SEPTEMBER 2025 | THE HILL INSTITUTE NEWSROOM

As another fall semester kicks off, I’m reminded of how each new academic year brings not only fresh energy but also new opportunities for growth and collaboration. This season marks an important chapter for The Hill Institute as we introduce new programs, welcome returning and first-time fellows, and continue to strengthen our role within Furman and the broader Greenville community.

We are especially excited to launch FutureX, a program designed to give promising early-stage founders the momentum to build and scale, and to debut our Student Fellowship Program, a tiered leadership model that empowers students to progress from contributors to collaborators to creators. At the same time, we are celebrating new (and the largest ever!) cohorts in GVL Starts and the Clemens Angel Analyst Fellowship, alongside the success of Furman’s Next Big Idea, which brought together more institutes and partners than ever before since its launch this spring.

Together, these initiatives reflect our mission: to create entrepreneurially minded leaders who are equipped to transform their companies, communities, and the world. Let’s continue shaping the future of entrepreneurship at Furman and beyond together.

Onward,

Bryan Davis

Executive Director

THIS MONTHS HIGHLIGHTS

🚀 FutureX Program Launch

We’re excited to announce the launch of FutureX, a new venture residency giving early-stage founders the runway to build proof-of-concept, traction, and repeatable revenue. Based at Flywheel’s Crescent Innovation District, FutureX is a collaboration between the Furman Innovation Lab, the Flywheel Foundation, and partners including the Hill Institute, Furman’s Center for Innovative Leadership, and Founderville.vc.

The program is designed for founders who have already graduated from a regional accelerator or boot camp and are ready to take their ventures to the next stage. FutureX is more than a residency — it’s a launchpad for scalable ventures that will contribute to Greenville’s growing innovation ecosystem. The program’s collaborative design leverages academic, nonprofit, and investment expertise, positioning founders for long-term success.

We’re especially proud to share that Andrew Farrell ’25, a recent Furman graduate and founder of LKRM, has been selected for the inaugural cohort.

🌟 Student Fellowship Program Launch

The Hill Institute Student Fellowship Program is a tiered leadership development initiative that engages Furman students in hands-on innovation and entrepreneurship work. With returning fellows mentoring new participants, the program builds leadership capacity, fosters continuity, and supports The Hill Institute’s mission through both operational support and creative storytelling.

The Fellowship includes two core tracks: Innovation Fellows, who focus on program execution, operational support, and student engagement; and Influencer Fellows, who specialize in digital storytelling, content creation, and brand strategy. Fellows who continue into a third year have the opportunity to become Venture Fellows, creating and launching a new program or venture with guidance from Hill staff.

We are especially excited to have our new Lead Innovation Fellows, David Peral ’27 and Abby Rogers ’28 (pictured above), back to lead and mentor our first-year students in this inaugural program.

This tiered model empowers students to progress from contributor → collaborator → creator over the course of their fellowship journey, ensuring both personal growth and lasting impact within Furman’s innovation ecosystem.

💡 GVL Starts | Cohort 8

GVL Starts welcomed its 8th cohort of 36 ventures, bringing our community impact to 200+ entrepreneurs since the program’s launch in 2021. These founders are tackling business models, legal structures, and go-to-market strategies on their path towards Venture Showcase (formerly Demo Day) this fall.

Stay tuned, their ideas are big, and their impact is being felt in the Greenville ecosystem.

📈 Clemens Angel Analyst Fellowship | Cohort 5

Now entering its 5th cohort, the Clemens Angel Analyst Fellowship in partnership with VentureSouth gives students hands-on exposure to venture financing, diligence principles, and startup evaluation. We are thrilled to welcome 25 dynamic and diverse student fellows this year who are building on the strong foundation of previous cohorts, and we can’t wait to see how they grow as analysts and leaders.



🏆 Furman's Next Big Idea

This past Friday, we hosted Furman’s Next Big Idea competition, bringing together 40+ students, faculty, and partners from across the university. Since its launch this spring, the program has steadily grown, and this edition featured the broadest collaboration yet, uniting all four of Furman’s academic institutes alongside the Business and Accounting Department.

The event showcased the creativity and commitment of Furman students while highlighting the power of collaboration across disciplines and programs. It was an inspiring reminder of what we can accomplish together as a community.

⚡️ Welcome, Anna Rider

We are excited to welcome Anna Rider as our new Innovation Lab Coordinator, a shared role between the Center for Innovative Leadership and The Hill Institute.

Anna manages logistics for events and programs across both departments, bringing creativity, organization, and people-centered leadership for the Furman Innovation Lab.

With a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre from Belmont University, Anna began her career as a professional actress before transitioning into teaching and directing a thriving performing arts studio in Atlanta. She now brings that same creativity and empathy to Furman, fostering growth and success through thoughtful relationship building and impactful experiences. We are thrilled to have her on our team!

INTRODUCING GVL STARTS VENTURE SHOWCASE

YOUR ENTREPRENEUR UNIFORM UPDATED

UPCOMING EVENTS

WE ARE THANKFUL FOR OUR COMMUNITY COLLABORATORS