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Furman University
Greenville, South Carolina·University
At a glance
Indexed programs
8
8 currently active
Top direct funding
No direct cash prizes indexed
Equity
No equity on indexed programs
Program mix
6
Fellowship · Incubator · Pitch Competition
Research verdict
Research in progress.
Programs to explore
Compare funding, equity, and timing before you apply.
8 programs indexed
Pitch Competition
Furman's Next Big Idea
Pitch CompetitionAlso: FNBI
—
funding range
- Last activity
- 2026-07-01
- Participants
- Undergraduate Students
- Verification
- Verified
Rinker Paladin Pitch Competition
Pitch CompetitionAlso: Paladin Pitch, Johnny Flynn Award
—
funding range
- Last activity
- 2026-07-01
- Participants
- Undergraduate Students
- Verification
- Verified
Accelerator
FutureX Venture Residency
AcceleratorAlso: FutureX, FutureX Traction Program
—
funding range
- Last activity
- 2026-07-01
- Participants
- Community, Alumni
- Verification
- Verified
GVL Starts
AcceleratorAlso: GVL Starts Accelerator
—
funding range
- Last activity
- 2026-07-01
- Participants
- Community, Undergraduate Students
- Verification
- Verified
Known startups and winners
Competition winners and notable student ventures from our research.
Astrea
Finalist
placement
Furman University · Rinker Paladin Pitch Competition
Custom sorority jewelry venture; Furman Paladin Pitch 2023 finalist, launched Spring 2024 (Aubrey Zoodsma '26).
CollegeCoach
Finalist
placement
Furman University · Rinker Paladin Pitch Competition
Soccer coaching platform; Furman Paladin Pitch 2023 finalist (Ivan Agyaakwah '25).
GoldRush Energy
$10,000
prize won
Furman University · Rinker Paladin Pitch Competition
Furman Paladin Pitch 2025 Johnny Flynn Award winner ($10K); Jackson Price '25.
Good Dogs of Greenville
Furman University · GVL Starts
GVL Starts 2025 venture showcase company (Karly Cunningham).
LKRM
Furman University · FutureX Venture Residency
Furman FutureX venture residency participant (Andrew Farrell '25).
MonteValle
$10,000
prize won
Furman University · Rinker Paladin Pitch Competition
Sustainable reeds venture; Furman Paladin Pitch 2022 winner ($10K), launched Spring 2025 (Alexa Valdovinos '25).
ProConnect
Furman University · Innovation Academy
Innovation Academy 2025 graduate venture (Oliver Membrillo).
Historical winners (research notes)
- GoldRush Energy — Jackson Price '25, Paladin Pitch 2025 winner
- MonteValle — Alexa Valdovinos '25, sustainable reeds, Paladin Pitch 2022 winner, launched Spring 2025
- Astrea — Aubrey Zoodsma '26, custom sorority jewelry, Paladin Pitch 2023 finalist, launched Spring 2024
- CollegeCoach — Ivan Agyaakwah '25, soccer coaching platform, Paladin Pitch 2023 finalist
- LKRM — Andrew Farrell '25, FutureX participant
- Good Dogs of Greenville — Karly Cunningham, GVL Starts '25
- ProConnect — Oliver Membrillo, Innovation Academy 2025 graduate
Furman University
Furman University is a private liberal arts university in Greenville, South Carolina, with approximately 2,600 students. Its entrepreneurship ecosystem is anchored by the Hill Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, a nationally awarded institute that develops innovative and entrepreneurially minded leaders through experiential learning programs, pitch competitions, new venture accelerators, and thought leadership forums.
Ecosystem Overview
- Central hub: The Hill Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Bryan Davis, Executive Director; Eric Cooperman, Senior Director)
- Physical hub: Furman Innovation Lab @ Flywheel, Crescent Innovation District (25 Goldsmith St, Greenville)
- Startups launched/accelerated: 233 since 2020
- Community accelerator: GVL Starts — 9 weeks, $499, 201 ventures since 2021, three $5K grants at Venture Showcase
- Student pitch competition: Rinker Paladin Pitch — $10,000 Johnny Flynn Award, 5+ weeks coaching, established 2019
- VC/angel fellowship: Clemens Angel Analyst Fellowship — 10-week program with VentureSouth, first at liberal arts college
- Corporate innovation challenge: Furman's Next Big Idea — biannual 6-hour ideation with BMW, paid internships
- Post-accelerator: FutureX Venture Residency at Flywheel Coworking
- Pre-college: Innovation Academy — 1-week residential for high school students, $5,250
- Academic: Business Administration with Entrepreneurship Track, Venture Fellows Program
- Active partners (2025): 47 industry and community partners
News & articles
8 news articles and official sources documenting entrepreneurship programs, winners, and activity at Furman University.
8 sources
Official sources(8)
Furman University
Clemens Angel Analyst Fellowship
First-of-its-kind among national liberal arts colleges. 10-week fellowship in angel investing/venture capital, fully funded by VentureSouth. Up to 25 students per cohort. Top 2 fellows get paid Analyst internships at VentureSouth. VentureSouth: 550+ investors, $80M+ invested in 100+ companies.
Read on Furman University
Flywheel Greenville
FutureX Venture Residency
FutureX is a venture residency program for post-accelerator founders based at Flywheel Coworking in the Crescent Innovation District. Collaboration between Furman Innovation Lab and Flywheel Foundation. Program lead is Furman's Hill Institute. Partners: Center for Innovative Leadership, Founderville.vc. Uses MIT's Disciplined Entrepreneurship framework.
Read on Flywheel Greenville
Furman University
GVL Starts
URL: https://www.furman.edu/innovation-entrepreneurship/innovation-entrepreneurship/gvl-starts/ Captured: 2026-07-01 (re-audited against live page) GVL Starts is a recurring 9-week community accelerator for first-time founders in Greenville ($499, need-based scholarships). **Fall 2026 cohort:** September 10 – November 5, 2026; Thursdays 5:30–8:30 p.m. downtown. Week 9 Venture Showcase grants three $5,000 startup awards (cohort participants only).
Read on Furman University
The Hill Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Furman University
Furman University
The Hill Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
The Hill Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship is the central entrepreneurship hub at Furman University. A nationally awarded institute that develops innovative and entrepreneurially minded leaders through experiential learning programs, pitch competitions, new venture accelerators, and thought leadership forums. Key metrics: 233 ventures launched/accelerated since 2020, 47 active industry partners in 2025, 382 program graduates, 150%+ increase in incoming student interest since 2023.
Read on Furman University
Furman University
Innovation Academy
One-week residential entrepreneurship program for high school students (sophomores, juniors). Cost $5,250 per session. Covers MVP development, market research, business pitching. Includes film studio commercial production. Final pitch to industry experts.
Read on Furman University
Furman University
Furman Innovation Lab
The Furman Innovation Lab is a physical hub at the Crescent Innovation District (25 Goldsmith St, Greenville). Brings together the Center for Innovative Leadership, Furman Institutes, and Graduate Studies. Offers professional certificates, graduate programs, and corporate training. Houses the Hill Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Shi Institute, Riley Institute, and Institute for the Advancement of Community Health.
Read on Furman University
Furman University
Furman's Next Big Idea
URL: https://www.furman.edu/innovation-entrepreneurship/innovation-entrepreneurship/furmans-next-big-idea/ Captured: 2026-07-01 (re-audited against live page) Biannual 6-hour ideation competition at Furman Innovation Lab (25 Goldsmith St). **Spring 2026:** February 20, 2026, 2–8 p.m. (BMW Global Innovation Team) — **past** as of July 2026. **Fall 2026:** October 2, 2026, 2–8 p.m. — upcoming; applications listed as coming soon. Top performers may earn paid 8-week BMW summer internships. Limited to 30 undergraduates.
Read on Furman University
Furman University
Rinker Paladin Pitch Competition
URL: https://www.furman.edu/innovation-entrepreneurship/innovation-entrepreneurship/paladin-pitch-competition Captured: 2026-07-01 The Rinker Paladin Pitch Competition (est. 2019) showcases four student finalists pitching live for the $10,000 Johnny Flynn Award. Includes 5+ weeks of coaching and mentoring. **2027 competition:** Thursday, April 8, 2027, 4–5:30 p.m. Applications for 2027 listed as coming soon.
Read on Furman University
This profile lists 8 programs for Furman University. Some details may be outdated until a director verifies them.
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