Deployment

Investment Capital

EngenuitySC works in collaboration with Columbia region individuals, governments, businesses, and non-profit groups to increase the number of investment capital resources available to entrepreneurs and rapidly growing knowledge-oriented companies.

We have a pro-business legislature that values the potential economic impact that knowledge based companies can have on our economy. The world economy has shown their support by establishing several programs and enacting legislation that make our region attractive for high-growth ventures and assist start-ups from a financial standpoint. All of which create an atmosphere that can financial support ideas by creating investment capital.

Investment Resources

National Venture Capital Association -- www.nvca.org
U.S. Angel Capital Association -- www.angelcapitalassociation.org
National Association of Seed and Venture Funds -- www.nasvf.org
South Carolina Investor Network -- www.scinvestor.org
SC Launch -- www.sc.launch.org

Angel Capital Networks

Angel Network of Sumner County - Nashville, TN www.angelnetworkofsumnercounty.org
Ariel Savannah Angel Partners - Savannah, GA www.savannahangelpartners.com
Atlanta Technology Angels - Atlanta, GA www.angelatlanta.com
Charleston Angel Partners - Charleston, SC www.chapsc.com
Eastern NC - Investor Network - Greenville, NC www.ecu.edu/rds/ei
Emergent Growth Fund - Gainesville, FL www.emergentgrowth.com
Gulf Coast Venture Forum - Naples, FL www.gcvf.com
Huntsville Angel Network - Huntsville, AL www.huntsvilleangels.com
Inception Micro Angel Fund - Family of Funds - Winston-Salem, NC www.inceptionmicroangelfund.com
Mississippi Angel Network - Ridgeland, MS www.technologyalliance.ms
Nashville Capital Network - Nashville, TN www.nashvillecapital.com
New World Angels - Boca Raton, FL www.newworldangels.com
Piedmont Angel Network - Greensboro, NC www.piedmontangelnetwork.com
Triangle Accredited Capital Forum - Wake Forest, NC www.captial-forum.com
Upstate Carolina Angel Network -  Greenville, SC www.upstateangels.com
Wilmington Investor Network - Wilmington, NC www.wilmingtoninvestor.com
Winter Park Angels - Winter Park, FL www.winterparkangels.com

South Carolina Venture Capital

The Trelys Funds -- Columbia, SC www.trelys.com
Azalea Capital -- Greenville, SC www.azaleacapital.com
Banyan Mezzanine Fund -- Southeast www.banyanmezzanine.com
Frontier Capital -- Charlotte, NC www.frontierfunds.com
Nexus Medical Partners -- Charleston, SC www.nexusmp.com
Noro-Moseley Partners -- Atlanta, GA www.noro-moseley.com
Progeny Ventures -- Charleston, SC www.progenyvc.com
Vaxa Capital Partners, LP -- Greenville, SC www.vaxacapital.com

Programs & Initiatives

The Columbia region fully supports its knowledge economy. It has created programs and initiatives that can supplement and create opportunities for knowledge-based businesses.

Here is the legislation that has helped the third stage in the innovation pipeline:

Venture Capital Act: Passed in 2005, the Venture Capital Investment Act increases availability to venture capital for emerging, expanding relocating, and restructuring enterprises in the State of South Carolina. The process is to be facilitated by the South Carolina Venture Capital Authority, which was created in the Act. The act allows the South Carolina Venture Capital Authority to enter into agreements with one or more persons (each, a “Designated Investor Group”) in raising private funds through loans from qualified lenders and uses such funds to make venture capital investments.

Innovation Centers Act: Under this legislation, SCRA collaborates with the University of South Carolina, Clemson University, and the Medical University of South Carolina to advance the commercialization of research and technology by investing more than $12 million in SC Launch, a program committed to this advancement.

Industry Partners Act: Created in 2006, the Industry Partners Act allows business and individuals to contribute to the Industry Partnership fund and receive tax credits toward their South Carolina income tax (100% of the donated amount). The fund is used to fuel the Knowledge Economy through strategic investments in technology start-ups within South Carolina.