Entrepreurial:NEXT

Innovative, fast growth companies offer our region a great opportunity for creating high wage jobs whilegenerating wealth via business ownership. NEXT is the internationally-recognized economic development program dedicated to growing and attracting high impact, entrepreneurial companies in the Greenville/Upstate SC area. ACCELERATE! funds the full-time operations of NEXT.

What’s NEXT?
NEXT provides support to 91 high-growth companies across the Upstate (as of August 2012).

What’s the economic impact of NEXT? 
In 2011, NEXT companies impacted the local economy with 530 full-time jobs and over $40 million in payroll.

What does NEXT do for high-impact companies? 
NEXT provides direct CEO services, builds infrastructure, and attracts new firms to the area.

NEXT ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Created the award-winning NEXT Innovation Center, the Upstate’s first technology accelerator. The facility is 100% occupied as of Fall 2011.
• Incubated the Upstate Carolina Angel Network
• Launched the NEXT Intern Program, attracting over 300 student applicants in year one
• Supported the launch of Iron Yard Labs (formerly The Next Big Thing) to attract new firms

NEW NEXT PROJECTS

• Develop additional NEXT facilities for software, manufacturing, and biomedical
• Attract additional seed and venture capital
• Create an executive talent pool of seasoned executives, board members, and investors
• Improve the commercialization of intellectual property into new companies