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S.C. schools usher in innovation centers

A rendering of the Crescent Startup Community. Photo: Hartness Development.

Last updated November 23, 2021

By Tina Underwood

Furman University’s Anthony Herrera, executive director of The Hill Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, goes on record in a SC Biz News story about the growing presence of business incubators on campuses in the state.

He describes how The Hill Institute has evolved in the over three years he has led the institute, whose focus initially was undergraduate ventures.

“We didn’t have a platform or resources on campus, and we certainly were not contributing into this space off campus,” he said.

He said 60% to 70% of high school students now want to study or be exposed to innovation and entrepreneurship opportunities while in college.

“We have a mission to help some of the greatest challenges we’re facing in our community: income inequality, public transportation, affordable housing, more jobs,” Herrera said.

The story mentions a recent endowment gift to the institute by Robert Hill ’83 (business administration and economics) and Margaret Platt Hill ’83 (English), and how the foundational funding paves the way for Furman to step outside its gates with initiatives like GVL Starts, created with support from the City of Greenville and the Department of Commerce, and Hartness Development’s Crescent Startup Community.

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