Karly Cunningham joined the GVL Starts Cohort of 2025 at a pivotal moment in her founder journey. As the founder of Good Dogs of Greenville, she was balancing vision, execution, and the realities of scaling a passion project into a real business, and the program’s practical, community-driven approach proved transformative. Her venture earned recognition as a winner of the Legacy Lifestyle Prize at GVL Starts’ Venture Showcase Pitch Competition. Read Karly’s story about her founder journey below:

“Participating in GVL Starts came at a pivotal moment in my founder journey. I was deep in building Good Dogs of Greenville — balancing vision, execution, and the realities of scaling something that started as a passion and quickly became a real business. What stood out immediately about the program was how grounded it was in the realities founders actually face. The conversations weren’t theoretical; they were practical, honest, and rooted in the local ecosystem I care deeply about.

One of the most meaningful aspects of GVL Starts was the sense of community it created. Being surrounded by other founders who were equally committed — and equally uncertain —reminded me that growth doesn’t happen in isolation. The peer connections, mentor conversations, and moments of shared vulnerability helped me refine not just my business strategy, but my confidence as a founder. I walked away with relationships I still lean on and a clearer understanding of where I fit within Greenville’s entrepreneurial landscape.

The program also helped me step back and see my work through a broader lens. GVL Starts challenged me to think more intentionally about impact, sustainability, and scale — not just what I was building, but why. It pushed me to articulate my story more clearly, make smarter decisions, and trust that building something meaningful takes both patience and persistence.

GVL Starts didn’t just support my growth as a business owner; it reinforced my belief in Greenville as a place where founders are truly invested in one another’s success. I’m incredibly grateful for the experience, the people, and the momentum it helped create — and I’m excited to carry that forward as I continue building and giving back to this community.”

Karly’s experience with GVL Starts reinforced her belief in Greenville as a place where founders genuinely invest in one another’s success, which she now carries into her own work with Good Dogs of Greenville.