$30K PowerUp Winners Announced!

The winners of the inaugural $30K PowerUp Competition for startup businesses were announced at a reception on Nov. 20, 2023, in Greenville.

The $30K PowerUp was hosted by Integrated Media Publishing (publisher of Greenville Business Magazine, Columbia Business Monthly, and Charleston Business Magazine) in partnership with entrepreneur and author Erik Weir.

Method Performance Labs, a Greenville-based company that helps athletes take their skills to the next level, took first place, receiving $15,000.

The second-place finisher was Simplicity Community Pharmacy, based in Columbia, which aims to take care of patients’ health care needs in addition to filling prescriptions. Simplicity Community Pharmacy received $10,000.

The Reading HQ, based in Greenville, received $5,000 as third-place finisher. The company offers a supplemental reading program to help children achieve reading success.

The competition kicked off in January, and more than 40 companies submitted applications to be considered. Twenty-one finalists were featured in Greenville Business Magazine, Columbia Business Monthly, and Charleston Business Magazine over the course of the year.

A panel of judges selected the three winners after a round of interviews with each of the finalists.

Weir congratulated the winners as the checks were presented.

“Sixty-three percent of all jobs created in America come from small businesses,” Weir said. “It was a tough competition, and you all did fantastically.”

Other sponsors were Evette Embroidery; Goodwill Industries of the Upstate/Midlands South Carolina; and Kim Lahey & Killough Law Firm.