Of Note

In the medical field, timing is everything. An experienced radiologist assistant performed emergency procedures in 20 minutes, until one patient took twice as long. Concerned and frustrated with the increased risk resulting from the instrument, the doctor began conducting extensive research to find a solution.

Dr. Cephus E. Simmons discovered that the proper tool didn’t exist, and determined to give his patients the best possible experience and care he could, he developed it himself. How does a medical expert launch into the world of business to develop and take a new product to market? Dr. Simmons explains his data-driven journey launching three new products, building a company to get them in the right hands and overcoming both regulatory and industry-related challenges.

In the second episode of “Becoming the Origin Story” hosted by Laura McIntosh, Dr. Simmons shares what inspired him to venture into entrepreneurship and start SealCath after 28 years in the clinic and what he’s learned about leading a company. Listen along as he navigates funding, problem solving and his plans for the future.

Every year, the beverage industry suffers a $126 billion loss from product damage. Dealing with such a fragile product has greater opportunities for error than standard products, and that risk is heightened during the transportation phase. When sommelier, Eric Cooperman, got a taste of the problem, he was inspired to develop a unique supply chain solution.

Having 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry, an entrepreneurial spirit and zero software expertise made remedying this production problem challenging in a number of ways.

Eric discusses how he identified a major beverage industry need and successfully bridged the gap between the large, ongoing issue and the tool capable of fixing it, by creating Bottle Titan. He shares how he emerged in an unfamiliar industry, developed a strong network of specialists and advisors to guide him and fast-tracked his knowledge of the rapidly-changing technology field.

In this premier episode of “Becoming the Origin Story” hosted by Laura McIntosh, Eric opens up about his discoveries and lessons learned in the process of becoming an entrepreneur. He unpacks the realities of fundraising, product development and turning partners into customers. To hear his advice to other entrepreneurs in the making, listen here.

Reviews and recommendations are crucial to everyone from modern consumers to brands interested in discovering new partnerships and business ventures. Red Ventures is a global technology company, helping customers make the best decisions by simplifying the search process. Corporate leader Jonathan Desrochers played a key role in developing the technology powering the company’s sales center capabilities.

Jonathan Desrochers joins our hosts Joseph Nother and Laura McIntosh to share how he transitioned from an individual to a leader, with insights into successfully navigating a tech business through a pandemic. Listen as Jonathan shares

Consumers today care about the freshness of their food—and where it came from. Don Taylor, CEO of AmplifiedAg, developed an innovative, sustainable solution to improve agriculture processes and products. Research, visits to multiple large greenhouses and software expertise led him to discover how shipping containers could change the future of farming. AmplifiedAg develops and manufactures technology-controlled indoor farms in shipping containers, to produce food efficiently and economically, in any location.

The company delivers quality products using a sustainable process, which reduces waste, water consumption and its carbon footprint. Founded in 2018, AmplifiedAg first introduced their innovative product to local distributors in Charleston, SC, and are now operating out of six states. Their vision is to provide communities across the globe with fresh, safe food while protecting the planet.

In this episode, Don Taylor joins our hosts Joseph Nother and Laura McIntosh to share how he grew an industry-leading innovation and a like-minded team. Listen as Don discusses leadership, market strategy and software solutions.

As packaging and production continue to contribute to the growing waste generated worldwide, a global packaging company develops sustainable solutions. Vice President of Global Sustainability at Sonoco, Elizabeth Rhue works with customers and international partners to combat the environmental issue by developing customized solutions. Rhue utilizes her technology, sales, marketing and sustainability expertise to lead Sonoco’s global sustainability programs for consumer and industrial packaging.

Pediatric patients suffering from heart issues are treated with the existing adult surgical solutions, requiring repeated surgeries as the child grows. To understand the problems with current technologies, bioengineer Naren Vyavahare consults with clinicians and applies this knowledge to innovative, adjusted strategies. He develops new solutions in the lab and works with other experts and private sector companies to bring them to the marketplace. The inspiring impact of his commitment: a groundbreaking discovery that reduces surgical risk, patient and family trauma, and financial costs for pediatric patients that will last centuries.

In this episode, Naren Vyavahare joins our hosts Joseph Nother and Laura Corder to talk about the roles passion, teamwork, and plenty of research play in developing life-changing solutions for congenital heart disease. Listen as Naren Vyavahare talks about understanding “the why,” consulting with clinicians, and building a team of experts in business, cardiology, and research to discover the solution.

Most large, public companies today, including Bank of America, have been increasingly vocal about their efforts to improve minority representation, diversity and equity in their businesses. As minority entrepreneurs initially try to launch their businesses, they’re facing a disproportionate number of hurdles and funding acquisition challenges.

HI Mark Capital Managing Partner, Herbert Drayton III, joins us today to delve into some of these issues. His North Charleston based venture firm invests in black-owned, women-owned and other minority-owned businesses, with the financial impact mission to empower and fund minority businesses. He addresses some of the disadvantages minority entrepreneurs face, including lack of clearly defined expectations from investors and emerging from a different ecosystem than the Silicon Valley investors.

In this fourth episode of our December mini-series on funding hosted by Lauren McIntosh, Herbert helps define the problem and explain specific funding challenges and misconceptions minority entrepreneurs encounter. He suggests finding a reputable, transparent mentor to provide direction in the early stages. Listen here for more of his recommendations about what business leaders and investors can do to make an impact.

Investing locally has major benefits for investors, giving them a voice and stake in the businesses that shape their communities, and for the local companies themselves by providing them with the money to grow and succeed to serve the surrounding community. Today, it is easier than ever to get involved and support local businesses, thanks to investment vehicles like Vicinity Capital.

Vicinity Capital Co-Founders Josh Rollins and John Crawford share advice on the easiest ways to get started and how people can utilize the platform. Josh brings his experience empowering communities through local investing alternatives, web-investment strategy and business intelligence to the conversation while John incorporates his knowledge of marketing, sales, investment planning and executive leadership to coach us through crowdfunding that helps a community.

In the third episode of our four-part mini series on funding, Josh and John join our host Lauren McIntosh to help differentiate between kickstarters, crowdfunds and crowd-investments. Listen as they explain the important ways investing locally empowers the investors, the community and its businesses, for success.

It seems like today more than ever researchers, entrepreneurs and academics are jumping at the opportunity to launch startups. The component stopping most from transforming their idea into a business boils down to funding. In the second episode of our four-part mini series where we sit down with South Carolina’s top investors and leaders, we navigate the topic of public funds.

3Phase SC Program Manager, Kyle Salazar, and South Carolina Research Authority SC Launch Director, Matt Bell, share how their funding companies help early stage businesses get their ideas off of the ground so they can make an impact on the world. They explain the key indicators of success and growth, including accurate market identification, that their companies require before awarding grant applicants with early stage or accelerated grants. For entrepreneurs trying to understand funding allocations, Kyle identifies the three phases of feasibility, product development and commercialization as they pertain to grants.

In this second episode, Matt and Kyle join our hosts Joseph Nother and Laura Corder to discuss tech-development funds and grant making capabilities. Listen here for exclusive advice on how to take your company from the pre-investment phase to an equitable, low-risk business, with the help of federal funds.

As emerging technology presents more opportunities for innovation, many entrepreneurs encounter the obstacle of acquiring the funding they need to make their idea a reality. In the first of our four-part mini series of candid conversations with leaders and investors of South Carolina, we explore key differences between angel investors and venture capitals.

We are joined by Venture South’s Co-Founder and Managing Director, Paul Clark, and Good Growth Capital’s Managing Partner, Amy Salzhauer. Venture South, an angel investment company that invests in startups through angel groups and funds, is a vehicle for individuals to invest their own money into companies. Paul shares what it takes to become an angel investor and how people can get involved in investing. Venture Capital, Good Growth Capital, typically uses two stages of fund families one a pre-seed and seed stage and the other through series venture capital. Amy explains what industries and kinds of entrepreneurs interest her company.

In this episode Paul and Amy join our hosts Joseph Nother and Laura McIntosh to talk about funding sources, costs and stages of investing. Listen as the two define investor-entrepreneur relationships, the experience level of companies they interact with and the key criteria both kinds of inventors look for in a presentation.