Gravity Center

Company Overview

Name: The Gravity Center / Gravity Center Foundation
Industry: Entrepreneurship Support & Development
Established: 2021
Position: Co-Founder of the LLC / Vice Chairman of the Foundation

The Gravity Center operates as a comprehensive hub for entrepreneurs in York County, providing a range of services from mentoring and coaching to educational programs and networking events, as well as co-working space. It has established a unique funding arrangement with the city of Rock Hill, featuring a city-funded CEO position, which allows the center to offer these services while minimizing labor costs. The center recently transitioned most of its programming to a not-for-profit entity to access more grants and funding opportunities.

Key Aspects

  • Programs and Services

    LaunchPad: A monthly pitching event in a supportive environment.

    L.E.A.P.: One-on-one mentoring and coaching for entrepreneurs.

    Venture Mentoring System (VMS): Team mentoring based on MIT's model.

  • Educational Programming

    Seminars and webcasts on various entrepreneurial topics.

  • Events

    Regular meetups, annual events like LaunchPad’s 54 Hours To Launch, Entrepreneurial Week, Student Innovation Challenge, and Demo Day.

  • Metrics Tracking

    Measures impact through volunteer hours, revenue and employee counts of participating ventures, graduates of the VMS program, and number of entrepreneurs and participants served.

  • Partnerships

    Collaborations with York Technical College, Winthrop, and Clinton College, SBDC, City of Rock HIll, and efforts like STEM camp.

  • Strategic Shift

    Moving to an NPO model for better funding access and flexibility.

The Gravity Center presents itself as an innovative and resourceful hub for entrepreneurial development in York County. Its unique partnership with the city, diverse programming, and shift to a not-for-profit model demonstrate a strategic approach to supporting local entrepreneurs and small businesses. With its request for additional funding and ongoing collaborations, the Gravity Center is poised to further enhance its impact on the local economic landscape.