SC LaunchSC Launch

SC Launch advances South Carolina’s Knowledge Economy - an economy based on technology and typified by high wage-earning jobs.

Commercializing TechnologiesMoving technologies from the benches of South Carolina’s research universities into the commercial market

Creating Companies and JobsSupporting the formation and growth of tech-based companies in South Carolina through mentoring and funding

Supporting Landing PartiesHelping established technology companies from other states and countries relocate to South Carolina

SC Launch is SCRA Technology Ventures’ flagship economic development program.SCRA is a not-for-profit applied research corporation with a key mission to grow South Carolina’s technology-based economy. This is primarily done through the SC Launch program, which was formed by SCRA in 2006 in response to a legislative mandate. Originally funded by SCRA’s retained earnings, the program is now supported by contributions to the annual $6 million Industry Partnership Fund.

Bill Mahoney Chief Executive Officer, SCRA

SC Launch Sources and Uses of Funds

Chemical & Engineering

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

7718

5

6.5%

Energy

9.5%

Advanced Materials

5.5%

Transportation

12.0%Chemical & Engineering Process

30.0%Information Technology

32.5%Life Sciences

4.0%

Defense

Direct to Entrepreneurs77%

5%

18%Mandated Services

ProgramOperations

Life Sciences

Transportation

Information Technology

Defense

Advanced Materials

Energy

Judicious InvestmentsProgram operations are efficient and lean so that the majority of the Industry Partnership Fund is invested in entrepreneurial companies.

Focused InvestmentsInvestments are aligned with the focus areas of South Carolina’s research universities and emerging technology clusters in the state.

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Grants InvestmentsInvestmentsInvestmentsInvestmentsInvestments

SC Launch provides a comprehensive suite of resources to support entrepreneurs.When a company is accepted into the program they become a Client Company and receive mentoring and access to a robust network of business service resources such as legal, marketing, banking, prototyping and manufacturing. Eligible Client Companies may receive matches to federal Phase I SBIR/STTR grants or University Start-up Assistance Program grants.

Client Companies that are approved by the SC Launch Board for early-stage investment funding become Portfolio Companies. Established technology companies from other states and countries may receive assistance relocating to South Carolina.

SC LAUNCH TOOLBOX

SC Launch Board The SC Launch Board is a seasoned forum of commercialization experts. The Board reviews candidate companies and approves all Portfolio Investments.

Peter DunphyJudith Davis

Tiffany DuPree Greg Hillman Ambrose Schwallie Derek Willis Martin Ettlemyer Greg Clark Lindsay Kuhnhein

Tim Reed John Warner Joe WischerathDeepal Eliatamby Andrea Marshall

SC LAUNCH LEADERSHIP

SC Launch Team The SC Launch Team mentors client companies, guiding them through the SC Launch due diligence process.

SC Launch Resource Partners provide essential business support services to SC Launch Client Companies. These include accounting, banking, engineering, human resources, information technology, insurance/risk management, legal, sales & marketing and assistance in obtaining Federal SBIR/STTR grants.

Resource Partners

Bauknight Pietras & Stormer, P.A.

Elliott Davis

BB&T

Square 1 Bank

Wells Fargo Bank, NA

Cedar Ventures, LLC

Ceterus Inc.

HS Diversified Solutions, LLC

Integrity Professionals, LLC

Knowledge Capital Group (KCG)

Newport Board Group

Supporting Strategies

The Baciocco Group, Inc. (TBG)

Flextronics

UEC Electronics, LLC (UEC)

Vetronix

Clarke & Company Benefits, LLC

Green Door Company

Corporate Benefits, Inc.

KeenanSuggs

The Kidder Group, Inc.

McPherson, Berry & Associates, Inc. (MB&A)

Smart Work | Network, Inc.

Snelling

CSASS

Cyberwoven

Immedion

ProActive Technology

PST

VC3

Clarke & Company Benefits, LLC

Corporate Benefits, Inc.

KeenanSuggs

Neace Lukens

Counts & Huger

Dority & Manning

entrepreneurs law group

Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, P.A.

McNair Law Firm

Michael D. Layman

Monahan & Moses, LLC

Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarbor-ough

Nexsen Pruet

Ogletree Deakins

Rogers Townsend & Thomas, PC

Stipkala, LLC

Willcox, Buyck & Williams, P.A.

Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice

Wyche

Byrum Innovation Group, Inc. (BIG)

CarterTodd & Associates

Chernoff Newman

Dynamic Exhibits

ECI

Gil Shuler Graphic Design, Inc.

GrowthSpring Group

JC Rose & Associates

Maga Design

Post No Bills, Inc.

Silicon Harbor Communications, LLC

Smoak Public Relations

Southeast, Strategic Marketing International (SMI)

StrategicPartner

Trevelino/Keller Communications (TKCG)

VantagePoint

Nimbus Technologies

Dilks-Simone Enterprises, Inc.

SCBIO

South Carolina Chamber of Commerce

South Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (SCMEP)

RESOURCE NETWORKSC LAUNCH LEADERSHIP

Company: Voterheads

Region: Midlands

Industry: IT

What they do: Voterheads is a Columbia-based SC Launch Client Company. The company aims to provide one simple web platform for citizens to keep up with local government and school board issues that interest them and to communicate easily with their elected officials.

Interesting fact: Voterheads is actively monitoring over 800 organizations up and down the East Coast from Florida to Maryland.

CLIENT COMPANY

Company: Recovr

Region: Upstate

Industry: IT

What they do: SC Launch Client Company Recovr researches, develops and distributes virtual therapy tools to improve the daily lives of people with disabilities. Recovr’s first product, “Duck Duck Punch,” is an award-winning, physical rehabilitation game system for post-stroke, arm movement rehabilitation. The company, based in Clemson and a graduate of the Iron Yard’s Digital Health Accelerator, is working to launch new rehabilitation systems to improve recovery for other physical disabilities. Recovr was recently recognized as the 2014 InnoVision Small Enterprise award-winner for their technology and innovation.

Interesting fact: Recovr’s technology is the result of a collaborative project between Clemson University and the Medical University of South Carolina.

UNIVERSITY START-UP ASSISTANCE

Company: PPI Pharmaceuticals

Region: Midlands

Industry: Life Sciences

What they do: The company was formed by Dr. Campbell McInnes of the University of South Carolina, based on discoveries from his laboratory. PPI’s technology allows for more efficient pharmaceutical development against targets previously inaccessible to conventional methods. This will enable generation of compounds that are specific for molecular targets in tumors thereby decreasing the effects on normal cells. A more selective therapeutic thus allows improved efficacy against cancers while also decreasing the negative side effects and toxicities associated with traditional chemotherapy drugs.

Interesting fact: The STTR will fund the development of targeted compounds that, due to their more selective properties, allow for a decrease in the side effects and toxicities associated with conventional cancer drugs.

PPIPharmaceuticals

STTR MATCH

Company: Recleim

Region: Midlands

Industry: Energy

What they do: Founded in 2012, Recleim became an SC Launch Portfolio Company in 2014. Recleim brings next-generation appliance and electronic recycling to North America. Their flagship 110,000 square foot facility, a renovation of a mill in Graniteville, features state-of-the-art, completely closed-loop resource recovery technology to cleanly and safely de-manufacture and recycle refrigerators, other household appliances, computers and small electronics, while exceeding all existing Environmental Protection Agency standards.

Interesting fact: At full capacity, the Graniteville plant is expected to employ about 200 people.

PORTFOLIO COMPANY

Company: International BioMedical Devices (IBMD)

Region: Lowcountry

Industry: Life Sciences

What they do: IBMD is a Charleston-based, medical device company focused in the field of ophthalmic surgery. Based on a technology from Israel, the company’s ApertureRx™ System is a novel precision thermal capsulotomy system for use in cataract surgery. The technology offers improved consistency and performance during the capsulotomy procedures. The company plans to manufacture its patented, single use tip in South Carolina.

Interesting fact: IBMD has an exclusive, world-wide license with Valens Associated, Inc. and inventor, Joshua Ben-Nun, M.D. in Israel.

PORTFOLIO COMPANY

INTERNATIONAL BIOMEDICAL DEVICES, INC.

Company: NeuroQuest

Region: Lowcountry

Industry: Life Sciences

What they do: NeuroQuest has discovered blood-based immune biomarkers for producing early and accurate diagnostics for Alzheimer’s and ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). NeuroQuest received strong confirmation of its technology with the results of an independent clinical study performed by the Australian Imaging, Biomarker & Lifestyle Flagship Study of Ageing (AIBL). NeuroQuest was formed in Israel and in 2014 it established its US subsidiary and clinical development center at the Roper St. Francis Clinical Biotechnology Research Institute in Charleston, SC. The company’s Charleston, SC development center serves as the base for its clinical and regulatory work. These patented biomarkers may also lead to a better understanding of the mechanism of neurodegenerative disease, leading to improved therapeutics.

Interesting fact: NeuroQuest is the first company to locate in South Carolina as part of the SC-Israel Joint R&D Collaboration signed by South Carolina’s Department of Commerce and managed by SCRA in South Carolina.

PORTFOLIO COMPANY/LANDING PARTY

Company: BarberWind

Region: Upstate

Industry: Energy

What they do: Greenville-based BarberWind Turbines is an SC Launch Portfolio Company with a groundbreaking wind energy technology. The company designs, manufactures, constructs and maintains wind energy assets. The company’s wind turbine, which will be manufactured in Upstate South Carolina, is highly efficient and among the most cost-effective wind technologies on the market. One 800 kW wind turbine offsets carbon pollution equivalent to taking 700 cars off the road. The entire turbine ships from the manufacturer in five 40 foot containers and does not require a heavy lift crane for assembly or maintenance, allowing the turbine to be used in remote, high-wind locations like the Caribbean and Central America.

Interesting Fact: Jerry Barber, inventor and founder of the company is also the 2010 recipient of the InnoVision Dr. Charles Townes Individual Achievement Award, and received more than 50 patents, 22 of those were produced commercially.

PORTFOLIO COMPANY

PORTFOLIO COMPANY

Company: ISI Technology

Region: Lowcountry

Industry: Energy

What they do: ISI Technology is a Charleston-based start-up responsible for inventing a disruptive new product, the world’s first fully digital tankless electric water heater, the Heatworks MODEL 1. The MODEL 1 reduces up to 40% of energy usage and 10% of water usage, saving both time and money. ISI Technology was accepted into the SC Launch program in 2011 and has received two tranches of investment. After a successful Kickstarter campaign, the company has not only met their own expectations, but exceeded them. Out of a pledged goal of $125,000 they raised $436,594.

Interesting Fact: ISI Technology and the Heatworks MODEL 1 were accepted into the Microsoft Ventures Accelerator program in August 2014. The program, sponsored by American Family Insurance, offers mentorship, tools and connections to support business growth of technology-based businesses focused on home automation. ISI Technology recently graduated from the program in December 2014 and plans to continue working on making the MODEL 1 everyone’s next water heater.

PORTFOLIO COMPANY

Company: PEC360

Region: Lowcountry

Industry: IT

What they do: Patient Engagement Centers of America (PEC360) combines people, processes and technology to create Patient Engagement Centers that assist physicians in the proactive management of their patient population. The combination of trained Patient Engagement Specialists and proprietary Patient Relationship Management (PRM) technology makes PEC360 effective at converting client’s healthcare data into scheduled visits that improve both patient outcomes and financial performance.

Interesting fact: PEC360 was founded in 2008 and is based on a revolutionary business process that evolved out of consumer industries that utilize Customer Relationship Management (CRM) technology to generate, manage and convert sales opportunities.

Company: Bridge to Life

Region: Midlands

Industry: Life Sciences

What they do: Bridge to Life is a recent graduate of the SC Launch program. Based in Columbia, the company first received SC Launch support in 2008 and was a Portfolio Company in the program. Bridge to Life is a biotechnology company formed to advance the science of organ transplant, and to research, develop and commercialize medical technologies. The company now offers multiple product lines and equipment.

Interesting fact: Bridge to Life is working on a research collaboration with Harvard Medical School and the Medical University of South Carolina.

GRADUATE COMPANY

Follow-onFunding

Company: Selah Genomics

Region: Upstate

Industry: Life Sciences

What they do: Selah Genomics is a provider of advanced molecular and genomic diagnostic services. Their services add value to early-stage drug development, clinical trials and regulatory processes in the pharmaceutical industry, help clinicians and healthcare providers treat and monitor patients and improve patient outcomes.

Interesting fact: Selah was recently acquired by EKF Diagnostics for $75 million, making it the largest of nine exits out of the SC Launch program since 2006. Since 2007, Selah has received four rounds of investment from SC Launch.

GRADUATE COMPANY

GRADUATE COMPANY

Company: CreatiVasc Medical

Sector: Life Sciences

Where they are: Upstate

What they do: CreatiVasc is a medical device company based in Greenville, S.C. The company offers several technologies for dialysis patients, including an innovative device called the Hemoaccess Valve System®, that significantly reduces the complications, costly interventional surgery and suffering associated with End Stage Renal Disease patients on dialysis. Founded in 2004 by Dr. David Cull, a vascular surgeon at Greenville Hospital System, the company began full-time operations in 2007. CreatiVasc has multiple issued patents on its device both in the US and around the world.

CreatiVasc met several milestones in recent years. The company received multiple investments from the SC Launch program and others, was selected as one of three companies for the FDA’s Innovation Pathway “FastTrack” Program and was most recently acquired by Brookhaven Medical. Brookhaven is an Atlanta-based medical device company with interests in dialysis devices and advanced wound care. CreatiVasc will continue to operate in Greenville.

Interesting Fact: CreatiVasc was one of the earliest companies in the SC Launch Program.