SUMMERVILLE, S.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SCRA Technology Ventures today announced the acceptance of five new companies into its SC Launch Program. Charleston-area company BidLAN; Florence-based Epic Optix; Greenville-based SkyBridge Holdings and South Yeast Labs; and Fort Mill-based Thrive GPO, Inc. were recently accepted as client companies.
Client companies are accepted into the SC Launch economic development program to receive mentoring and other support services. These companies may be eligible to receive matching funds or larger investments.
BidLAN, Inc. is a software as a service platform that acts as a supplier relationship manager and bid management application for prime contractors and buyers to find qualified disadvantaged business enterprises (DBE). The company is located in Johns Island, S.C.
Epic Optix, based in Florence, S.C., is an optical engineering company that provides products in the consumer electronics, aerospace/automotive and medical fields. Epic has designed and produced personal projectors with LED illumination, Head Down and Head Up Displays for automobiles and avionics systems, and stereoscopic, high definition endoscopes for medical applications.
SkyBridge Holdings is a Greenville-based company that provides cost effective, customer usable data from professionally designed unmanned aircraft, sensor and software systems to enhance precision agriculture. Other uses would be shore patrol, fire spotting, pipeline inspection and forest fire spotting and location.
SouthYeast Labs has a chemical and engineering process for bioprospecting, characterization and banking of regional microorganisms for the craft brewing industry. Located in Greenville, S.C., the company allows technology to advance sourcing of yeast for specific locations, fruits, flowers and more.
Thrive GPO is a cloud-based Group Purchasing Organization created exclusively for the underserved non-profit industry to help them “Spend Less & Do More.” Members access their platform to purchase common goods and services online at pre-negotiated prices, yielding significant savings over current practice and providing immediate impact on their public missions.
“We are delighted to welcome these new companies to the SC Launch program,” said SCRA CEO Bill Mahoney. “Companies like these are advancing innovation and creating jobs for South Carolina’s high-tech economy. We are pleased support these start-ups and look forward to their future successes.”
About SCRA Technology Ventures
SCRA Technology Ventures enables research commercialization and promotes the development of high tech industries, enhancing South Carolina’s technology-based economy. Through its flagship SC Launch program, this SCRA business sector makes investments in and offers support services to South Carolina’s early stage, start-up technology companies.
Multiple economic impact studies show SCRA's cumulative output on South Carolina's economy to be over $18.1 billion, and that the company has helped create approximately 15,000 technology-related jobs in the state, with annual wages averaging between $55,000 and $77,000.
