Brenda Laakso

NEXT is the regional portal for high impact, knowledge-based businesses in the Upstate of South Carolina, serving entrepreneurs through client services, infrastructure development, and public advocacy. During this period, NEXT facilitated development of critical infrastructure: InnoVenture, NEXT Innovation Center (www.greenvillenext.com); Upstate Carolina Angel Network (www.upstateangels.org); TEDxGreenville (www.tedxgreenville.org), peer CEO forums (www.nextupstatesc.org) in Greenville and Anderson counties; and incentives to foster growth.