The Peel and Pour Beverages from Java House are the ultimate solution for enjoying a variety of delicious drinks effortlessly. With a variety of different options to choose from, including coffee, tea, energy drinks, and hydration beverages, our system offers unparalleled versatility.

Whether you’re at home, in the office, or on-the-go, simply pair our system with any water dispenser for instant refreshment. Plus, with 100% recyclable pods, it’s not just convenient – it’s eco-friendly too.

Peel, pour, and enjoy the Java House experience today!

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business, streamline operations, and stand out in a crowded marketplace—all without relying on costly middlemen or outdated methods.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.

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 | Workshop Lounge

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

ATRIUM, 1st floor | Meeli Social Media Booth

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

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

Track: Funding, Supply Chain, LogTech, Emerging Tech, Software, AI

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.

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

Track: Business, Supply Chain, Inventory Management, Merchandising, Transportation, Innovation

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.

HKG Energy
Founder: Giang Hoang
Headquarters: Middletown, DE
Website: hkgenergy.com
HKG Energy is pioneering next-generation silicon anode technology to increase energy density, extend battery lifespan, and accelerate charging times. Our silicon-based anode materials outperform conventional graphite anodes, enabling 450 Wh/kg energy density, rapid charging (<15 minutes), and cost reductions of 40%. We are focused on commercializing our proprietary porous and wrinkled silicon anodes, optimized for high-performance, scalable, and cost-effective production. Our technology can be directly integrated into existing lithium-ion battery manufacturing processes, making it attractive for EV manufacturers, battery producers, and energy storage developers.

HUB Healthcare
Founder: Charles Petrini-Poli
Headquarters: Raleigh, NC
Website: hub.healthcare
At HUB Healthcare, we provide an innovative software platform designed to enhance communication, optimize workflows, and improve patient outcomes across healthcare facilities. Our solution fosters seamless collaboration among providers, patients, and vendors, reducing inefficiencies and saving time. With tools for scheduling, inventory management, secure document sharing, and real-time analytics, HUB Healthcare ensures that every aspect of patient care is streamlined and effective. Join us in revolutionizing healthcare management for better, faster, and smarter patient care.

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.

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

Identity Matrix
Founder: Stephen Lowisz
Headquarters: Detroit, MI
Website: identitymatrix.ai
Identity Matrix uses AI and Generative AI to de-anonymize 70% of US web traffic down to the person, analyze ICP behavior, assess marketing and traffic quality, get a full view of the customer journey, contact high-intent, in-market leads, reduce customer acquisition costs, Consolidate GTM software.

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.

Quality Means Business
Founder: Michel Moravia
Headquarters: Boston, MA
Website: qmbdevices.com
QMB is revolutionizing the MedTech regulatory space with its innovative SaaS platform, QualiVerse. QMB’s QualiVerse is a Vertical SaaS, AI-native platform that revolutionizes the future-of-work for regulatory professionals in medical devices by de-risking and accelerating product development and market clearance/approval. 

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.

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. 

Skyrexio
Founder: Pavel Podoprigorin
Headquarters: Newark, NJ
Website: skyrexio.com
Skyrexio is an AI-driven trading automation platform designed for success in today’s fast-paced financial markets. Featuring a no-code webhook alert bot builder and a smart multi-order terminal powered by built-in TradeGPT AI agents, Skyrexio revolutionizes trading. As the ultimate game-changer, it offers a seamless all-in-one solution for major crypto exchange API integration and lightning-fast execution.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

Startups: TBAJudgesBob Quinn, CEO, SCRA
Alex Shtarkman, VP, Revolution Ventures
Jason Williamson, VP, Strategic Clients Group, Oracle

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.