The nearest locations are the garages at 89 St. Philip Street and 34 St. Philip Street. Dig South also encourages using rideshare to attend the Summit.
Yes, additional tickets to the Upload Charleston event on Thursday, May 1, 5-7pm, can be purchased by emailing info@digsouth.com.
Powered by Dig South, Dig Nation is the South’s Tech Tribe. Dig Nation members gain access to Dig South Tech Summit, year-round events and a range of excellent benefits including a curated network, top-shelf content and capital opportunities. Visit dignation.co for benefits and more groovy info.
Badges for Dig South Tech Summit can be picked up on Thursday, May 1, 5:00-7:00pm, at the Upload Charleston Shindig at The College of Charleston President’s House, 6 Glebe Street, Charleston, SC 29401. Or on the day of the Summit, Friday, May 2, 8:00am-5:30pm at the Simons Center of the Arts, located on St. Philip Street between George and Calhoun Streets.
The Dig South “Upload Charleston” event will be held on Thursday, May 1, 5-7pm, at The College of Charleston President’s House – Bishop Robert Smith House, 6 Glebe Street, Charleston, SC 29401.
The oldest building on the College of Charleston campus, the President’s House was the site of the school’s first classes. Today this handsome Georgian mansion with the garden around it serves as the President’s House; it was also the home of the College’s first president over 200 years ago.
The land on which it stands was granted in 1672 to one of the colony’s original settlers, John Coming, whose name is remembered in nearby Coming Street. In 1698, his widow Affra Harleston Coming donated 17 acres of the land to St. Philip’s Anglican Church. The church soon after built a parsonage for its ministers about a block south of this site (approximately where Memminger School stands today).
Around 1770, as this area, known as Harleston Village, was developed, St. Philip’s decided to erect “a new parsonage house” with “a garden, orchard and pasturage,” and received approval and funding from the Royal legislature. A “brick building 48 by 44” with four main rooms on the main floor, two larger ones in the front, smaller ones in the rear, with “Kitchen and other Offices underneath” was agreed upon, with minister Robert Smith and contractor Daniel Cannon empowered to sort out the details. Construction had yet to begin by May of 1774, and although the details are vague, it is likely that the house was finished by 1778. For years, the house was dated “circa 1770.”
The Dig South Tech Summit agenda and session schedule will be available in 3 locations:
- Website (limited). Visit the charlestonaisummit.com website to view a limited, abbreviated agenda. You will not have access to the full Dig Nation member community until you are registered and have a ticket to the Charleston AI Summit. Purchase at dignation.co
- Dig Nation Community (full access). If you are registered and already in the Dig Nation member community, visit dignation.co to view the full Charleston AI Summit agenda and connect with attendees, sponsors and speakers, and receive your year-round benefits.
- Mighty Networks App (mobile). If you are registered and in the Dig Nation network, download the Mighty Networks app to access the Charleston AI Summit agenda and network mobile view, and stay connected year-round to the Dig Nation community. The Dig Nation member network will be associated with the email you used for registration.
Dig South will record video and audio portions of most of the sessions and events for our member platform and other Summit marketing materials. With 30+ speakers we may not capture every session in its entirety or provide video files to speakers. Speakers are welcome to self-record the session, or we can connect you to a freelance videographer who can record the event for a fee.
Additional party tickets can be purchased for separate entry to the Upload Shindig by emailing info@digsouth.com. Due to hard costs and capacity, the Summit is not able to accommodate full or single-session passes for guests, including spouses, colleagues, friends or assistants.
Speakers, pitchers and session moderators are responsible for all of their costs related to travel, hotel, ground transportation, and incidentals associated with participation in Dig South Tech Summit.
Paid parking for the Summit is available in multiple garages, surface lots, and metered spaces around the Simons Center for the Arts. The nearest locations are the garages at 89 St. Philip Street and 34 St. Philip Street. Dig South also encourages using rideshare to attend the Summit.
Dig South General FAQ
Founded in 2012, Dig South is the South’s Innovation Hub. We connect executives, entrepreneurs, experts, investors and founders through the Dig Nation membership. Dig South focuses on AI and other emerging technologies, business growth, sales and marketing, and innovation culture. Dig South produces Dig South Tech Summit, the Dig Nation member community, and year-round events and programs. Learn more at digsouth.com.
Dig South connects leading global brands to the South’s most scalable startups year-round. We provide the contacts, content, and capital opportunities companies need to succeed through in-person and online experiences, particularly our flagship event: Dig South Tech Summit and monthly “Rise & Grind” meetups at The Harbor Entrepreneur Center.
Dig South Tech Summit will be held in the Simons Center for the Arts at the College of Charleston. Enter on St. Philip Street between Calhoun and George Streets. The newly renovated Simons Center is a cornerstone for the arts, providing dynamic facilities including an elegant theater, recital hall, black box theatre, dance and sculpture studios, classrooms and the Halsey Institute for Contemporary Art.
Paid parking for the Summit is available in multiple garages, surface lots, and metered spaces around the Simons Center for the Arts. The nearest locations are the garages at 89 St. Philip Street and 34 St. Philip Street. Dig South also encourages using rideshare to attend the Summit.
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. We greatly appreciate reposts and tags when you see Dig South and Dig South Tech Summit in your feed. Be sure to use #DigSouth #DigSouthTechSummit #DigNation in your posts. A brand kit is available at digsouth.com under “About” on the main menu.
Dig South Tech Summit is the South’s Premier Tech Summit. The Summit presents 100+ executive-level speakers from leading global brands, fast-growth startups, and top investors. Since 2012, Dig South Tech Summit has welcomed thousands of attendees to Charleston, a culinary mecca and Condé Nast Traveler’s top destination for over a decade. Visit digsouth.com for details.
For the last 12 years, Dig South has welcomed more than 12,000 attendees and 1000 speakers from the world’s leading brands, including Netflix, Oracle, Hubspot, Facebook, TikTok, Magic Leap, Bonobos, Instagram, Red Hat, CNN, Coca-Cola, Jet, Casper, BuzzFeed, IBM, X/Twitter, Re/Code, WSJ, The New York Times, Forbes, Adobe and many more plus the South’s hottest companies. Notable speakers have included Gary Vaynerhchuck, Vox Chairman and CEO Jim Bankoff, Jet CEO Liza Landsman, Kabbage and Roadie Co-founder Mark Gorlin, Kickstarter CEO Yancy Strickland, Essentialism author Greg McKeown, Atlanta Hawks CMO Melissa Proctor, Bonobos CEO Micky Onvural, VF Brands Innovation Officer and hundreds more.
Dig Nation is the South’s Tech Tribe powered by Dig South. Dig Nation provides the contacts, content and capital opportunities members need to succeed. Visit dignation.co for benefits and details. Join today to grab your ticket to Charleston AI Summit.
Dig South is the nexus of emerging tech and culture in the South. We believe the best way to promote innovation across the region is to invite global brands, execs, founders, investors and experts from beyond the region to connect, collaborate and do business with leading brands and startups based in the South. It’s a global economy and we engage in the global conversation on innovation.
In 2011, Stanfield Gray attended the AdAge Digital Conference in NYC. Connecting with tech executives and experts from Silicon Valley, NYC, Boston and other major tech hubs, he left inspired but frustrated that the same opportunities to work at the highest levels in digital technology and other creative industries were scarce in the South.
Why should the region’s top talent continue to leave the region? If someone chooses to go, good for them. Could be a smart move. But what if the best and brightest could launch, grow and scale global tech companies HQ’d in the South? Michael Dell (Dell Computers), Ted Turner (CNN), Ben Chestnut (Mailchimp) and Tim Sweeney (Epic Games) are proof that it can be done.
Driven to build a stronger innovation economy for the region and, more specifically, his two young kids, Gray and his wife, Sunny, launched Dig South in 2012 as the first Tech Summit dedicated to elevating the region’s digital economy and building opportunities for the next generation of founders, entrepreneurs and tech talent.
Officially, Dig South was born on July 4, 2012. Bootstrapping, the DIG Team rallied the southeastern community behind the idea and launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise a small fund to launch Dig South. Held April 12–14, 2013, at the College of Charleston in Charleston, SC, the first Dig South Interactive Festival drew 454 paid attendees with more than a thousand guests passing through the DIG Trade Show, nightly shindigs, Space Walk and other free events. The Summit grew considerably each year, experimenting with NFT galleries, Bitcoin ATM machines, pitch events, hackathons, demo days and other programs.
To date, Dig South has welcomed more than 12,000 attendees and 1000 speakers from the world’s leading brands, including Oracle, Salesforce, IBM, Instagram, Facebook, Jet, Casper, BuzzFeed, Twitter, Re/Code, WSJ, The New York Times, Forbes, Adobe and many more plus the South’s hottest companies, including Red Hat, Roadie, Kabbage, Blackbaud, Terminus, Benefitfocus, CNN, Coca-Cola, BoomTown, Atlanta Hawks and many more. Visit digsouth.com for details.
Stanfield Gray is the founder and CEO of Dig South and a lifelong practitioner of innovation in the South. Gray was named one of Time magazine’s “31 People Changing the South” and one of South Carolina’s “50 Most Influential Business Leaders” by SC Biz magazine. A Liberty Fellow in the Aspen Global Leadership Network, he is a graduate of the University of South Carolina-Honors College and University of Mississippi’s MA program in Southern Studies. Featured on the cover of the issue, Gray was named one of “Charleston’s 50 Most Influential” by Charleston Business magazine in 2017, 2018 and 2019, twice named one of Charlie magazine’s “50 Most Progressive,” and named a “Rock Star” award finalist by the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce. Gray has been a featured speaker at the Collision Conference Global Ecosystem Summit in New Orleans, the Southern C Summit, and numerous other events. Also a songwriter and musician, Gray currently performs in the band, The Speed of Sound (S.O.S.). For further details, visit his LinkedIn profile.
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