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FEATURED NEWS

Portside Technology Expands Footprint at The Charleston Tech Center

Portside Technology is pleased to announce the expansion of their corporate headquarters office at the Charleston Tech Center to facilitate their robust growth. The self-funded company, launched in 2020, has grown into a team of over 40 seasoned technologists providing professional services and technology infrastructure solutions to small and mid-size businesses with a national and global footprint.

Portside Technology mentioned Charleston's livability, air service, availability of technical talent, and robust support for local tech companies as key factors in their decision to expand their footprint in the region.

"Our ability to expand within the Charleston Tech Center while remaining in close proximity to the Charleston Digital Corridor is ideal for our fast-growing company", said Portside Technology Founder & CEO, Zach McNamara.

The Charleston Tech Center, a new Class A tech-focused office building was designed and developed to accommodate the business dynamics of higher-wage tech companies in Charleston by ensuring the seamless transition from a solo entrepreneur to as many as 100 employees at the building.

"We are pleased to support the expansion of Portside Technology at the Charleston Tech Center," said Managing Partner, John Hand. "Their expansion, like other tech companies that have expanded at the building, once again validates our win-win business model," he added.

"We are excited to witness the explosive growth of our member and resident, Portside Technology, at the Charleston Tech Center and honored to facilitate their expansion within the building," said Charleston Digital Corridor Director, Ernest Andrade.

FEATURED NEWS

Dr. Tyler Horan Joins Topline as Founding CTO Following Pre-Seed Funding Round

Topline, the creator of the world's largest public professional index with over 700 million professionals indexed worldwide, is excited to announce the addition of Dr. Tyler Horan as its Founding Chief Technology Officer (CTO). This announcement comes in the wake of Topline closing it's pre-seed investment round, with participation from leading venture firms including Bain Capital Ventures, Flex Capital, Sweet Spot Capital, and Mission8 Ventures.

A distinguished leader in the field of Computational Social Science and Machine Learning, Dr. Horan's extensive research has delved deep into social networks, online communities, and online marketplaces, making him an unparalleled asset to the Topline team. His tenure as a technical leader at Handshake and Bright Software, combined with a Ph.D. in Sociology from the New School for Social Research, has equipped him with a unique perspective on data analytics, social dynamics and machine learning.

The pre-seed investment round, which saw participation from industry-leading firms such as Bain Capital Ventures, Sweet Spot Capital, Flex Capital, and Mission8 Ventures, along with numerous angel investors, underscores the market's anticipation for Topline's innovative solutions. This funding is a testament to Topline's commitment to revolutionizing how professionals can flourish in the era of work ahead.

In the near future, Topline is set to launch the Topline Index, a groundbreaking tool anticipated to transform the landscape of work by providing unparalleled insights into professional trends and behaviors. Additionally, the expansion of the Topline Operating System [Topline OS ][1]promises to equip businesses with the tools necessary for navigating the complexities of the modern professional environment.

"Alex Skatell, CEO of Topline, commented, "With Tyler leading our technological vision, Topline is poised to unlock new opportunities to help the best professionals win. His deep expertise in machine learning, people data, and digital communities aligns perfectly with our mission to provide deep, actionable insights into the professional world."

Dr. Horan expressed his excitement about the role, stating, "Joining Topline offers a unique opportunity to apply my research in a way that directly impacts the global professional landscape. I am excited to lead the development of tech that not only increases small business' bottom line but also nurture a deeper understanding of professional networks and communities."

About Topline:

We believe in a world where every skilled professional has the opportunity to thrive independently. With over 70 million people in the United States already providing independent services, and billions of work opportunities becoming available to talent worldwide we're at the forefront of a booming market that's redefining the workforce.

Our mission is simple: We're building a future where the best professionals win. We do that in 3 ways: Remove the friction of hiring professionals. Provide tools to help the best professionals stand out. Offer trusted information on service providers and firms.

We're not just talking about a platform; we're building the world's largest public index of professionals, with over 700 Million Global Professionals and growing along with Topline OS tools to level the playing field for independent providers and growing firms

[1]: https://topline.com/os-operating-system/)

HabitNu Awarded $14M in CDC Funding to Fight America's Diabetes Epidemic

HabitNu, the health and wellness company that connects community-based Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) providers with those in need of services, was awarded a $14M, five-year cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The objective of this award is to reduce the prevalence of type 2 diabetes and advance health equity in priority communities. Under this agreement, HabitNu will implement a nationwide administrative network that facilitates end-to-end connectivity by integrating referral organizations, DPP providers, SDOH (Social Determinants of Health) networks, and payers into a seamless collaborative for the delivery of DPP.

One of the goals of this initiative is to recruit at least 50% of participants from priority populations at risk for type 2 diabetes, with a focus on adults 18 years of age or older, those 65 years and older, African American/Blacks, Hispanic/Latinos, and those from urban and rural high-risk populations. Under this award, HabitNu will offer material and financial support to select organizations that can help grow DPP in their communities for capacity building and infrastructure development focusing on the priority populations.

While HabitNu is used by some of the largest health systems in the country, dozens of community-based organizations, health plans, pharmacies, and state and county health agencies that serve populations hardest hit by diabetes also benefit from HabitNu. With a proven track record for building strong, sustainable DPP networks in multiple states, HabitNu will leverage its existing technology platform which includes bi-directional Electronic Health Records (EHR) and SDOH platform integration, a participant engagement app, a coach portal, a billing and claims module, and robust analytics to support network stakeholders.

Who will benefit?

Type 2 diabetes affects marginalized communities disproportionately and one out of three Americans is at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. To address the SDOH needs of priority populations and expand participant recruitment, HabitNu will collaborate with community-based organizations and SDOH platforms that have existing networks of health and social service providers and care navigators.

According to Dr. Sindhu Rajan, HabitNu's CEO, "HabitNu's vision is to bring long-term financial sustainability to DPP delivery by deploying integrated networks across each state. The goal of this award is to promote broader payer coverage and improve DPP delivery by connecting DPP providers with referral organizations and payers to drive financial sustainability."

Episode 37 of the CDC Tech Life Podcast Features Paul Turner - CEO and Founder, Virtual America

Episode 37 of the CDC Tech Life Podcast features Paul Turner, CEO and Founder of Charleston SC Tech Startup, Virtual America. Paul shares his journey spanning academia, multiple tech startups, and the early days of the internet and also discusses how Virtual America is working to create a Digital Twin of Charleston.

This episode is sponsored by Portside Technology. Portside Technology makes work work! They are a team of seasoned IT experts and whether it's a one-time project or ongoing implementation and management, they provide companies with unified, resilient and cost-effective technology solutions. Visit them to learn more at PortsideTechnology.com.

The episode is also sponsored by the i5K. The i5K race is a favorite weekday evening run and networking event for Charleston's tech professionals. This year's event is scheduled for April 18th at 6:30pm here at the Charleston Tech Center. Learn more and get your ticket at iFiveK.com.

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Entrepreneur Sales Playbook class

Charleston Digital Corridor Awarded Grants for CDC Learning Center

The Charleston Digital Corridor is pleased to announce the organization has been awarded two grants of $25,000 each towards the development and promotion of the CDC Learning Center. The grants are from the SC Department of Commerce 2024 Relentless Challenge Grant and Comcast NBC Universal.

The Relentless Challenge is a South Carolina statewide competitive grant program for projects that foster a sustainable innovation ecosystem. Talent development is one of the four criteria that guides the grant program.

The Comcast NBC Universal Grant allows the CDC Learning Center to develop and offer digital skills for an underserved audience that can lead to improved economic mobility. Classes to be offered by the center will include basic digital literacy, generating career interest and skills needed to stay relevant in a changing marketplace.

"These two grants build upon the foundational grant received from Google that enabled the CDC Learning Center to become a reality," said Charleston Digital Corridor Director, Ernest Andrade.

CDC Tech Life Podcast Episode 36 Features Josh Bokor - Chief of Staff, Healthbook+

Episode 36 of the CDC Tech Life Podcast features Josh Bokor, Chief of Staff for Healthcare Technology Startup Healthbook+. Josh shares the Healthbook+ vision of using AI to help consumers become more informed and proactive in achieving positive health outcomes.

This episode is sponsored by Charleston County Economic Development Department. They're dedicated to recruiting new business, growing existing industry and improving Charleston's business climate.

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Emma McKenney and Katie Konner

Charleston Digital Corridor Selects Creatively & Co. and Web Brightly for Diversity Initiative

The Charleston Digital Corridor is pleased to announce that two women owned business, Creatively & Co. and Web Brightly, have been selected as recipients of the CDC Diversity Initiative. The two awards further the organization's goal to make Charleston's tech economy more reflective of the demographic makeup of the region.

Creatively & Co, founded in 2018, is a global studio of trusted product and brand experts blending design and technology with research and art.

Web Brightly empowers small to medium sized service-oriented businesses to improve profitability by utilizing essential digital marketing resources, including web design and SEO.

Both entrepreneurs will reside at Charleston Tech Center and have access to a community of like-minded tech business owners and professionals, mentors, education resources and discounted private offices.

"We are honored to assist women entrepreneurs Katie Konnor and Emma McKenney along their business journey by providing them with the business resources they need to be highly successful," said Charleston Digital Corridor Director, Ernest Andrade.

"I am honored to be a recipient of the Diversity Initiative from the Charleston Digital Corridor. Their support allows me to singularly focus on improving profitability for small service-oriented business," said Web Brightly founder, Emma McKenney.

"I am grateful to receive the support from the Charleston Digital Corridor. The array of business resources combined with a conveniently located dog-friendly, super inspiring workspace is exactly what I was looking for as I ramp up by digital and creative business, said Creatively & Co. founder, Katie Konner."

The CDC Diversity Initiative seeks to stimulate the inclusion of under-represented tech focused entrepreneurs and business professionals within Charleston's tech community and is made possible from several partners and members including Comcast and Google. Learn more about the Diversity Initiative HERE.

Upcoming Classes & Events

FEATURED EVENT
Apr 18, 6:30PM - 9:30PM

16th Annual iFiveK race

The iFiveK race, hosted by the Charleston Digital Corridor, is a favorite weekday evening run and networking event for Charleston's tech professionals. Since its 2007 debut, the iFiveK has continued to grow. The race venue is at the Charleston Tech Center in downtown Charleston. Learn more and register HERE.

CDC LEARNING CENTER
Mar 19, 6PM - 7:30PM

Charleston AWS Meetup

Join the Charleston AWS Meetup in welcoming AWS enthusiast, Stefan Tobler, to discuss taking a personal project from idea to reality using AWS. Stop planning and start building! Stefan will share his journey brainstorming, architecting, and implementing to build a newsletter archival service leveraging the Pulumi IaC platform and AWS. Get inspired and see how to transform a business (or personal) problem to a solution by breaking open the toolbox that AWS offers.

CDC LEARNING CENTER
Mar 20, 9AM - 11AM

ChatGPT for Business

Unlock the power of generative AI! Join our workshop tailored for Executives and Entrepreneurs looking to leverage cutting-edge technology. Discover how generative AI, with reported productivity gains of 20-30%, can transform your business. While ChatGPT takes center stage, we'll also explore other exciting options.

EVENT
Mar 27, 5PM - 5PM

Dig South - Charleston AI Summit

The Charleston AI Summit produced by Dig South invites innovative executives, founders, developers, creators, attorneys, investors, the curious and you to explore the tectonic shift to an AI-powered economy. Learn more:

EVENT
Apr 10, 8AM - 5AM

2024 Annual SCRA Summit

Save the date  for the 2024 Annual SCRA Summit. It will be a day filled with inspiring speakers and exciting networking and learning opportunities. This year's theme is Founders First, celebrating the hard work of founders who are growing our state's innovation economy.Learn more and register HERE.

CDC LEARNING CENTER
Apr 11, 9AM - 11AM

Next Level ChatGPT

So, you've been using ChatGPT and want to go further? This class is designed to level up your beginner skills and understand how to get the most out of this new technology.

CDC LEARNING CENTER
Apr 17, 9AM - 11AM

ChatGPT for Coders

ChatGPT won't be replacing any software developers any time soon. It's not always correct, and it doesn't do a great job at understanding larger codebases. So should you be using it to help you write code? Absolutely! With the right guidance from a developer, ChatGPT can eliminate large amounts of time in creating boilerplate code, refactoring, adding new functionality and working across different languages. Know how to write some code in Java but not Python? Want to quickly add a unit test to some new functionality? Want to spin up a new API in Go but don't know where to start? All of these are great use cases, and if you can learn to use GPT effectively in your coding process you can move much faster and solve larger and more complex problems every day. Whether you are a seasoned coder or just starting out, this class should leave you with new tricks and faster process to build the things you're excited to build.

EVENT
Apr 17, 12:30PM - 12AM

TedxCharleston

TEDxCharleston is an all-day immersion experience at the intersection of science, art performance and business. It is designed to enrich the Charleston, South Carolina community through presentations and entertainment that inspires, engages and transforms. Learn more and register.

EVENT
Apr 19, 6PM - 7PM

CharlestonHacks HackOps 2024

The goal of HackOps is to bring together the tech and business communities to build innovative startups using the latest technology. In 48 hours, participants will form teams, then create both a prototype and a pitch for their best collective idea that addresses an issue impacting our community. Learn more and register HERE.

CDC LEARNING CENTER
May 15, 9AM - 1PM

The Entrepreneurs Sales Playbook

Many entrepreneurs believe "if we build it, they will come". The reality is, selling well really matters when it comes to achieving sustainable double-digit revenue growth. If your company's revenue growth is stagnating or you aren't winning enough deals against your competition, this program will give you a whole new way of looking at your approach to B2B sales.

CDC LEARNING CENTER
May 18, 9AM - 11AM

ChatGPT for Students

The ChatGPT for Students, aimed at middle and high school students, provides practical guidance and examples (along with a few cautions) on becoming proficient with conversational AI tools such as ChatGPT for academic enhancement and personal growth.

CDC LEARNING CENTER
Jun 19, 2PM - 4PM

Introduction to ChatGPT

The "Introduction to ChatGPT" class offers an insightful journey into the capabilities, applications, and underlying principles of ChatGPT, a cutting-edge large language model (LLM) developed by OpenAI. This course provides participants with a foundational understanding of how ChatGPT works and equips them with practical knowledge to interact effectively with the model.

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