Columbia, SC– August 12, 2025 – Catalyst Labs announced today that it will host the South Carolina AI Showcase & Community Meetup on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025, from 4 pm to 6 pm at the NEXT Innovation Center located at 411 University Ridge, Greenville, SC 29601. The showcase is presented in partnership with the Benedict College Statewide Investment Accelerator (BCSIA), NextGEN, and Build Carolina. The event will highlight South Carolina–based artificial intelligence start‑ups and the broader ecosystem that supports them. Attendees can expect live demonstrations from local AI companies, a panel discussion on the state of South Carolina’s AI ecosystem, and ample time for networking and connection.
“The Benedict College Statewide Investment Accelerator is proud to collaborate with dynamic ecosystem builders, such as Catalyst Labs, in the area of technology and innovation, utilizing cutting‑edge tools such as AI in order to help early‑stage founders build to scale,” said Dr. Millicent B. Lann, program director of the BCSIA. Lann leads the accelerator’s efforts to provide diverse South Carolina founders with capital and mentorship and notes that since the accelerator’s inception in 2023 it has supported more than 20 early‑stage founders.
“AI is evolving faster than most people realize, from how consumers engage with it to how founders can build with it” said Shondra Washington, CEO and Co-Founder of Catalyst Labs. “The pace of change is exciting, but it also means we have to be intentional about how we incorporate AI into our new ideas. We believe those conversations need to start in community. That’s why we’re hosting the AI Showcase. At Catalyst Labs, collaboration always comes before competition. Collaboration starts by creating space for connection, conversation, and shared learning.”
“This event is about more than just showcasing new technology—it’s about spotlighting the incredible people building that technology right here in South Carolina,” said Build Carolina CEO Lelia King. “At Build Carolina, we focus on developing and supporting that talent every day, and we’re proud to see so many of our state’s founders and technologists leading the way in AI. The future of tech isn’t somewhere else—it’s being built in our communities, by our people.”
About the South Carolina AI Showcase & Community Meetup
This is the first event of its kind focused specifically on South Carolina’s AI founders. The evening program is designed to give AI entrepreneurs a platform to demonstrate their technologies and to facilitate connections among founders, investors, technologists, and community members.
The showcase will feature:
- Showcasing South Carolina AI startups, giving early‑stage companies an opportunity to demonstrate their products and gather feedback.
- Panel discussion on South Carolina’s AI ecosystem, a moderated conversation with ecosystem builders and investors exploring the state’s strengths and opportunities.
- Open networking and connection, time for attendees to meet one another and discuss potential collaborations.
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About Benedict College (www.benedict.edu)
Founded in 1870 by a woman, Bathsheba A. Benedict, Benedict College is a private co-educational liberal arts institution offering 29 competitive baccalaureate degree programs and two master’s degree programs. The Midlands HBCU welcomes students from several counties in South Carolina, states across America, and countries around the world. The College also has a diverse faculty deeply engaged in teaching, research, and service.
Benedict College has been highly regarded and exceptionally ranked for its programs by several academic and traditional publications. Benedict College is the recipient of the 2024 UNCF Institutional Excellence Award given by UNCF’s Institute for Capacity Building Program in celebration of an HBCU that achieved next-level performance. Benedict was also named HBCU of the Year by HBCU Digest and was listed among the top half of ranked HBCUs in the 2022 edition of Best Colleges by US News and World Report.
Benedict College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award baccalaureate and master’s degrees. Five of the College’s degree programs hold national accreditation: Social Work Program, Environmental Health Science Program, Environmental Engineering, Studio Art, and the Tyrone Adam Burroughs School of Business and Entrepreneurship.
About the Benedict College Statewide Investment Accelerator (BCSIA)
Launched in 2023, the BCSIA is an investment accelerator that aims to “empower and elevate South Carolina founders from diverse backgrounds by providing more equitable opportunities that include access to capital and mentorship”. The accelerator is part of Benedict College’s effort to create an innovation pipeline reaching every corner of the state and to address the equity gap in venture‑capital access for women, minority, veteran, and other underfunded entrepreneurs. Since its inception, the BCSIA has helped 20 early‑stage founders launch and scale promising businesses, and its programming is supported by corporate partners such as Wells Fargo and Truist Bank. Learn more about our program and how you can get involved at bc-sia.org.
About Catalyst Labs
Catalyst Labs is an entrepreneur support organization that is dedicated to helping entrepreneurs launch and scale their businesses. The organization’s mission is to empower innovators by providing the resources they need to develop and grow, thereby cultivating an inclusive and thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem. Catalyst Labs offers structured programs, personalized mentorship, and hands‑on training, along with access to funding and investment opportunities. Learn more about us and Launchpad, our one-day accelerator, at catalystlabshq.com.