COLUMBIA, S.C. — A foundation-funded effort to turn Columbia into a tech-friendly hub is coming to the city this fall, the Five Points Association announced on Tuesday.
The Boyd Foundation's Community Innovation Center is described as a "tech incubator" which will be coming to 711 Saluda Avenue in the former White Mule space. It will be operated by the non-profit GrowCo! which supports entrepreneurs and startups.
Among the board members of GrowCo is a co-founder of MapQuest, Chris Heivly. The popular digital provider of online map services sold to AOL for $1.2 billion.
"There was never any doubt, when we began organizing the startup community, that Five Points was our destination," Heivly said in a statement provided by the Five Points Association. "Working with Richard Burts and many other supporters, we found our new home. We can't wait to share it with you and the future founders in the region.”
He added that supporting founders is a critical element of a thriving startup community.
The Boyd Foundation which supports several ventures and quality-of-life efforts in the South Carolina Midlands is donating $1 million to GrowCo to keep it funded for the next two years so that it can focus on being a "tech incubator" and find entrepreneurs.
“Our founder, Darnall Boyd, made his living in this community, and the Foundation is a classic ‘give back’ organization,” said George Bailey, the president, and director of The Boyd Foundation.
Meanwhile, GrowCo has set a goal of making Columbia a "viable place for the tech industry" that keeps them in the area rather than moving to other large cities.
Additional details about the Boyd Foundation can be found on their website and information about GrowCo can be found on theirs.
