**BEAUFORT, SC - April 3, 2024 **- The 2024 Techstars Startup Weekend Beaufort event, held at the USCB Center for Performing Arts, culminated in an exciting showcase of innovation and entrepreneurship. Over the course of three days, aspiring founders gathered to transform their concepts into viable business models, presenting their pitches to a panel of esteemed judges. The event commenced with a dynamic Wild Pitch event, followed by intensive team collaboration and development, leading to the final pitches.

The competing teams showcased a diverse range of ideas, including BarkLink, Words of Beaufort, and MySafeCyber. BarkLink proposed a concept aimed at sourcing funding for animal shelters through crowdsourced dog food purchases, while Words of Beaufort presented an app designed to provide walking history lessons about Beaufort's rich heritage. MySafeCyber, a cybersecurity company focused on aiding small businesses with their cyber needs, ultimately emerged victorious.

Judging the pitches were distinguished industry professionals, including Amanda Powers, Seed2Table Partner and experienced VC/CFO; Annis Lyles, former Marketing Executive at The Coca-Cola Company; Caroline Crowder, Executive Director of Boyd Innovation Center; Raquel Padgett, Executive Director of EFORALL; and William Fugate, Director of Overseas Business Development at SkyDrive. Pitches were evaluated based on criteria such as business model, customer validation, execution, and design.

After thorough deliberation, MySafeCyber, led by Walt Gnann of ISLC, Inc., was declared the winner. The winning team comprised individuals from Technical College of the Lowcountry (TCL) and University of South Carolina Beaufort (USCB), including Angel Kern, Robert McBride, Austin Morton, Nithish Nadham Dirispamu, and Khushi Jadhav.

"Witnessing the collaborative spirit of students and staff from TCL and USCB was truly awe-inspiring. The level of dedication and synergy displayed by this remarkable team is a testament to the innovative spirit thriving within our community. I couldn't be prouder to be a part of Beaufort, where passion for progress and support for budding entrepreneurs converge to drive meaningful change," stated Jess O'Brien, lead event organizer and Executive Director of Beaufort Digital Corridor.

The event received generous support from local businesses and partner organizations, including AlphaGraphics, who sponsored a business starter kit prize package for the winning team, and Beaufort Digital Corridor, which awarded the winning team office space for their first year of business. Additional supporters included Beaufort County Economic Development Corporation, which sponsored the final pitch reception, and USCB, which provided the event venue. Globally, the event was supported by Google for Startups, GoDaddy, and Brex.

Techstars Startup Weekend Beaufort 2024 showcased the innovative spirit and collaborative ethos of the Beaufort community, underscoring its commitment to fostering entrepreneurship and technological advancement.

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**About Techstars **

The Techstars worldwide network helps entrepreneurs succeed. Founded in 2006, Techstars began with three simple ideas–-entrepreneurs create a better future for everyone, collaboration drives innovation, and great ideas can come from anywhere. Now we are on a mission to enable every person on the planet to contribute to, and benefit from, the success of entrepreneurs. In addition to operating accelerator programs and venture capital funds, we do this by connecting startups, investors, corporations, and cities to help build thriving startup communities. Techstars has invested in more than 2,400 companies with a combined market cap of more than $204B. www.techstars.com

**About Beaufort Digital Corridor **

Beaufort Digital Corridor is a nonprofit organization dedicated to cultivating the tech and entrepreneurial community in Beaufort, South Carolina, fostering innovation, collaboration, and economic growth. www.beaufortdigital.com