University of South Carolina

USC Proving Ground Pitch Competition

URL: https://sc.edu/study/colleges_schools/moore/research_and_centers/centers/faber_entrepreneurship_center/proving_ground.php Captured: 2026-07-01 (re-audited against live page) The USC Proving Ground is an annual pitch competition hosted by the Faber Entrepreneurship Center. Awards up to $25,000 in seed money to USC undergraduate, graduate, and recent-alumni teams (within three years). **2026 cycle (past as of July 2026):** applications opened Feb. 13; deadline March 6; live pitch April 17, 2026 (Carolina Entrepreneurship Summit Day 2).

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University of South Carolina

Office of Economic Engagement

The Office of Economic Engagement (OEE) is USC's central hub for industry partnerships, technology commercialization, and entrepreneurial support. It manages the Technology Commercialization Office, IdeaLabs wet lab facility, the USC/Columbia Technology Incubator (The MIX), and provides SBIR/STTR support. USC contributes $7.4B annually to South Carolina's economy and supports 61,700 jobs across the state.

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University of South Carolina

M.S. in Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurial Engineering

The M.S. in Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurial Engineering is a one-year graduate program at USC's Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing. It is the only graduate program in South Carolina that blends technical and business skills for entrepreneurship. The 30-credit curriculum includes 24 credits of required courses and 6 credits of business electives, plus a 6-credit Entrepreneurial Laboratory. The program is being moved to the Darla Moore School of Business (applications paused as of 2026).

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University of South Carolina

Faber Entrepreneurship Center

The Faber Entrepreneurship Center is the academic entrepreneurship hub within USC's Darla Moore School of Business. It houses the B.S. in Entrepreneurship degree program, runs the USC Proving Ground pitch competition, operates the STRIVE program for student entrepreneurs, and hosts speaker events and workshops. It partners closely with the McNair Institute for Entrepreneurism and Free Enterprise and the Office of Economic Engagement.

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University of South Carolina

IdeaLabs

IdeaLabs is a wet lab facility operated by USC's Office of Economic Engagement, providing low-cost leasable wet lab space for small businesses in South Carolina. It is the only ready-built leasable wet lab space available in Columbia. Lab sizes range from 265 to 600 square feet with standard gas lines, fume hoods, and reconfigurable bench space.

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University of South Carolina

"The MIX: USC/Columbia Technology Incubator"

The USC/Columbia Technology Incubator, operating as The MIX (Midlands Innovation X-Change), is a business incubator supporting entrepreneurs in the Midlands of South Carolina. It provides free intake sessions, personalized pathways, mentorship, and community support. The MIX reports $45M+ total revenue generated by participating businesses and 650+ people employed by MIX companies.

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University of South Carolina

McNair Institute for Entrepreneurism and Free Enterprise

The McNair Institute for Entrepreneurism and Free Enterprise is USC's interdisciplinary entrepreneurship center, named after Bob McNair (leading businessman, sportsman, philanthropist, and USC alum). It operates on an Aspire -> Learn -> Act framework, hosts the Carolina Entrepreneurship Fellows program, offers an entrepreneurship minor open to all majors, and organizes challenge events and pitch competitions.

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University of South Carolina

Technology Commercialization Office

The Technology Commercialization Office (TCO) is USC's primary technology transfer office. It manages invention disclosures, patents, and licensing for USC technologies. USC is a top 50 patent-producing university worldwide. TCO guides inventors through the process of Disclose -> Protect -> Commercialize and assists industry partners with licensing and research collaboration.

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