SC Tech is an initiative of the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness. It was established with the mission to accelerate growth & innovation while providing a unified voice for the statewide technology community by developing a strong 21st Century workforce, supporting entrepreneurs, connecting peers and decision-makers, and establishing South Carolina as a global hub for innovation.
Sign up for our newsletter to stay abreast of all things SC Tech, and download our infosheet to learn more about SC Tech goals, initiatives, and focus areas.
The 2023 SC Tech Strategic Plan is now available to view. This plan will help lay out the work done thus far to build the statewide technology cluster, and how SC Tech plans to GROW, CONNECT, and PREPARE the state’s technology cluster over the next few years.
“Technology is big business, it is the undercurrent of all business processes, and is the path of the future of work, home life, and play. In South Carolina, SC Tech provides the opportunity to unify the voice of our technology industry, leveraging their collective input to help drive our state towards an environment that fosters and supports the technology industry and all the industries that technology supports.
SC Tech brings together technology leaders in industry, education, government, and support initiatives. These SC Tech partners are the voice motivating change by identifying areas of growth and opportunity that will make SC competitive in a global market. SC Tech works on behalf of our partners to expand, connect, and innovate South Carolina’s technology ecosystem. Supporting our partners means we support the whole, and we know that together we are stronger!”
Michael E. Carter is a South Carolina native and 1992 graduate of the Citadel.
With close to thirty years in the public/private Information Technology sector, Carter founded and has successfully run his own IT consulting services company, eGroup, garnering the highest customer satisfaction ratings and repeat, multi-year industry-excellence awards.
Listed as one of the fastest growing businesses at the state, regional, and national level, appearing on the Inc. 5000 list multiple times, and an Inc. Best Places to Work, eGroup delivers speed and certainty with cloud and data center initiatives for the most sophisticated clients across the nation.
Carter is known for being financially responsible and socially progressive – regularly investing in socially responsible causes and civic-minded initiatives that drive South Carolina forward.
Doug, a Physics major from Davidson College, began his professional career as a computer programmer and software engineer. His intellectual property career began in 1998 when he combined his business experience with his legal education and was involved with enforcing a client’s patent against multiple infringers. Since then, Doug has created a well-rounded IP practice that provides legal solutions and strategies tailored to each client from multinational corporations to start-ups. Doug provides his client with strategies to protect inventions (patents), brands (trademarks), websites, software, apps, music, photos, and websites (copyright, licenses and Internet law), and trade secret (the “secret sauce”). Through the creation of intellectual property rights and their enforcement, Doug seeks to develop legal strategies that fit clients’ business goals and increase the company’s worth. Doug also assist clients with drafting, negotiating and reviewing license, assignment, independent contractor and employment agreements as they pertain to intellectual property and ownership. Doug’s business background and legal education and experience make him well suited to understand the interaction between the legal services available to a client, a company’s available resources and the client’s business goals.
Julie joined the SC Department of Commerce Office of Innovation in February of 2020 primarily for the purpose of running the Relentless Challenge grant program. Originally from New York, Julie started her career in advertising with Gannett Newspapers. Seeing the future was not in print, but rather in the young, new world of the internet, Julie took the leap to work for AOL. Starting back in AOL’s CD days and rising through the ranks was thrilling as the entrepreneurial spirit at AOL was everywhere! Each day there were so many new people joining the company and so many new product innovations. From kick-starting the first paid online advertising program at AOL to working in strategy, account service and project management, Julie has worked with an incredible mix of clients including Dell, Johnson & Johnson, Pepsi, Verizon and even the group Metallica. In addition to AOL, Julie worked with marketing companies developing high-impact advertising and promotional programs that often exceeded customer engagement and acquisition goals. Julie brings her experience to the Department of Commerce to help support South Carolina’s efforts in its relentless pursuit of transformational ideas.
The idea that Julie can be a part of the Office of Innovation’s efforts to mobilizes the dynamic flow of resources and information among people, industries and institutions for the prosperity of South Carolina citizens is what drew her to the position of Grants Administrator. She very much looks forward to starting each day with the prospect of being able to help innovators, and the organizations that support them, move closer to achieving their goals. Julie’s goal is to uncover new opportunities and collaborations that continue to grow South Carolina’s innovation ecosystem.
Before Fusion Cyber, Mr. Christopher Etesse, as CEO, completed a 3-year restructuring of FlatWorld Inc. He relocated the former freemium publisher from upstate New York to Washington, DC, rebuilt the team, and pivoted the company into a new opportunity called competency-based learning.
• Deep enterprise SaaS technology experience built one of the first Learning Management Systems (Thomson World Class learning) sold to Pearson. • Founding team member (under 20) at Blackboard to post IPO o Grew international services from $500k to $5M in two years o Executive sponsor for $8M INTL deal that allowed Blackboard to IPO o Led a $10M investment from MSFT that had a 25X return • Chief Product Officer Monster Gov Solutions to DoD and civilian agencies’ primary hiring platform • Chief Product Officer Presidium o Grew technology infrastructure from 200 experts to 2500 o Transitioned from solely IT to shared services for enrollment management, acquisition, financial aid, and retention management o Increased the company’s revenue from $8m to $24M in net new income & Grew K12 partnership from 20,000 enrollees to 110,000 over two years • CEO Kadoo.com • CEO Flat World grew from $1M to $7M in revenue
He also serves on the University of Kentucky, College of Engineering, Dean’s Advisory Council, and has previously served on the Board of Trustees for Loudoun Country Day School. With 18 years of leadership in driving business models and product
Hear From Our Industry
SC Tech Webinar Series Part 1: Retention & Culture In A Remote Working World
SC Tech Webinar Series Part 2: Diversity & Inclusion in Tech
SC Tech Webinar Series Part 3: Work Based Learning & Apprenticeships in Tech
Promoting Innovation and Technology in South Carolina
SC Tech is a statewide, industry-based initiative uniting South Carolina’s technology community. By connecting technology leaders, investors, businesses, academics, and policymakers, we help focus on five core objectives:
Manage, Market, and Connect The Technology Sector
From emerging industry trends to breakthrough technologies and business models, we help shine a spotlight on the companies that power South Carolina’s innovation economy.
Promote a competitive infrastructure and business environment
We provide our federal, state and local officials with the research and industry updates required to make informed decisions on how to best support the growth and success of the state’s technology industry.
Foster Collaboration, Knowledge Sharing, and Research
We facilitate the growth of the technology sector by providing opportunities to build connections, share expertise, and advance new ideas within the technology sector.
Grow And Expand the Talent Pipeline to Serve the Technology Sector
We help South Carolina attract and retain the nation’s best tech talent by strengthening recruitment, skills development, and opportunities for employees and employers
Grow the Technology Sector
We help provide the tools and resources that businesses within the technology industry need to thrive in South Carolina.
Welcome to the Beta version of the brand new SC Tech Heat Map. In this version, you will be able to filter by industry and company and view South Carolina’s technology companies around the state. Check back for the full version, complete with sortable filters, geo-filtering, and more!
About CyberSecureSC (CyberSec)
CyberSecureSC (CyberSec) is an initiative of the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness put forth to aid the South Carolina public and private sectors in both facing the challenges and realizing the opportunities that a technologically-centered culture present. CyberSecureSC, in partnership with the South Carolina Department of Commerce and working in tandem with the Council’s SC Tech, assembles those from different spheres – government, education, and industry – to train and educate a strong multi-disciplinary cybersecurity workforce, cultivate and advance IT and innovation in order to keep pace with the ever-evolving digital threat landscape, support industry leaders and entrepreneurs in managing digital risk and shaping the future of our state’s online security, and be the first choice to establish South Carolina as a global leader in cybersecurity.
Cyber in South Carolina
Cyber is burgeoning in South Carolina. A plethora of programs and events are underway to support and promote the cyber industry. These include a joint aero/tech cybersecurity panel discussion, USC Law School Cyber Institute events.
Additionally, the new SC National Guard cyber facility that’s under development in Aiken is expected to be a major springboard for South Carolina’s cyber industry.
Focus Areas
SC Tech is launching with nine active focus areas that allow partners to get involved and help move the tech industry forward.
Workforce Development
Focuses on skills training and workforce development
STEM Education
Helps ensure students have the foundation in STEM education required for jobs in tech
Digital Infrastructure
Works toward ensuring that the necessary infrastructure in in place to support advances in tech
Data Privacy
Assesses the ever-changing landscape of data privacy and implications behind those changes
Cyber Security
Helps ensure that stakeholders know how to protect themselves against cyber threats
Emerging Technologies
Advises on which emerging technologies have the potential to make the greatest impact
Public Policy
Provides insight into how state and federal policy decisions impact the tech industry
CIO/CISO Round Table
A closed-door space for Chief Information Officers to share industry best practices
Procurement/Government Vendor Work
Offers insight into the procurement challenges facing tech companies
About SC Tech
SC Tech is an initiative of the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness. It was established with the mission to accelerate growth & innovation while providing a unified voice for the statewide technology community by developing a strong 21st Century workforce, supporting entrepreneurs, connecting peers and decision-makers, and establishing South Carolina as a global hub for innovation.
Sign up for our newsletter to stay abreast of all things SC Tech, and download our infosheet to learn more about SC Tech goals, initiatives, and focus areas.
Promoting Innovation and Technology in South Carolina
SC Tech is a statewide, industry-based initiative uniting South Carolina’s technology community. By connecting technology leaders, investors, businesses, academics, and policymakers, we help focus on five core objectives:
Manage, Market, and Connect The Technology Sector
From emerging industry trends to breakthrough technologies and business models, we help shine a spotlight on the companies that power South Carolina’s innovation economy.
Foster Collaboration, Knowledge Sharing, and Research
We facilitate the growth of the technology sector by providing opportunities to build connections, share expertise, and advance new ideas within the technology sector.
Grow the Technology Sector
We help provide the tools and resources that businesses within the technology industry need to thrive in South Carolina.
Promote a competitive infrastructure and business environment
We provide our federal, state, and local officials with the research and industry updates required to make informed decisions on how to best support the growth and success of the state’s technology industry.
Grow And Expand the Talent Pipeline to Serve the Technology Sector
We help South Carolina attract and retain the nation’s best tech talent by strengthening recruitment, skills development, and opportunities for employees and employers
SC Tech Asset Heat Map Beta
Welcome to the Beta version of the brand new SC Tech Heat Map. In this version, you will be able to filter by industry and company and view South Carolina’s technology companies around the state. Check back in early 2021 for the full version, complete with sortable filters, geo-filtering, and more!
Focus Areas
SC Tech is launching with nine active focus areas that allow partners to get involved and help move the tech industry forward.
Workforce Development
Focuses on skills training and workforce development
STEM Education
Helps ensure students have the foundation in STEM education required for jobs in tech
Digital Infrastructure
Works toward ensuring that the necessary infrastructure in in place to support advances in tech
Data Privacy
Assesses the ever-changing landscape of data privacy and implications behind those changes
Cyber Security
Helps ensure that stakeholders know how to protect themselves against cyber threats
Emerging Technologies
Advises on which emerging technologies have the potential to make the greatest impact
Public Policy
Provides insight into how state and federal policy decisions impact the tech industry
CIO/CISO Round Table
A closed-door space for Chief Information Officers to share industry best practices
Procurement/Government Vendor Work
Offers insight into the procurement challenges facing tech companies
About CyberSecureSC (CyberSec)
CyberSecureSC (CyberSec) is an initiative of the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness put forth to aid the South Carolina public and private sectors in both facing the challenges and realizing the opportunities that a technologically-centered culture present. CyberSecureSC, in partnership with the South Carolina Department of Commerce and working in tandem with the Council’s SC Tech, assembles those from different spheres – government, education, and industry – to train and educate a strong multi-disciplinary cybersecurity workforce, cultivate and advance IT and innovation in order to keep pace with the ever-evolving digital threat landscape, support industry leaders and entrepreneurs in managing digital risk and shaping the future of our state’s online security, and be the first choice to establish South Carolina as a global leader in cybersecurity.
Cyber in South Carolina
Cyber is burgeoning in South Carolina. A plethora of programs and events are underway to support and promote the cyber industry. These include a joint aero/tech cybersecurity panel discussion, USC Law School Cyber Institute events.
Additionally, the new SC National Guard cyber facility that’s under development in Aiken is expected to be a major springboard for South Carolina’s cyber industry.
SC Tech Asset Representation
SC Tech and SC Cyber are in the process of building a statewide asset map for technology assets in our state. While we have extensive data to capture most of our companies, we want to make sure that no one is left out.
Our goal is to recognize and represent every tech company in South Carolina, big and small. We urge you to fill out the form below to ensure we can represent your mark on our state!