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2025 Summit Theme
New Frontiers
IN TECHNOLOGY, BUSINESS AND PERSONAL GROWTH
Dig South Tech Summit is the premier event for innovators scaling companies in the South’s tech economy. Thriving in its lucky 13th year, The Summit will offer 7 industry tracks over 30+ sessions, Dig Tech Expo, SC Quantum Challenge, $1M Wild Pitch Prize, Women in Tech Mentor Matchup, Investor-VIP Shindig, and much more. The Summit will also anchor the 1st annual Charleston Tech Week, April 24-May 2, 2025
WHAT’S NEW?
$1,000,000 PITCH OPPORTUNITY, May 2
Dig South’s Wild Pitch winner will pitch for a $1,000,000 investment prize at the Startup World Cup in Silicon Valley.
SC QUANTUM CHALLENGE, MAY 2
SC Quantum, CharlestonHacks and industry partners collaborate in the region’s first Quantum-focused hackathon.
“MAN VS MACHINE” LIVE SKETCHNOTING, May 2
Human artists compete with AI-generated image creators to produce live sketchnotes of summit sessions.
DIG WOMEN: MENTOR MATCHUP W/CHSWIT, May 1, 4:00-5:00pm
Charleston Women in Tech partner to match founders, entrepreneurs and tech workers with successful mentors.
INVESTOR-VIP SHINDIG, May 1, 4:00-5:00pm
Meet angels, VCs, LPs, private equity and grant opportunities at the region’s most essential investor meetup in Charleston.
NEW VENUE: SPECTACULAR SIMONS CENTER FOR THE ARTS
Featuring 3 state-of-the-art theaters and a gorgeous Atrium for the Tech Expo, the Simons Center is spectacular.
7 TECH SUMMIT TRACKS
Explore revenue-generating 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.
Wanna Quantum?™ Don’t miss the Dig South Quantum Challenge presented by SC Quantum and DoraHacks. Participants will be drafted into teams before the Summit to apply quantum concepts to solving real-world problems.
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, May 1-2, 2025. Contact us for opportunities: info@digsouth.com
$1,000,000 Wild Pitch
The South’s Capitol of Capital. Take the stage to show why you’re the Summit’s smartest investment, and win the chance to pitch for $1,000,000. Click to Apply.
Enter Wild Pitch for a chance to win a
$1,000,000 Investment Prize
at Pegasus Tech Ventures Startup World Cup
Quantum Challenge
Wanna Quantum?™ Invent the future at the Dig South Quantum Challenge. Co-produced by SC Quantum, platform hosted by DoraHacks, and coordinated by CharlestonHacks
Thank you!
Sponsor Spotlights 2025
Get Inspired
Last Summit’s Featured Speakers
(2025 lineup announced starting in October)
Carrie
Jaquith
Global Head of Product at Abaxx Tech
Huong
Nguyen
CEO & Founder, Shiloh Events
Alec
Coughlin
COO, Gemini Sports Analytics
JASON
WILLIAMSON
VP, Strategic Clients Group, Oracle
Sam
Havelock
Former Navy SEAL, Founder & Publisher, The SOFX Report
MELISSA
HORTMAN
Account Technology Strategist for Research, Microsoft
Igor
Jablokov
CEO & Founder, Pryon
Matt
Bell
Executive Director, SC Launch Program at SCRA
jim
wanner
CEO & Founder, KeyMark
Eric
HOltzclaw
Founding Partner, Liger
ANDRE
ToST
IBM, Distinguished Engineer
ALEX
Shtarkman
VP, Revolution Ventures
shennice
cleckley
Co-Founder, L. Cleckley Media
Dave
ingram
CEO, Querri
JT
white
CPO, Co-founder, Aug X Labs
BOB
QUINN
President & CEO, SCRA
sachin
patel
Principal Owner, SpursTech
MORRIS
nguyen
Founder & CEO, Predicate HPG
zach
pousman
CEO, Helpfully
Korbin
GRAVES
Customer Engineer, Google Cloud
JT
WHITE
Co-founder & CPO, Aug X Labs
Navid
hashemi
Assist. Professor, Computer Science, Grad. Program Dir.,Data Science and Analytics, College of Charleston
denzil
coleman
Program Manager, Digital Innovation, Office of Innovation, MUSC
joe
fabie
J.D., Founder & CEO, Zitles
denver
smith
Attorney, Butler Snow
Carter
Kennedy
CEO & Co-founder, SoloInsight
Brandon
Welch
MS, PhD, founder & CEO, doxy.me
Paul
Paul Ihme
Co-founder & Managing Principal, Soteria
Ashia
Livaudais
Co-founder & CEO, SymbyAI
Christine
Nicodemus
CEO, Wayhaven
Lauren
Goodell
Founder & CEO, Zinnia
Bryan
Chappell
CEO, Scout
Gordon
Jones
Founder, Picklezone
Bradley
Dick
Co-fouder & CEO, zerodivide.ai
Grainger
McKoy
CEO, Cue
Gloria
Folaron
Founder, Lean Time
Drew
Wagner
CEO, Launchpad OS
Erik
Sherman
Founder, Supportify.ai
Wallace
Lynch
CEO, Polypinion
Juan
garzon
Managing Director, Innovate Charlotte
Last Summit’s Agenda
How’s your AI strategy?
Wed
3.27.24
5:00 – 7:00pm
NEW LOCATION!
Upload Charleston Shindig presented by Charleston County Economic Development, 161 Calhoun Street.
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Each Summit badge includes one ticket.
Purchase: GUEST TICKETS.
Welcome to Dig South’s Charleston AI Summit! Upload Charleston is our signature pre-Summit shindig, hosted in 2024 in the Hill Gallery in the Halsey Institute for Contemporary Art, 161 Calhoun Street. A parking garage is available near the corner of St. Philip and Calhoun Streets.
Tickets are included with full Summit badges and also sold separately to guests and the general public. Very limited supply.
Buy your guest tickets here
Thurs
3.28.24
8:00am – 6:30pm
Charleston AI Summit Sessions hosted by College of Charleston at Sottile Theatre
44 George Street
8:00 – 8:45am (Lobby)
Dig Nation Speed Dating
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The most requested networking opportunity year after year returns using generative AI to suggest who members and attendees should meet. Keep an eye out in the Dig Nation member community for details.
9:00 – 9:10am (Mainstage)
Welcome Dig Nation
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Stanfield Gray, founder, Dig SouthMC Earl Bridges, Host 3x EMMY nominated: THE GOOD ROAD
9:10 – 9:55am (Mainstage)
Building an AI company for Professional + Collegiate Sports Organizations in the Generative AI Era of Business.
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What I know, think and don’t know about the AI-enabled exponential change we’re all experiencing. Alec Coughlin, COO, Gemini Sports Analytics
10:00 – 10:25am (Mainstage)
Generative AI in Enterprise Applications
Show more
Real-World Scenarios and Advanced TopicsAndré Tost, Distinguished Engineer at IBM
10:00 – 10:25am (Balcony Stage)
How AI is Reshaping the Future of Experiential Marketing
Show more
Huong Nguyen, Founder & CEO, Shiloh Events
10:30 – 10:55am (Mainstage) – Sponsor: KeyMark
AI in Action: The Journey from Theory to Practical Applications
Show more
Jim Wanner, CEO & Co-owner, KeyMark
10:30 – 10:55am (Balcony Stage) Sponsor: SCRA
Wild Pitch, Round 1
Show more
Startups: Cue, LaunchPad OS, Leantime, PicklezoneMC Juan Garzon, Managing Director, Innovate Charlotte
Judges: Bob Quinn, CEO, SCRAAlex Shtarkman, VP, Revolution VenturesJason Williamson, VP, Strategic Clients Group, Oracle
11:00 – 11:25am (Mainstage)
Leading in the AI Era: Insights and Best Practices from Industry Leaders
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Melissa Hortman, Ed.D, Technology Strategist for Research, MicrosoftHuong Nguyen, Founder & CEO, Shiloh EventsCarrie Jaquith, Global Head of Digital Product at Abaxx Technologies
11:00 – 11:25am (Balcony stage) Sponsor: SCRA
Wild Pitch, Round 2
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Startups: Polypinion, Predicate, Scout, Supportify.aiMC Juan Garzon, Managing Director, Innovate Charlotte
Judges: Bob Quinn, CEO, SCRAAlex Shtarkman, VP, Revolution VenturesJason Williamson, VP, Strategic Clients Group, Oracle
11:30am – Noon (Mainstage)
The Game Has Changed: How do you become an investable AI Company?
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Moderator: Sam Havelock, Former Navy SEAL, Founder/CEO, SOFX NetworkMatt Bell, Executive Director, SC Launch Program at SCRA: South Carolina Research Authority, Igor Jablokov, CEO & Founder, PryonAlex Shtarkman, VP at Revolution Ventures
11:30am – Noon (Balcony stage)
AI Legal & Regulatory Environment, Trademarks, Copyrights & Privacy
Show more
Moderator: Joe Fabie, J.D., Founder & CEO, ZitlesBijan Ghom, Senior Counsel, Saxton & Stump Jeremy Stipkala, U.S. Patent Attorney, Thrive IPDenver Smith, Attorney, Butler Snow
Noon – 1:15pm
Summit Break: Lunch on King Street
1:30 – 1:55pm (Mainstage)
How to Supercharge your AI-enabled Marketing and Content Strategy
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This panel runs the gamut from solopreneurs to enterprise launching gurus. Learn practical tips and takeaways in abundance that you can use today to elevate your content and marketing game.
Moderator: Chris Clark, Co-founder & CTO, Digital Ignite, Dave Ingram, CEO, Querri JT White, CPO, Co-founder, Aug X Labs Shennice Cleckley, Co-founder, L. Cleckley Media
2:00 – 2:25pm (Mainstage) – Sponsor: Liger
The Cross-Customer Journey Impact of AI
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AI is impacting the world at a dramatic pace, creating efficiencies and challenges as companies build strategies to reach and convert their customer base. This panel looks at the big 3 – Research, Marketing, and Technology – for an eye into what is changing today and the future looks like in an AI-powered world. Eric Holtzclaw, Founding Partner & Chief Strategist, LigerZach Pousman, CEO, Helpfully
2:00 – 2:25pm (Balcony Stage) Sponsor: SCRA
Wild Pitch, Round 3 Startups
Show more
SymbyAI, Wayhaven, ZeroDivide.ai, ZinniaMC Juan Garzon, Managing Director, Innovate Charlotte
Judges:Jason Williamson, VP, Strategic Clients Group, OracleBob Quinn, CEO, SCRAAlex Shtarkman, VP, Revolution Ventures
2:30 – 2:55pm: (Mainstage) – Sponsor: Oracle
AI Capability Maturity Model: We all Know the Promise of AI, But Where Do I Begin?
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In this session, Jason will cover how traditional industry is being changed by AI, how you can know where to apply it in your firm, and where to begin.Jason Williamson, VP, Strategic Clients Group, Oracle
2:30 – 2:55pm (Balcony Stage)
How to Leverage AI Data Insights, Workflow Automation, Infrastructure and the CloudModerator
Show more
Dave Ingram, CEO & Co-founder, Querri Korbin Graves, Customer Engineer, Google Cloud Navid Hashemi, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Computer Science, Graduate Program Director in Data Science and Analytics, College of Charleston
3:00 – 3:25 pm (Mainstage)
Cybersecurity, Critical Infrastructure, Deep Fakes & AI Pitfalls for Companies of all Sizes to Avoid
Show more
Moderator: Jody Stoehr, Co-Founder & CRO, SMPL-C: Cyber Compliance Automated
Sachin Patel, Principal Owner, SpursTech
Paul Ihme, Co-founder & Managing Principal, Soteria
Carter Kennedy, CEO & Co-founder, SoloInsight
3:00 – 3:25pm (Balcony Stage)
The Promise & Current Reality of AI in HealthTech, Life Sciences & Wellness
Show more
Denzil Coleman, Program Manager, Digital Innovation, Office of Innovation, MUSC
Morris Nguyen, Founder & CEO, Predicate HPG
Brandon M Welch, MS, PhD, founder & CEO, doxy.me
3:30 – 3:55pm (Mainstage) Sponsor: SCRA
Wild Pitch Finale
Show more
Startups: TBAJudgesBob Quinn, CEO, SCRA
Alex Shtarkman, VP, Revolution Ventures
Jason Williamson, VP, Strategic Clients Group, Oracle
3:30 – 3:55pm (Balcony Stage)
TBA
4:00 – 4:30pm (Mainstage)
A Fireside Chat with the Founder & CEO of Pryon
Show more
Moderator: Stanfield Gray, Founder & CEO, Dig South
Igor Jablokov, Founder & CEO
Closing Bash & After Party Tickets
4:30 – 6:30pm – TICKETS
The Bot Bash: Dig South’s Closing Shindig Sponsored by The Office People, Hosted by College of Charleston, In collaboration with Loose Ends, Strange Magic & Moondog Animation
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Break out your inner thespian and join us ON the stage at the Sottile Theater for a brilliant celebration of all things AI.
*Tickets included with full Summit badges. Guest and general public tickets can be purchased HERE.
8:00pm – Midnight – BUY NOW
Dig South After-Party Presented by Loose Ends
Show more
Lamar’s Sporting Club, 570 King Street Charleston SC 29403
We’re using generative AI to dial up the visual sporting vibe at Lamar’s, an epic bash to end the Summit. Visuals created by our friends at Moondog Animation. Reserve a table for dinner next door to Lamar’s at Bourbon’N’Bubbles or MESU – also spillover locations when Lamar’s sells out
*Tickets are NOT included with Summit badges and sold separately. Grab your tickets here while they last: BUY NOW HERE.
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.
Purchase tickets at dignation.co. In addition to all Summit sessions on May 2, tickets 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.
>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.
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 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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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 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. 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.
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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