This Month's Latest Tech News in Charleston, SC - Wednesday April 30th 2025 Edition

Charleston's tech ecosystem achieved remarkable growth this April and May, highlighted by the inaugural Charleston Tech Week, where over 24 organizations hosted 23+ events and celebrated $100 million in fresh startup funding.

The excitement was anchored by the Dig South Tech Summit, uniting global brands and local innovators for sessions on AI, cybersecurity, and emerging tech and culminating in a $1 million Startup World Cup qualifier (event details here).

Meanwhile, cutting-edge educational opportunities are reshaping the workforce pipeline: The University of Charleston announced a dedicated AI major launching this fall, and a new K-12 AI curriculum is rolling out across South Carolina.

As Dr. Vincent Smith noted,

“We emphasize ethical development, real-world applications, and interdisciplinary collaboration - ensuring our graduates are not just tech-savvy, but thoughtful, well-rounded problem-solvers...”

Major investment is also transforming Charleston, with expansions like M.C. Dean's 25,000-square-foot office unlocking 125+ high-quality jobs.

For those looking to join this vibrant scene, Nucamp's affordable, flexible coding bootcamps and diverse scholarships empower locals to launch tech careers - explore programs and funding at Nucamp Scholarships.

Charleston played host to the SC Competes Spring Summit, spotlighting South Carolina's $8.5 billion annual tech sector milestone and ambitious new education initiatives to fuel the state's continued innovation.

Over three days, 70 speakers and tech demos - from lowcountry robotics to breakthroughs in battery manufacturing - highlighted the Palmetto State's shift toward automation and the circular economy.

In a landmark announcement, the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness will launch a K-12 artificial intelligence curriculum this fall at 30 schools, including North Charleston's Morningside Middle School, as part of a broader drive to prepare the next generation for in-demand tech jobs.

Industry research shows a tech sector output of $51.7 billion, supporting over 143,000 jobs and offering average wages 78% higher than the state average.

Metric	Value
Total SC Tech Output	$51.7 billion
Tech Sector Jobs	143,011
Average Tech Wages	$96,763

As Suzanne Dickerson of SC Fraunhofer Alliance remarked,

“This event is critical...to bring together experts, industry, academia, to support this fast-growing industry sector in the state.”

This collaborative summit and its focus on artificial intelligence pathways for students echo a national trend toward defining AI skills and workforce policies, as highlighted in recent education coverage on AI skills in education.

To learn more about the summit's impact, visit the ABC News 4 event report on SC Competes Spring Summit or the official SC Competes 2025 Spring Summit page.

Springbot, a seasoned leader in e-commerce automation, has officially relocated its headquarters from Atlanta to Charleston, marking a strategic shift with its relaunch as a unified AI-powered marketing and sales enablement platform.

The company, now debt-free and profitable just two months post-relaunch, introduces three integrated divisions: Springbot Send (AI-enhanced email marketing), Springbot Studio (digital transformation and branding services), and Springbot Labs (intelligent automation workflows).

CEO Marc Pickren emphasizes,

"AI is creating winners and losers. We intend to ensure that our company and our clients achieve fast starts and podium finishes."

Springbot's impact is underscored by serving over 22,000 subscribers, partnerships with more than 300 brands, and the execution of 35,000+ digital campaigns.

The firm plans further growth, building on the strength of its experienced executive team and Charleston's emerging tech hub status. For more details about Springbot's expansion and product suite, visit the comprehensive announcement on Business Wire's report on Springbot's headquarters move, explore the platform's capabilities in TechDogs' detailed overview of Springbot's AI suite, and find additional business insights from Yahoo Finance's coverage of Springbot's relaunch.

Division	Function
Springbot Send	AI-enhanced email marketing
Springbot Studio	Digital transformation & branding
Springbot Labs	AI workflow automation

Clemson University is marking a milestone this spring by graduating its first cohort of Breakthrough Scholars, an Honors College initiative designed to nurture and retain top STEM talent within South Carolina.

The Breakthrough Scholars Program provides comprehensive support - full cost-of-attendance scholarships, academic and professional development, mentorship, and early research opportunities - to high-achieving in-state STEM undergraduates who aspire to advanced degrees and impactful careers.

According to Computer Science major Chloe Crozier, an incoming NVIDIA employee,

“The Breakthrough Scholars Program is one of the biggest reasons I decided to commit to Clemson overall.”

The inaugural group, recognized for academic excellence, research engagement, and leadership, includes students who have published papers, interned at global companies, and received prestigious university awards such as the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award.

The program's personalized advising, strong connections with industry, and focus on leadership development set it apart from similar initiatives at other institutions, reflecting Clemson's mission to foster a diverse, inclusive, and locally grounded STEM talent pipeline.

For a detailed profile of the program and its impact, see the official Breakthrough Scholars Program overview at Clemson University.

The full story of the 2025 class and their achievements is available in Clemson's graduation news coverage, and a broader look at Clemson's scholarship strategies for STEM leadership can be found in this in-depth analysis of Clemson University's scholarship programs.

This April marked National Fentanyl Awareness Day, drawing national attention to cutting-edge efforts like the "Unfinished Legacies" campaign, which utilizes artificial intelligence to allow fatal overdose victims to share their warnings directly with the public.

By animating the likenesses and voices of individuals such as Jaden Anderson, Victor Avalos Marmolejo, and Jordan Coburn, the initiative personalized the data behind the crisis and resonated deeply with youth targeted on platforms like TikTok and Instagram.

As Kansas City's Mayor Quinton Lucas emphasized,

“They're not statistics, they're not just memories, they're real people.”

These AI-generated testimonials, which include powerful messages like

"I can't believe I'm dead" and "Our legacy didn't end with fentanyl,"

aim to counteract a surge in regional fentanyl deaths, which have grown by over 1,000% in five years according to The Kansas City Star.

Data from the campaign and local health departments highlight the growing threat to young adults and teens, reflecting a national pattern where counterfeit pills were involved in 4.7% of overdose deaths by 2021, up from 2% in 2019.

The technology's impact is enhanced by direct family involvement and guidance from city leaders, helping to make fentanyl misuse “uncool” while emphasizing community-driven prevention.

For more on the technology behind these stories and the human impact, visit this in-depth feature on Kansas City's AI anti-fentanyl campaign, watch how AI brings overdose victims' stories to life, or explore the DEA's Faces of Fentanyl virtual memorial commemorating lives lost and supporting ongoing prevention efforts.

Charleston is at the epicenter of South Carolina's unprecedented surge in battery investments and clean energy initiatives, with more than $15 billion flowing into the state's battery sector over recent years.

The region boasts an expanding roster of advanced manufacturing and recycling facilities, such as AESC's $1.6 billion Florence County plant, Redwood Materials' $3.5 billion recycling and cathode/anode facility near Charleston, and new projects by Cirba Solutions and Albemarle Corp.

This wave of capital is transforming South Carolina into a key hub for both the EV and energy storage value chains, as evidenced by the following snapshot:

Company	Investment	Location	Purpose	Jobs Created
Redwood Materials	$3.5B	Berkeley County	Battery recycling, anode/cathode manufacturing	1,500
AESC	$1.62B	Florence County	Battery cells manufacturing	1,600+
Albemarle Corp.	$1.3B	Chester County	Lithium recovery	300
Cirba Solutions	$300M	Richland County	Battery recycling	300

Federal support has also been pivotal, with nearly $850 million awarded to local battery and recycling projects, making South Carolina the nation's top recipient for such grants this cycle.

Congressman Jim Clyburn remarked,

“In positioning South Carolina as a leader in the battery manufacturing space, the Biden-Harris administration is connecting communities to opportunity throughout the state for generations to come as we continue our transition toward a clean energy economy.”

Despite some delays and market volatility, state and industry leaders remain optimistic for Charleston's role in this clean energy transformation.

For more on the scale and diversity of projects fueling this boom, see the coverage by Upstate Business Journal on energy-storage investments, Battery Technology's detailed report on new battery plants, and My Clinton News' summary of federal funding and workforce impact.

Springbot has marked a milestone in Charleston's tech landscape by achieving profitability within just two months of relaunching as a unified, AI-driven marketing and sales platform.

Now headquartered in Charleston after relocating from Atlanta, Springbot's rapid growth is attributed to the integration of three distinct yet interconnected divisions: Springbot Send for AI-enhanced email marketing, Springbot Studio for digital transformation and branding, and Springbot Labs for intelligent workflow automation.

CEO Marc Pickren emphasized,

“We're building a company that's faster than the market. When businesses struggle, it doesn't just impact the bottom line - it affects families, communities, and the broader economic fabric.”

Backed by a team with expertise spanning revenue operations and creative design, Springbot's client roster already includes over 22,000 subscribers, 300+ mid-market and enterprise partners, and more than 35,000 executed digital campaigns.

The company is debt-free and pursuing further expansion beyond its Charleston headquarters and Austin, Texas satellite office. For a comprehensive breakdown of Springbot's offering and achievements, see the official Springbot relaunch announcement, explore an in-depth business overview at TechDogs' industry report on Springbot's Charleston move, or read about the company's growth trajectory at MarTech Edge's Springbot platform analysis.

Metric	Value
Subscribers Served	22,000+
Brand Partners	300+
Digital Campaigns Executed	35,000+
Financial Status	Debt-free, profitable within 2 months

Clemson University's Breakthrough Scholars Program is reshaping the Charleston area's tech talent pipeline by supporting and retaining top STEM students from across South Carolina.

This spring, the program celebrated its first graduating class, featuring five standout scholars whose achievements include publishing academic papers, interning at leading companies like Deloitte, NVIDIA, and Amazon Web Services, and earning prestigious scholarships and campus awards.

Read more about the Clemson graduates first class of Breakthrough Scholars.

The initiative offers full cost-of-attendance scholarships, dedicated advising, early research engagement, and personalized professional development - benefits that scholars cite as crucial in their decision to remain in-state for their studies and to pursue advanced STEM careers.

Learn about the Breakthrough Scholars Program (BSP).

As summarized by Chloe Crozier, a Computer Science major from Charleston,

“The Breakthrough Scholars Program is one of the biggest reasons I decided to commit to Clemson overall.”

Over its first four years, the program has grown to include 21 students from 14 South Carolina communities, who together have delivered more than 50 research presentations, published nine academic papers, and interned at 18 businesses and universities.

The scholars' impact is bolstered by faculty and staff mentors, like Sherece Smith - recently recognized for excellence in advising - who guide students toward research, graduate study, and leadership in STEM fields.

See details about Faculty, staff, and students honored with 2025 University Spring Awards.

By investing in its brightest STEM minds, Clemson is strengthening Charleston's regional workforce and fostering a new generation of innovation leaders.

South Carolina is taking a major step forward in technology education by launching new AI pathways in K-12 schools, starting with 30 institutions across the state, including Morningside Middle School in North Charleston.

As announced at the recent Spring Summit, these efforts aim to equip students with crucial future-ready skills and foster collaboration between educators, industry, and policymakers.

At the event, Kim Christ, Director of Education and Workforce Innovation at SC Competes, highlighted the importance of defining learning and career opportunities as technology advances.

School districts are considering the adoption of AI assistants, like Magic School, to help teachers with lesson planning, assessments, and personalized support for diverse student needs - potentially at an initial annual cost of $90,000, with a focus on robust privacy protections.

Initiative	Details
AI Pathways in K-12	Launched at 30 schools statewide, including North Charleston
AI Assistants for Teachers	Potential use of Magic School; $90,000/year projected budget
Student Reading Levels (Sample)	2nd–9th grade spread in a single 8th grade class

Legislative and federal attention is also growing, with a new executive order from the White House supporting K-12 AI education resources and training.

As one district official noted,

“Although it's difficult to give over 1,400 teachers an instructional assistant, providing a personalized AI assistant is a workable tool.”

For more on statewide plans, see how districts are evaluating AI implementation and read the executive order advancing AI education for American youth.

Springbot, a longtime leader in e-commerce marketing automation, has relaunched from its new Charleston headquarters with a robust three-pronged AI product suite aimed at empowering business growth for B2C and B2B organizations.

The unified platform now consists of Springbot Send (an AI-enhanced email marketing service), Springbot Studio (digital transformation and branding solutions), and Springbot Labs (AI workflow automation focused on driving consistent revenue).

CEO Marc Pickren underscores Springbot's mission:

“AI is creating winners and losers. We intend to ensure that our company and our clients achieve fast starts and podium finishes.”

Over 22,000 subscribers and 300+ enterprise partners have relied on Springbot's technology, executing more than 35,000 digital campaigns and achieving profitability just two months post-relaunch.

The company's structured approach to AI-driven marketing mirrors an industry-wide surge in adoption, where artificial intelligence tools are now credited with up to a 43% improvement in creativity and productivity for marketing teams.

Division	Focus
Springbot Send	AI-powered email marketing
Springbot Studio	Digital transformation & branding
Springbot Labs	AI workflow automation

This transformation positions Springbot at the forefront of Charleston's tech growth, exemplifying how AI-driven solutions are enabling local and national businesses to compete more effectively.

Learn more about the relaunch and full product offering in this comprehensive BusinessWire press release on Springbot's Charleston relaunch, explore an in-depth breakdown of Springbot's three-pronged platform at TechDogs, and see how AI marketing technology is driving business success for all sizes in this feature on AI tools for small businesses.

Charleston has firmly established itself as a rising regional tech hub, hosting a record-breaking Charleston Tech Week from April 24 to May 2, 2025, anchored by the renowned Dig South Tech Summit.

Featuring a dynamic lineup - including keynotes by global leaders like Coca-Cola's Chief Product Officer and CNN Sports' Senior Director - the summit explores themes from AI and fintech to health tech, while events such as the $1M Wild Pitch startup competition and Charleston Women in Tech's mentorships draw both local talent and top-tier investors.

Read more about the Charleston Tech Summit featuring global leading brands.

According to organizers,

“Charleston Tech Week isn't just a great opportunity for attendees - it's a win for all our residents, who will benefit from the advancements and innovations that come out of these conversations.” - Charleston Mayor William Cogswell

The city's startup ecosystem is further energized by recent tech HQ relocations and expansions - such as Ignite Digital Services' $1 million HQ move creating 135 jobs and Portside Technology's rapid growth at the Charleston Tech Center - solidifying Charleston's allure as a business-friendly destination with quality-of-life benefits for tech professionals.

Learn more about the national tech company moving HQ to downtown Charleston.

The coordinated momentum across public, private, and creative sectors is illustrated by Tech Week's economic footprint: Charleston's tech workforce boasts an average wage of $120,000, tech employment comprises 12.1% of the region, and tech GDP now accounts for 17.3% - with 9,000% industry growth over 20 years.

Explore the Charleston Tech Week highlights and impact. The city's blend of high-profile summits, community-driven collaboration, and investment in talent pipelines is positioning Charleston as the Southeast's go-to destination for both innovation and opportunity.

Charleston's tech scene is experiencing robust growth and promising momentum as April 2025 closes, reinforced by major investments, expansions, and new educational initiatives.

Landmark developments include Charleston's selection for $45 million in federal tech hub funding to scale advanced energy technologies and grid security through the SC Nexus for Advanced Resilient Energy, and Boeing's forthcoming $1 billion expansion to boost 787 Dreamliner production, expected to deliver 500 jobs by 2027 with ambitious construction starting later this year.

Local tech firms like Portside Technology are equally contributing, adding nearly 100 jobs and cementing Charleston's status as a talent-friendly, innovative hub with business-friendly operations and infrastructure.

The educational landscape is also advancing, with local school districts evaluating AI-powered learning tools and training, signaling Charleston's commitment to future-ready skills.

As opportunities grow, aspiring tech professionals might consider upskilling through programs such as Nucamp's Cybersecurity Fundamentals (15 weeks, $2,124 early bird), Front End Web + Mobile Development (17 weeks, $2,124 early bird, with Google Cloud scholarship eligibility), or Full Stack Web + Mobile Development (22 weeks, $2,604 early bird), all offering flexible financing, scholarships, and practical curricula.

See below for a quick comparison:

Program	Length	Cost (Early Bird)	Curriculum Highlights
Cybersecurity Fundamentals	15 weeks	$2,124	Foundations, Network Defense, Ethical Hacking
Front End Web + Mobile Development	17 weeks	$2,124	JavaScript, React, React Native
Full Stack Web + Mobile Development	22 weeks	$2,604	JS, React, NodeJS, Express, MongoDB

With ongoing tech summits, major infrastructure upgrades, and new avenues for training, Charleston is poised for sustained innovation and upward mobility well into the year ahead.