Promoting, supporting & connecting Charleston's entrepreneurial community
October 1, 2025
Tom Williams is a strategic technology leader, Board director, speaker, and author with a track record of turning innovation into sustained competitive advantage. He has created more than $1 billion in equity value through market-first technologies, capital strategy, and M&A — including exits to Cisco, Novell, and Ericsson, all achieved on just $60 million in venture capital. Recognized for his expertise in governance, risk oversight, and high-growth scaling, Tom has guided companies through critical inflection points toward IPO or acquisition.
In his role at Chucktown Startups, Tom will advise startup teams and growth-stage CEOs on:
Courtney Lohmann Consulting, founded by Courtney Lohmann
Courtney's mission is to empower businesses and leaders to create transformative, sustainable, and regenerative impact today through innovative strategies, purposeful leadership, and actionable change. Additionally, as a keynote speaker, she inspires the leaders of tomorrow to create the impact they want to see.
Courtney will emcee the Chucktown Startups Meet the Founders event on October 23 and moderate the panel discussion.
➤Fundraising News Part 1: Enput
Mini-Pitch: Enput is a unified digital platform for automotive dealerships, streamlining inventory, operations, and customer experience by eliminating paperwork and connecting departments for greater efficiency and profitability.
Dealerships are stuck with outdated, paper-based processes and disconnected systems that slow operations, create errors, and frustrate customers. Enput solves this by delivering a unified digital ecosystem that streamlines every aspect of dealership management—from inventory to customer experience. Our platform eliminates paperwork, connects departments, and provides real-time insights, boosting efficiency and profitability. With a massive market opportunity ($2.35T in combined new and used car dealership revenue), Enput is the missing puzzle piece for modern dealerships ready to grow and scale. We’re seeking $750,000 to accelerate development and customer acquisition. Invest in Enput to power the future of automotive retail—smarter, faster, and more connected.
Dealerships are stuck with outdated, paper-based processes and disconnected systems that slow operations, create errors, and frustrate customers. Enput solves this by delivering a unified digital ecosystem that streamlines every aspect of dealership management—from inventory to customer experience. Our platform eliminates paperwork, connects departments, and provides real-time insights, boosting efficiency and profitability.
With a massive market opportunity ($2.35T in combined new and used car dealership revenue), Enput is the missing puzzle piece for modern dealerships ready to grow and scale. We’re seeking $750,000 to accelerate development and customer acquisition. Invest in Enput to power the future of automotive retail—smarter, faster, and more connected.
Ask: Seed funding of $750,000 via SAFE with a $2.25MM post-funding valuation cap.
Contact: Jason Frazier, Co-founder
➤Fundraising News Part 2: FeatherPMS, Inc.
Mini-Pitch: FeatherPMS is a modern property management software built for professional short-term rental operators. With powerful trust accounting, automation, reporting, and white-glove support, it’s built to scale portfolios with clarity and confidence.
FeatherPMS is built by elite short-term rental operators for professional managers. Unlike bulky legacy systems or VC-backed platforms chasing volume over value, Feather delivers a boutique, invite-only solution focused on financial accuracy, powerful automation, advanced reporting, and white-glove support. Purpose-built from real operational experience, FeatherPMS empowers growth-minded operators to scale portfolios with clarity, control, and the confidence to deliver five-star guest and owner experiences.
Ask: Pre-seed funding of $1,000,000 via SAFE with a $4MM post-funding valuation cap.
Close date: November 30, 2025
Contact: Quinn Foster, Co-founder
Carter Lewis of In The Fade
(A Branding & Design Co.)
All branding and design work for Chucktown Startups is provided by In The Fade.
Contact In The Fade at carter@inthefade.co
➤Members in the News
Bill Haber, Founder of tekrisq, inc.
1. What is your startup's elevator pitch?
Cybersecurity risks continue to explode, contributing to a $10T annual market of cybercrime. Defenseless SMBs are the new targets, but the cybersecurity industry mostly speaks past them, often focused on companies with developed budgets and skilled tech teams. SMBS often lack in house IT, don't have CISOs and don't appreciate the jargon. At tekrisq, we help SMBs adopt safer ways to use technology in business that protect them, and make them more resilient to cyber crime. Our platform helps them easily assess their unique cyber risk, remediate them in pragmatic ways and even insure them when needed.
2. What is your ideal customer profile and plan to reach them?
A business between 2 and 200 employees, under $50M in revenue who may use technology and work with multiple clients, but hasn't paid much attention to the risks and regulations they face. Even if they have in house IT, that may not guarantee they have sound cybersecurity process and procedures in place.
3. What is the next key milestone in your startup's journey?
tekrisq actively assesses, remediates and insures cyber risks across our customer base. We operate as a professional cyber risk assessor, a managed security service provider (MSSP), a virtual CISO and a technology-focused insurance brokerage... all in one. We are presently building awareness and traction with our TEKCHEK® software that automates risk assessments using AI avatars to address cyber risk. This provides convenience, affordability and a secure resource to use with all risk profile requests going forward.
4. How can Chucktown Startups and the local startup community best support your startup?
tekrisq would like to help Charleston-area SMBs to protect themselves and be ready for the demands that growth will bring to them. We can help them to affordably understand their cyber risks, right-size their cybersecurity solutions, make independent cyber risk assessment an annual exercise, and comply with regulation law. This will make them safer, will protect their clients data, and ensure they're ready for their next big client opportunity. it will also ensure resilience in the event of a cybersecurity incident.
5. Wildcard- What else would you like the community to know about you and your startup?
We intend to provide a great option to costly cybersecurity consultants with our innovative TEKCHEK® product, and offer a discount to all Chucktown startups!
Please reach out to schedule an in-person or Zoom meeting. Feel free to email me at toby@chucktownstartups.com or text 843-830-7452.
Thanks for being part of Chucktown Startups. We’re excited to see what happens next as we connect the dots in Charleston’s growing startup scene!
Cheers!
Toby Palmer, Founder
Chucktown Startups: Promote. Support. Connect.
September 16, 2025
Volunteer Moderator / Emcee Opportunity: We’re looking for a community member (or friend of the community) to help bring energy and connection to our events. This role involves serving as the moderator or emcee for:
If you enjoy guiding conversations, keeping events flowing smoothly, and engaging with founders and innovators, we’d love to hear from you. Interested? Reach out to Toby at toby@chucktownstartups.com
Interested? Reach out to Toby at toby@chucktownstartups.com
Jessica Turcotte, COO of Vision Benefits of America, recently moved with her family to the Charleston area. With a proven track record of building and scaling businesses, Jess is looking to connect with local startup founders that can benefit from her experience and expertise. Please reach out to Jess via LinkedIn if you'd like to connect.
Bevs to Go, Todd Fernley
Enput, Thomas Ellenburg
Tidewater, Managing Partner Ryan Covert
TIDEWATER is a private club located in Downtown Charleston featuring a cocktail bar, restaurant, indoor golf simulators, pickleball, wellness amenities and curated programming for members and their guests.
We're building a community of visionaries with pioneer mindsets that represent the rising tide in Charleston.
Opening May 2026
Instagram @tidewaterchs
➤Fundraising News Part 1: FeatherPMS, Inc.
➤Fundraising News Part 2: Enput
Techina Jacques of Biz Buildhers
Helping purpose-driven businesses and nonprofits turn vision into visibility, marketing into momentum, and strategy into sustainable success.
Erin Pacitti, founder of Boundless Marketing Co., and Adrian Lourduy, co-founder of BuenaVista Information Systems Honored in Charleston's Forty Under 40 (September 2025, Charleston Regional Business Journal)
Thrive Data, founded by Jackie McKelvey, to Compete in 2025 Startup Word Cup in San Francisco (September 10, 2025, LinkedIn Post)
KingPool is Headed to Las Vegas! (September 11, 2025, Company Newsletter)
A Season of Connection at Tidewater (September 13, 2025, Company Newsletter)
Erika Hatfield, Founder of
Next Level Photo Education
Next Level Photo Education makes photography fun, accessible, and hands-on for all ages. From kids and teens exploring creativity to adults sharpening professional skills, we offer classes, workshops, and community events both in-person at our Charleston education center and online worldwide. Our mission is simple: empower people to see the world differently through a camera lens - because Everybody Takes Pictures.
Our ideal customers are:
We reach them through:
Our next milestone is the successful growth of our in-person education center at the Citadel Mall. This includes filling our Fall 2025 Focus Academy classes, building steady attendance for Teen Nights and Family Workshops, and expanding to adult weekend workshops with guest instructors. Hitting sustainable monthly enrollment and revenue targets will position us for rapid scaling in 2026, including expanding our online courses, hiring full-time staff and expanding community programming.
We are more than a photography school - we’re creating a community hub for creativity. Our center combines education, entertainment, and entrepreneurship, providing opportunities for kids, teens, and adults to learn, connect, and showcase their work. We value accessibility and affordability, and we’re building a model designed to scale nationally while staying rooted in Charleston.
September 2, 2025
Thank you to Jonathan Komorek, founder of Launch Technology, for setting up the Chucktown Startups Discord Server.
We need your Five Founder Questions submission for future newsletters. Click here to submit yours!
Atelier Attache (Lauren Eastman)
Lucette Travel, founded by Jennifer Steen
Industry: Luxury Travel & Hospitality
Stage: Growth – Actively Booking Clients & Expanding Partnerships
What We’re Building:
Lucette Travel is a boutique luxury travel agency curating tailor-made journeys for discerning travelers. We specialize in multi-generational family vacations, small group incentive trips, ultra-private getaways, and milestone celebrations. Every itinerary is built with care and insider expertise, delivering seamless, enriching, and beautifully orchestrated experiences around the world.
What Makes Us Different:
With a background in high-touch service and access to an exclusive global network, we bring personalized attention to every detail—from private villa stays to immersive cultural excursions. Our clients trust us to elevate the entire travel planning process, saving them time while unlocking experiences they wouldn’t find on their own.
We’re always looking to connect with:
(continued)
➤Fundraising News: BeautyRep
We are two female cofounders headquartered in Charleston working on a transformative opportunity in medical aesthetics, and we’d love to share more with you!
Company Overview: Beauty Rep is a digital B2B platform reinventing how aesthetic brands and clinics do business. We provide a centralized, intuitive ecosystem for purchasing, education, and marketing, replacing today’s outdated, fragmented, high-cost model in the $84B global aesthetics industry.
Team: Our founders bring deep industry experience and lived the frustration they are seeking to ease themselves. CEO Keri Concannon has 20+ years leading sales at Obagi, Clinical Skin, and Glytone. COO Olivia Schmid is ex-Amazon, Galderma, and Allergan, with a U.S. legal background.
Problem: Clinics juggle 10–12 brands with little digital infrastructure, slow rep response times, inconsistent education, and no self-service. Brands face 40–60% B2B sales costs, rep churn, and difficulty reaching small-to-mid-size accounts.
Solution: Beauty Rep delivers a “DTC-like experience for B2B,” enabling practices to:
Business Model: Commission-based with SaaS-like minimum monthly commitments. Future monetization includes financing, marketing campaigns, analytics, and B2B2C patient commerce (white-labeled storefronts).
Traction:
Market Opportunity: $84B global market (7% CAGR). U.S. beachhead: $6.8B (US clinics with some ordering online).
Ask: $500K Friends & Family SAFE round, $5M cap / 20% discount, $20K minimum check.
Close date: September 30, 2025
Contact: Olivia Schmid, Co-founder and COO
Frank Conway, Founder of 890 Capital
890 Capital was built out of a desire to make private lending more transparent, investor-friendly, and locally impactful. We’re not just a fund - we’re a bridge between capital and community development. If you’re passionate about real estate, passive income, or Charleston’s future - we’d love to connect.
August 18, 2025
Mabel was searching for the right community partner to debut her new inflatables business, and the NeoHero Foundation Launch Party turned out to be the perfect match. The event takes place Saturday, August 23 at 5 PM at the Hanahan Amphitheatre —and you can already see the collaboration in action in this promo.
Juiced Fuel, founded by Korey McDavid
Juiced Fuel is a veteran-owned, on-demand and subscription-based fuel delivery service that brings gas directly to your parked vehicle. Whether it’s in your driveway, your business fleet, or your boat on a dock, we got you. Founded in the Lowcountry and expanding rapidly, we’re on a mission to offer a safer and convenient alternative to the gas station. Franchises available.
➤Fundraising News: Nonnanest, Inc.
Mini-Pitch: Nonnanest is redefining the baby monitor.
We’re the first to offer real-time, contact-free skin temperature tracking—without wearables or reliance on Wi-Fi. Parents don’t just want to see their baby; they want to know their baby is okay. Nonnanest provides that peace of mind by turning passive monitoring into proactive wellness insights. The idea was born at 3 a.m., when my son woke up crying. The monitor showed me nothing useful—but when I picked him up, he had a 103° fever. That moment revealed a massive gap in today’s products. We’re solving it. We’ve completed our functional prototypes, resolved key design challenges, and are preparing for a limited production run. A strategic PR and influencer campaign is underway to drive early awareness. We believe temperature is just the beginning. With a proprietary sensing approach and an IP strategy in motion, Nonnanest is building a category-defining platform in a $20B+ digital health and infant wellness market. We’re raising capital now to bring our first units to market—and we’re inviting aligned investors to join us on the ground floor of a brand built for scale.
We’re the first to offer real-time, contact-free skin temperature tracking—without wearables or reliance on Wi-Fi. Parents don’t just want to see their baby; they want to know their baby is okay. Nonnanest provides that peace of mind by turning passive monitoring into proactive wellness insights.
The idea was born at 3 a.m., when my son woke up crying. The monitor showed me nothing useful—but when I picked him up, he had a 103° fever. That moment revealed a massive gap in today’s products. We’re solving it.
We’ve completed our functional prototypes, resolved key design challenges, and are preparing for a limited production run. A strategic PR and influencer campaign is underway to drive early awareness.
We believe temperature is just the beginning. With a proprietary sensing approach and an IP strategy in motion, Nonnanest is building a category-defining platform in a $20B+ digital health and infant wellness market.
We’re raising capital now to bring our first units to market—and we’re inviting aligned investors to join us on the ground floor of a brand built for scale.
Ask: Seed funding of $650,000 via SAFE with a $5MM post-funding valuation cap.
Contact: Nathan Overbey, Founder
Lesesne Phillips, Founder of Opsana HR
Opsana HR is a fractional CHRO firm based in Charleston, SC that provides strategic HR services for growing companies.
We partner with funded startups, remote organizations, and small to mid-size businesses to build strong teams, ensure compliance, and maximize workforce potential—without the overhead of a full-time HR department. Our experience spans a range of industries, including technology, government contracting, professional services, hospitality, logistics, and manufacturing.
We believe HR is more than policies, it is about people and performance.
We love working with companies that are in growth mode—businesses looking to build strong, loyal teams, keep great people around, and make sure their HR supports their bigger goals. Our ideal clients want to simplify their HR, stay compliant, and create an environment where employees are engaged, and leaders can really thrive. Whether you need a big-picture HR strategy, help with a specific project, or just someone to call when HR issues pop up, we’re here to help you grow in a healthy, sustainable way.
To connect with these companies, I spend a lot of time at client industry events, meeting decision-makers, and building relationships. I also partner with other service providers, get involved in community events, and make sure to maximize our marketing efforts through the company’s website and LinkedIn page. Ultimately, it’s about being present where our clients are, understanding their needs, and delivering services that create real value and measurable results.
Our next key milestones are expanding our “HR on Demand” client base and introducing The Opsana HR Report.
With HR on Demand, companies will have a full range of HR services on retainer and tailored to their needs for a flat monthly rate.
The Opsana HR Report in unique in that it offers a straightforward, strategic review for founders, operations leaders, and HR teams, assessing how well their people operations align with business goals. It highlights gaps and risks, identifies strengths and opportunities, and provides a clear roadmap with actionable recommendations to help them move forward with confidence.
It would be amazing to have a centralized hub where founders can easily find and access resources—everything from funding opportunities like government grants, small business loans, angel investors, and VCs, to professional services such as marketing, finance, legal, IT, and other outsourced support like we offer in HR.
I’d also appreciate knowing which members, both current and new, might be interested in HR so we can connect and collaborate.
Finally, with all the groups and networking events happening in Charleston, I’d love to see a quarterly or semi-annual Chucktown Startups BBQ or social event. It would be a great way to build relationships, share ideas, and celebrate the local startup community together.
At the end of the day, we’re all about people. We believe real partnerships and honest conversations lead to the best results. Your team is your biggest advantage, and we want to help you build a great one while keeping your business secure every step of the way
August 4, 2025
Miluna TV & Pitch Perfect Coaching by Dr. Miluna , founded by Miluna Fausch, HHCP, Ph.D.
Have you considered telling your story and sharing your brand on TV? WHY Television?
We all know interviews can be a powerful tool to get your message out toward a greater audience, but what’s the science behind it? TV appearances typically last five to seven minutes before fading into obscurity in an archive where no one will ever see it again. Let’s think about this realistically. Could you tell your entire story fairly within five minutes? I know I can’t! That’s why we implemented 30-minute interviews for Miluna TV guests and it never goes to archive.
Over 70 years ago, the first TV talk show aired. America’s been in love with deep and funny conversations between two people ever since. Television creates an emotional connection. By appearing on TV, you immediately bring an exclusivity and cachet to your products, services, and brand.
Streaming TV is the EASIEST way to expand your brand to a global audience and grow your profits. In a nutshell - This is Miluna TV Network. We’re talking about your brand, your message, your expertise, your services being viewed on Roku, amazon fireTV, Apple TV, and the International award-winning Zondra TV Network - leveraging a huge global audience!
And, if you're not confident and compelling on camera now, we will guide you every step of the way! Concierge Camera Ready Media Coaching is available. Reach out to schedule your Complimentary Media Assessment today.
Pratham Parmar, FMVA® , Parmar Accounting Service (Outsourced Accounting and Bookkeeping)
Contact Pratham Parmar at prathamparmar1@outlook.com
Kristin Parker, Co-founder of Shared CityHolly Kelly, Co-founder of Shared City
Charleston is full of compassion, but much of its charity is disconnected and ineffective. Shared City exists to change that. We equip nonprofits, donors, and volunteers to work together effectively through training, relationship building, and now a permanent gathering space, so generosity leads to real, lasting impact. We're building the city’s first collaborative charitable ecosystem where doing good actually does good.
A community-minded individual in Greater Charleston who is already engaged in charitable work, either as a nonprofit leader, donor, or volunteer and is seeking deeper impact, clarity, and connection. We reach our ideal audience through trusted, relational pathways, starting with nonprofit Learning Labs, community workshops, casual drop-ins at our Shared City Space (once opened), and word-of-mouth from pastors, community leaders, nonprofit staff, and small business leaders. Our messaging is targeted and story-driven, using local voices and clear calls to action that resonate with each audience type. We build partnerships with churches, businesses, and foundations not just for support, but to serve as active referral engines. And our physical space, anchored by the Shared Sips café, will create daily visibility and walk-in access, making it easy
The next key milestone in Shared City’s journey is the launch of the Shared City Space, our first permanent gathering place designed to transform how Charleston engages in charity. This milestone will move us from a mobile, partnership-dependent model to a fully integrated physical environment where donors, volunteers, and nonprofits can connect, learn, and collaborate daily. The launch will include opening the Shared Sips café, equipping the space for workshops and nonprofit training, and hiring essential staff to manage daily operations and community engagement. This space is not just a location, it’s the embodiment of our mission: a place where anyone in Charleston can walk in and find their next step in doing good well. It will multiply our visibility, deepen community trust, and catalyze the kind of cross-sector collaboration needed for long-term systemic change.
The local startup community, especially Chucktown Startups, can play a catalytic role in Shared City’s growth by helping us close the gap between vision and visibility. We’re looking for three key things:
Shared City is already gaining traction but with the support of Charleston’s startup community, we can become a city-defining force for good.
Shared City isn’t just another nonprofit, it’s a movement led by a two-woman team driving systemic change from the ground up. We’re not building programs; we’re rebuilding how an entire city approaches charity. Our cofounder, Kristin Parker, spent 13 years living in Kathmandu, Nepal, one of the poorest nations in the world and she learned firsthand what effective community development really takes. When she returned to Charleston, she brought that global lens home and saw a similar cycle of surface-level help and broken systems playing out here. So we started Shared City with no money, no office, and no shortcuts, just deep conviction, real relationships, and a vision to reimagine generosity as a force for justice.
Chucktown Startups:Promote. Support. Connect.
July 16, 2025
There’s growing excitement and momentum around the Chucktown Startups movement. Over the past two weeks, we’ve had productive meetings with Charleston County Economic Development, Charleston Digital and the Charleston Tech Center, and the MUSC/Zucker Institute for Innovation Commercialization. A common theme emerged from each conversation: “We love what your community is building and want to explore how we can collaborate.”
Other happenings:
Cardinal Wills is dedicated to making estate planning both affordable and accessible for individuals and families looking to prepare for the future. I provide convenient, mobile estate planning services—including Simple Wills and Powers of Attorney—to clients throughout Charleston, Dorchester, and Berkeley counties. Without a physical office, I come to you—meeting at a convenient location to help you create a plan that reflects your wishes. Example locations include homes, offices, nursing homes, hospitals, churches, senior centers and more.
I believe everyone should have access to straightforward and affordable estate planning. A solid plan not only protects your legacy but also eases the burden on your loved ones in the event of incapacity or passing. It is an act of love to estate plan as it prepares your loved ones for when you are no longer around. My goal is to provide thoughtful guidance as you take this important step toward peace of mind.
Contact Lesesne Phillips at lesesne@opsanahr.com
Current fantasy sports apps fail to deliver an engaging, accessible, and unified experience for users. We are creating a fantasy sports brand obsessed with experience, we want every fantasy contest, league, game to feel like the Super Bowl for all types of users.
Consumer:
B2B:
We will be rolling out our real-money fantasy sports products to South Carolina first!
July 1, 2025
We've spent the last few months gauging interest from the local business community in an inclusive, locally focused organization with a mission to promote, support, and connect Charleston's entrepreneurs. With apologies to the reality show Survivor, the tribe has spoken... with a resounding interest level of YES!
Not only has the local founder community spoken, but so have local investors, local governments, and the existing startup ecosystem. They understand that we are all in this together, and the more collaboration, support, and awareness we can create, the better the outcome will be for the Lowcountry as a whole.
Now that we are officially launched, here's what you can expect to see from us in the coming weeks and months:
At Title AI, we help businesses who are interested in AI actually do it. Run by Jack Teitel, a former professor of AI with nearly 12 years of experience applying AI in industry. We work with businesses of all sizes, although we tend to focus on small to mid sized businesses. We are comfortable executing any AI project in any industry, although we tend to focus on 4 key areas:
Our focus is on integrating AI into your business in a way that adapts to your businesses specific needs and workflows. We believe business understanding is paramount, as you need the right tool used in the right way to really achieve significant long-term ROI.
Contact Jack Teitel at jack@title-ai.com
Contact Carter Lewis at carter@inthefade.co
One Party Rental is the go-to platform for busy parents planning extra fun kids’ parties. We bring trusted local vendors together in one simple, streamlined place, so you can book everything from bounce houses to balloon artists without the back-and-forth. Whether you're hosting or helping, we make it easier to celebrate.
Parents & caregivers planning a kids party. My plan is to have extra strong SEO, Google Ads and social media (primarily Instagram and Pinterest)
Launch to vendors in July
Promote, connect me with potential vendors and other businesses that may help my growth
I'm hoping to build community and vendor awareness through One Party Rental - not just make it easier for customers to plan their parties!
I haven't had a chance to meet every founder in person yet, but I'd like to! Please reach out to schedule an in-person or Zoom meeting. Feel free to email me at toby@chucktownstartups.com or text 843-830-7452.
ABOUT CHUCKTOWN STARTUPS
CONTACTS
toby@chucktownstartups.comCharleston, SC 29403
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