South Carolina Business Review

Well, here we are, one month into a new year already, and investors are still confused about the financial markets. For a while, it looked like the tech bubble was over and that bonds were looking good again. But now, not many are sure. So we’ve asked one of our resident financial analysts to offer his take. Mike Switzer interviews Tyson Halsey, a chartered financial analyst with Income Growth Adv...

Mike Switzer interviews John Warner, a serial entrepreneur and founder of Innoventure in Greenville, S.C. John tells us about BMW employing humanoid robots in their Spartanburg County plant.

Have you ever found yourself needing to check out of your hotel many hours before your flight and wondering what to do about your luggage while you got out and enjoyed the local sights one last time? Our next guest has and she decided to do something about it by forming her own luggage logistics service. And it was recently recognized with the 2023 InnoVision Small Business Award. Mike Switzer int...

If your doctor told you that the shot he has been giving you is now available to be taken orally through tiny glass bubbles, would you give it a try? Well, it is actually a groundbreaking innovation pioneered by a South Carolina start-up biotech company that has earned an endorsement from the US National Science Foundation and the 2023 InnoVision Technology Integration Award. Mike Switzer intervie...

The US Small Business Administration facilitates a lot of small business loans all across the country. A small Upstate bank actually broke into the top 25 list of SBA lenders last year with more than $177 million in SBA loans. That’s out of more than 1,500 banks nationwide. Mike Switzer interviews Beth Hallock, president of SBA lending at United Community Bank in Greenville, SC.

It’s early in the year still, but as was the case last year, economic forecasts continue to be upended. The latest example just recently when a national jobs report came in stronger than expected and dampened prospects for interest rate cuts. Today we’ll check in with one of our resident economists to get his take. Mike Switzer interviews Frank Hefner, director of the Office of Economic Analysis a...

An update of the news, events, and issues that are trending right now across South Carolina's business community. Mike Switzer interviews Jason Thomas, executive editor of SCBizNews, the company that publishes the Columbia Regional Business Report, Charleston Regional Business Journal, GSA Business and SCBizNews magazine.

For decades, there has been software available to help you learn to play musical instruments. Our next guest says they have now been able to incorporate machine learning into their gaming-style music learning software that is increasing the likelihood of students to continue their lessons. And this technology recently earned them the 2023 InnoVision Education Award. Mike Switzer interviews Mak Grg...

We recently learned that one of our state agencies involved in job creation and retention has a new leader. Today, we have him on the phone. Mike Switzer interviews Jesse Smith, the new executive director of the South Carolina Jobs-Economic Development Authority (JEDA) in Columbia, SC.

With so many German businesses located in our state, it only makes sense that someone should host a conference focused on growing that relationship. And that’s exactly what our next guest’s institution has been doing for several years now. Mike Switzer interviews Paul Schwager, dean of the School of Business at the College of Charleston, host of the German-American Business Summit on Feb. 7th.

If you’ve been investing in the financial markets for a long time, you could have a portfolio that has grown significantly in value. Which could present a tax problem. Our next guest says there is a way to avoid some of these capital gains and it involves tax planning across generations. Mike Switzer interviews Stephen Maggard, a certified financial planner with Abacus Planning Group in Columbia,...

Mike Switzer interviews John Warner, a serial entrepreneur and founder of Innoventure in Greenville, S.C. John tells us about a smart innovation report for SC that he has compiled.

You may remember that late last year the United Nations held its annual climate conference, COP28, in Dubai, where world leaders addressed climate change and environmental challenges. Also attending that conference were 151 mayors from around the world including our next guest. Mike Switzer interviews Daniel Rickenmann, mayor of Columbia, SC.

Our state has been blessed for many years now with a robust economy. We’ve weathered a financial crisis, a 1,000-year flood, and a pandemic. But can we weather the weather? One of our major cities is taking part in a nature-based program to improve and strengthen its level of resilience. Mike Switzer interviews Dale Morris, chief resilience officer for the City of Charleston, SC. Nature Based Exch...

Entrepreneurial resources in our state continue to expand. Our next guest’s accelerator, for example, is looking for applicants from around South Carolina for its next spring cohort. Their goal, in particular, is to address the gap in venture capital access for women, minority, veteran, and other underfunded demographics. Mike Switzer interviews Millicent Lann, program director at the Benedict Col...

With Bitcoin all over the news lately, we thought it might be worthwhile to dig a little deeper into blockchain technology, how it works exactly, and what is the role of Bitcoin in a blockchain anyway? Mike Switzer interviews Ashton Lawrence, a certified financial planner with Mariner Wealth Advisors in Greenville, SC.

Mike Switzer interviews Alan Cooper, founder and editor of three online business news websites in South Carolina: MidlandsBiz, UpstateBizSC, and LowCountryBizSC.

InnoVision Awards is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of innovation and technology in our state. And each year, as their name implies, they recognize companies, organizations, and individuals toward that end. 2023’s Community Service Award was recently announced and our next Internet solutions company was the recipient. Mike Switzer interviews Kent Winrich, chief technology of...

I didn’t know this but apparently, photographers and videographers in the real estate industry have a hard time finding skilled editors to help them improve the quality of their photos and videos. So our next guest’s company created a software solution that resulted in an investment of a quarter million dollars from SC Launch. Mike Switzer interviews Moses Nickerson, co-founder and CEO of Pixlmob...

We’ve interviewed a few companies over the years in the vertical farming industry, also known as CEA or controlled environment agriculture, which usually involves growing plants (mostly greens) in a controlled indoor environment. We recently learned that our next guest’s company was selected to install a vertical farm at a local prison, the first time this has been done onsite at a correctional in...

As we start a new year, it’s natural to have concerns about whether the financial decisions you made last year or will be making this year, are the best ones for you and your family. Especially when stock and bond market environments like we’ve seen the last couple of years happen, which can shake the confidence of even the most seasoned investors. Our next guest has some suggestions for us on how...

Mike Switzer interviews John Warner, a serial entrepreneur and founder of Innoventure in Greenville, S.C. John tells us about AI’s presence in industry in our state.

Thanks to many old, empty, commercial buildings and tax credits, historic preservation continues to be a significant part of local economic development. Our next guest says that this preservation work is also starting to influence residential design. Mike Switzer interviews Dale Marshall, president of Architrave in Columbia, SC.

Another new year is underway and many sales people are putting into action their plan for growing sales in this new year. Our next guest is a 20-year sales veteran who says that growing the revenue from your existing customers can be as important as prospecting. Mike Switzer interviews Jermaine Edwards, a business growth consultant in Columbia, SC.

We interview companies in our state each year who have been recognized by one publication or another as a best place to work. But I believe this is the first time we’ve seen one receive this award from an outdoor lifestyle magazine, and for a company that is not even in that line of work. Mike Switzer interviews Lee Deas, founder of Obviouslee, a global marketing company in Charleston, SC, recentl...