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233ventures launched or accelerated since 2020
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47active industry and community partners in 2025
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150%+increase in incoming student interest in entrepreneurship since 2023
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382program graduates since founding
Our Programs and Events
At The Hill Institute, we develop entrepreneurial leaders through education, mentorship, and hands-on experience. Our programs serve Furman students, high school students, and community founders by nurturing creativity, strengthening entrepreneurial thinking, and helping innovative ideas become real-world ventures. Through initiatives such as Furman’s Next Big Idea, the Rinker Paladin Pitch Competition, GVL Starts, the Clemens Angel Analyst Fellowship, and the Innovation Academy, we support entrepreneurs from ideation to launch. We host forums, pitch competitions, and community events that foster connection, expand learning, and strengthen Greenville’s innovation ecosystem.
Brooke Dominiak ‘22
Adobe, Sales Specialist
GVL Starts Participant ‘22
Innovation Fellow ‘22
Rinker Paladin Pitch Winner ‘21
“The Hill Institute didn’t just influence my college experience, it completely rerouted my entire life, career and mindset. I came to Furman thinking I knew exactly what I wanted to study, but the moment I got involved with the Hill Institute, everything changed. Their programs led me to switch my major, rethink my future, and step fully into my potential as an innovator and entrepreneur. They opened a door I didn’t even know existed, and once I walked through it, there was no going back.”
Andrew Farrell ‘25
Founder, LKRM
FutureX Participant ‘25 | Rinker Paladin Pitch ‘25
Innovation Fellow ‘23-24
Venture Fellow ‘24 | Clemens Angel Analyst Fellow ‘22
“Just months before graduating, I had the opportunity to further refine the messaging and delivery of my company, LKRM, in the annual Rinker Paladin Pitch Competition. Today, I’m continuing that work full time, as a part of the first-ever FutureX cohort, in Greenville, South Carolina – a city I can truly call home. The Hill Institute didn’t just open doors for me; it created a pathway from exploration to execution, turning ideas into impact. I could not be more thankful for the future this organization has provided me!”
