We asked NEXT CEO John Moore a few questions about why he's excited for our upcoming joint Intercommunity Leadership Visit with the Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce to Raleigh-Durham, NC.

Q: What excites you most about Raleigh-Durham’s progress? 
A: How the city of Durham in particular has built one of the country’s most thriving entrepreneur ecosystems in about a decade. Though somewhat complementary in nature, the startup scene in Durham is very different than the traditional research campus model employed in Raleigh decades earlier.

Q: What is most exciting (or most pressing) about what’s happening in our region? 
A: The momentum building around growing our own global headquarter companies in the Greenville-Spartanburg area and whether we can take the next step to become truly competitive on the national entrepreneur scene.

Q: What is important to you about this being a joint trip with the Spartanburg and Greenville Chambers? 
A: The time we will spend together and the relationships that can come from such a trip. Business and community development happens via relationships and trips like these offer the best opportunity to get to know other key players in the region.

Q: What do you hope to see/learn? 
A: New models for creating density in entrepreneurial development like American Underground.

Thinking about joining us for the trip? Learn more here and get on board today!