Tech Startup Lifecycle Series
Whether you’re a first-time founder or a seasoned entrepreneur, SCRA’s Tech Startup Lifecycle Series will give you real, first-hand advice from like-minded founders and key leaders in our state’s innovation space. This four-part video series will walk you through the tech lifecycle beginning with how to structure your business, grow, scale, and fund, before finding your successful exit. The complete episode guide is outlined below, and please check back as a new episode will drop each week.
- Episode 1: Structuring the Business
- Episode 2: MVP, Development, and Thinking about Funding
- Episode 3: Growth, Scaling, and External Funding
- Episode 4: The Exit
EPISODE 1
Structuring the Business
Our speakers walk through the Lean Canvas model and its application to a tech startup. Listen as they dive into the problem, solution, cost structure, revenue streams, unique value proposition, unfair advantage, customer segments, channels, and key metrics.
Featuring: Austin Saggus, SC Launch Business Operations Manager, and Allen Bown, Consultant at the South Carolina Small Business Development Center
EPISODE 2
Early-Stage Company
Our panel of leaders from Beaufort County discuss development avenues and common developmental mistakes for early-stage companies. The panel also dives into early-funding mistakes and when to think about pivoting.
Featuring: Jess O’Brien, Beaufort Digital Corridor, Jason Loia, Dolfin Ventures, Andrew Branning, Dolfin Ventures, and Rich Conte, Blackbaud.
EPISODE 3
Growth, Scaling, and External Funding
Listen as our experts review common funding mistakes. They also walk through what to look for in an investor and the crucial things a founder needs to keep in mind during the scaling and funding process.
Featuring: Will Cruz, SCRA Investment Portfolio Manager, Cliff Holekamp, Cultivation Capital.
EPISODE 4
The Exit
Our panel of founders discusses the elements of an exit, including how to prepare for an acquisition, when you should think about your exit, and clearly defined milestones and targets. Our speakers also examine IPO vs. acquisitions, how to establish a price zone, and deal killers.
Featuring: Matt Bell, Director of SC Launch Inc., Steve Clemons, VitaLink Research, Lanford Holloway, TerraStride.