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

Greenville's technology sector gained momentum in April 2025, marked by a unified commitment to workforce innovation and AI literacy. The Greenville City Council unanimously approved a comprehensive pay study to strengthen recruitment and retention, aiming for market-aligned compensation and a more competitive workforce by 2026 (comprehensive pay study approval).

Local businesses and educators spearheaded the “Grow Local Week,” connecting over 2,600 students with 75+ companies to nurture future tech talent and expand career insights; Trent McGee, Chamber President, stated,

“Through Grow Local, we are equipping students with opportunities they need to succeed while helping businesses find the talent necessary for growth. This initiative is not just about filling jobs – it's about building a resilient, competitive economy for the future.”

Additionally, April featured AI literacy training for educators and researchers at ECU's Tech Tailgate Symposium, underscoring the region's focus on AI-powered productivity and responsible integration (Generative AI and AI Literacy Training at ECU).

Greenville's collaborative push is creating a robust tech pipeline - an essential foundation for economic growth in this rapidly digitizing landscape.

Greenville Technical College has officially broken ground on its flagship $18 million Center for Welding and Automation Excellence at the Brashier Campus, a 44,000-square-foot facility set to open in fall 2026 and designed to address the nation's acute welder shortage - currently estimated at 400,000 job openings.

The state-of-the-art center will feature an AI Welding Lab, enabling hands-on experience with artificial intelligence-driven welding systems to improve precision, efficiency, and training quality, alongside a robotics welding lab that expands robotic welding stations from 4 to 16 and total welding stations from 90 to 140.

The innovation-rich curriculum draws inspiration from leading enterprise campuses across four states and is strategically funded by a $15 million allocation from the South Carolina General Assembly and $2.9 million in federal funding for advanced equipment.

As Dr. Keith Miller, college president, emphasized,

“We look forward to solving the welding challenge in workforce development with the Center for Welding and Automation Excellence...our facility will be second to none.”

The center integrates classrooms, advanced fabrication and testing labs, breakout rooms, and elevated observation spaces for both students and industry partners, and promises to be “a game changer,” according to department head Casey Ross, by producing “top-tier talent.” For further context on the groundbreaking event and its workforce impact, read the Greenville Business Magazine feature on the welding and automation center groundbreaking, in-depth facility details from the Greenville Journal's report on the Center for Welding and Automation Excellence, and see the official announcement via Greenville Technical College's news release.

CONVO GPT has unveiled “Sara,” an always-on AI platform designed to streamline sales and recruiting, offering round-the-clock support for teams looking to boost efficiency and personalization.

This innovation reflects a broader trend of AI-powered business tools reshaping workflow automation, as seen in the rapid evolution of major platforms like Salesmate's April 2025 updates, which provide granular data security, customizable mobile layouts, and dynamic navigation to adapt CRM experiences for diverse sales roles.

Solutions like HubSpot's recently launched AI agents further demonstrate the industry's push toward integrated, intelligent sales and marketing, with new workspaces and agents that automate outreach, prospect research, and customer support, reportedly resolving over half of all support tickets and cutting response times by 40% (read more on HubSpot's AI advancements).

For organizations seeking to automate sales and recruiting without extensive coding or technical overhead, a variety of automation platforms - including Scoutos and MESA - enable no-code workflows, NLP-powered virtual assistants, and solutions specifically tailored for marketing, recruiting, and sales teams (discover top AI sales automation tools for 2025).

The convergence of these tools signifies a pivotal moment for Greenville tech professionals and business leaders interested in leveraging AI to enhance team productivity and deliver more personalized customer experiences.

Digital transformation is accelerating in Greenville, NC, highlighted by leaders like Ullas Das, who are driving the adoption of advanced AI agent technologies across business and academic sectors.

The latest platforms, such as Make AI Agents, offer real-time intelligence in no-code automation, enabling businesses to create smarter workflows and adaptable decision-making processes without the need for complex programming (Make AI Agents: Real-Time Intelligence for No-Code Automation).

Meanwhile, academic institutions are benefiting from Clarivate's expanded AI platform, which now features pre-built and customizable agentic AI tools for research and learning, supporting thousands of organizations globally and democratizing innovation in higher education (Clarivate's Academic AI Platform Expansion with Agentic AI Tools).

As these innovations proliferate, governance and security remain top priorities - Dataiku has introduced a unified solution for the central creation, monitoring, and deployment of AI agents at enterprise scale, supporting robust integration and observability across all major data environments (Dataiku's Unified AI Agent Creation and Monitoring Platform).

This evolving landscape is empowering Greenville's organizations, educators, and startups alike to harness AI's potential responsibly and efficiently, reflecting a broader shift toward accessible, secure, and community-driven digital transformation.

TSMC, the world's leading semiconductor foundry, reported a record-breaking Q1 2025 profit surge, fueled by unprecedented demand for AI and high-performance computing chips, and raising the stakes for tech supply chains throughout the Southeast.

The company's revenue soared 42% year-over-year to $25.6 billion, with net income climbing an impressive 60.3% to NT$361.56 billion, outpacing analyst expectations and marking the fastest annual growth since 2022.

According to CNBC's first-quarter earnings coverage, advanced process nodes (3nm and 5nm) accounted for 58% of total wafer revenue, reflecting TSMC's technological lead - a critical advantage as AI hardware spending is set to drive up to 80% of global generative AI investments this year.

U.S. trade tensions, including tariff threats and semiconductor export controls, prompted customers to accelerate stockpiling and contributed to the quarterly revenue momentum, as reported by Bloomberg's analysis on TSMC sales.

Despite these headwinds, TSMC is doubling down on U.S. expansion with another $100 billion committed to new facilities in Arizona, aiming to buffer both geopolitical risk and domestic chipmaking capacity.

CEO C.C. Wei emphasized,

“We maintain our revenue growth forecast near the mid-20% for 2025 due to continued AI development,”

underscoring sustained momentum even as seasonal slowdowns and pricing pressures loom.

For a more detailed breakdown of TSMC's results - including monthly revenue and year-over-year comparisons - see the full report at Tech Monitor's detailed TSMC Q1 2025 report.

Greenville Technical College is ushering in a new era for skilled trades with the construction of its $18 million, 44,000-square-foot Center for Welding and Automation Excellence, which will feature state-of-the-art AI-powered and robotic welding labs to address a national shortage of 400,000 welders.

The center's automation-centric curriculum emphasizes the growing demand for welders proficient in both traditional and AI-supported welding systems, offering hands-on experience with technologies that enhance precision, safety, and efficiency through real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and defect detection.

As highlighted by the Refrigeration School, integrating AI in welding education prepares students for an evolving workforce where automation and human expertise must go hand in hand to meet industry demands.

Further bridging the gap between resources and effective training, affordable tools like the Miller MobileArc Augmented Reality Training System are enabling students and instructors to build real-world skills efficiently.

As educational leaders indicate at national summits, this pivot toward AI and automation in trades is not about job loss but "huge job change," with demand for workforce-ready graduates who can leverage both hands-on skills and emerging technologies (Greenville Tech breaks ground on welding center).

"We look forward to solving the welding challenge in workforce development with the Center for Welding and Automation Excellence," said Keith Miller, president of Greenville Technical College.

CONVO GPT is rapidly distinguishing itself in Greenville's tech scene by delivering tailored AI automation solutions for sectors like healthcare, IT, and finance, with its “Sara” platform streamlining 24/7 sales and recruiting workflows.

Early adopters report a 300% increase in sales productivity, as “Sara” automates lead qualification, customer support, and candidate screening, maximizing operational efficiency and responsiveness (CONVO GPT's AI Employee "Sara" Delivers Breakthrough Results).

Healthcare institutions particularly benefit from agentic AI platforms that accelerate finding and engaging candidates for both clinical and non-clinical positions, combatting workforce shortages, burnout, and turnover pressures (AI-Powered Recruitment Expertise at Becker's Healthcare CHRO + Workforce Forum).

The sector's push toward automation is reflected in national trends - recent industry research shows temporary staffing platforms, fueled by AI, now account for over 20% of US healthcare staffing revenue (up from 9% in 2020), with staffing firms reporting a median revenue lift of 10% from automation (AI-Driven Revolution in Healthcare Staffing Recruitment).

The table below highlights recent market trends and outcomes:

As leading employers in Greenville and beyond customize AI to their sector's demands, the trend points to a continued surge in efficiency, agility, and smarter workforce management across industries.

No-code platforms and agile development are accelerating AI integration and business expansion in Greenville, NC and beyond, as evidenced by Mindset AI's recent £4.3 million growth round and the broader boom in AI startup funding.

Mindset AI's no-code, white-label platform enables businesses - especially in education and media - to create and monetize AI agents from proprietary content with impressive results: 40% faster onboarding, a 20% increase in partner retention, and over $1 million in new sales pipeline.

As Barrie Hadfield, Mindset AI's founder, shares,

"The results speak for themselves: two great investors in the company and the cash we need for the next step of our journey."

Mindset's success is part of a surging trend, with April 2025 seeing multiple U.S. AI startups such as SandboxAQ, Runway, and Reflection.AI each raising nine-figure rounds, fueling rapid AI-driven transformation.

The evolution of no-code and low-code AI tooling, also highlighted by Adaptive's new platform for building custom apps, is allowing companies of all sizes and technical backgrounds to deploy intelligent solutions - streamlining everything from HR to customer engagement.

A snapshot of Mindset AI's growth underscores the sector's momentum:

For a deeper dive into Mindset AI's strategy, read the detailed analysis of their funding round, review the official funding announcement, or explore how mega-funding is shaping the AI landscape in this TechCrunch roundup of 2025's top AI startup rounds.

Greenville Technical College has embarked on a major initiative to combat the critical shortage of welders in the U.S. by breaking ground on its 44,000-square-foot Center for Welding and Automation Excellence, set to open in Fall 2026 at the Brashier Campus.

With more than 400,000 welding job openings nationwide and only one new welder entering for every four who retire or leave the field, the new center aims to modernize training through advanced features including AI-powered welding systems, robotics labs, and expanded capacity that grows robotic welding stations from 4 to 16 and total welding stations from 90 to 140.

Supported by $15 million from the South Carolina General Assembly and $3 million in federal equipment funding, the facility is described as a “game changer” for regional manufacturing by welding instructor Casey Ross, with Senator Lindsey Graham emphasizing the high demand for this skill set to attract business to the area.

As Dr. Keith Miller, Greenville Tech's president, put it,

“We look forward to solving the welding challenge in workforce development with the Center for Welding and Automation Excellence. Our planning team visited similar enterprise campuses across four states. Borrowing ideas from some of the best, our facility will be second to none.”

The center will feature next-generation labs for MIG, pipe, laser welding, and non-destructive testing, dedicated industry partnership spaces, and innovative training facilities poised to “upgrade the skills of those already in the profession” as well as prepare a new generation.

For further details, see coverage at Greenville Journal's report on training innovation, Greenville Technical College's official announcement, and local media coverage of the groundbreaking.

No-code AI platforms are revolutionizing how Greenville's businesses deploy artificial intelligence, allowing organizations to automate complex processes and integrate advanced tools without traditional coding expertise.

Solutions like Creatio's AI-native no-code CRM - enhanced by their recent partnership with SMS Magic for omnichannel messaging - enable omnichannel, automated, and compliant messaging across SMS, WhatsApp, and RCS, tailored for highly regulated sectors such as healthcare, finance, and retail.

As summarized in a 2025 Esade report, these platforms can minimize implementation costs by up to 40% while slashing deployment times from months to days - a shift empowering local leaders and SMBs alike to access enterprise-grade capabilities with drag-and-drop simplicity (unlocking AI's potential for CEOs with no-code tools).

Recent industry guides highlight that by 2025, 70% of new enterprise software will use low-code or no-code technologies, and leading platforms such as Google Vertex AI, Microsoft Power Automate, and Bubble are enabling rapid scalability and integration with popular CRMs (see table below).

This democratization of AI allows Greenville companies to quickly respond to market changes, automate sales and customer service, and accelerate digital transformation without the bottleneck of software engineering resources.

“With this partnership, we're excited to bring Creatio customers a robust AI native communication platform that combines compliance, conversational AI, and telephony integrations…enhancing customer experience - all while maintaining regulatory compliance.” - Nitin Seth, CEO of SMS Magic

For an in-depth look into the capabilities and business impact of no-code AI solutions, refer to No-Code AI Platform Growth in 2025.

Greenville's tech leadership agenda is placing security and compliance at its core amid a wave of evolving regulations and sophisticated cyber threats. Recent state-level action, such as North Dakota's March 2025 legislation and New York's new mandates effective May 1, 2025, underscores growing requirements for financial institutions - demanding robust risk assessments, access management controls, multi-factor authentication, and regular employee training, particularly for trust structures, mortgage lenders, and fintech companies.

As detailed in this comprehensive review of 2025 state cybersecurity legislation, over 26 states have adopted stronger standards tailored to protect sensitive consumer information held by non-GLBA regulated entities.

At the federal level, oversight bodies and recent executive orders continue to set expectations for compliance, transparency, and timely incident reporting, especially as digital payments grow and fraud patterns shift.

As highlighted in FINRA's cybersecurity guidance, risk-based controls, third-party vendor management, and rapid cyber-incident response are now essential practices.

Greenville-area tech firms and financial organizations must keep pace with multi-jurisdictional demands - ranging from PCI DSS and SEC rules to NY DFS's annual certifications - while strengthening operational resilience.

(Overview of key cybersecurity compliance standards) For reference, the table below summarizes some of the most critical 2025 requirements:

Looking ahead, Greenville's technology community must prioritize adaptable controls and a culture of cybersecurity awareness to support not only compliance but also consumer trust and business integrity.

For deeper insights on proactive regulatory readiness, visit this analysis of New York's 2025 cybersecurity regulatory changes.

Greenville, NC is rapidly distinguishing itself as a nexus for AI, automation, and workforce innovation, blending robust educational offerings with agile training solutions to fuel local industry needs.

Through Greenville Technical College's Corporate and Continuing Education programs, residents and professionals can pursue career-aligned upskilling in advanced manufacturing, health care, business technology, and more, alongside more than 100 academic disciplines.

The innovative Quick Jobs with a Future initiative exemplifies Greenville's commitment to accessible workforce development, offering skills-specific, job-ready courses - most under three months - with flexible scheduling and real-world learning environments.

As one Quick Jobs graduate shared,

“With Quick Jobs, I had time to do other things, including work.”

These developments align with a broader push across North Carolina, where programs like the state's AI pilot partnership with OpenAI highlight a statewide drive toward technology-enabled public service and economic advancement.

For community members seeking to join this wave, Nucamp offers bootcamps in fields like cybersecurity, web development, and data engineering - backed by scholarships, financing plans, and career support tailored to diverse learners.

Greenville's synergy of academic resources, industry partnerships, and inclusive skilling underscores its emergence as a thriving tech and automation hub in the Southeast.