Lunch & Learn Series: Growth Strategies to Fuel Your Company’s Expansion

From tapping into hiring incentives and optimizing employee benefits to securing funding for high-growth startups, join us at the Beaufort Digital Corridor and unlock strategies to fuel your company’s expansion. Each session offers practical insights to help business owners and entrepreneurs scale smarter.

Reserve your seat today and make the most of your lunch break at the Beaufort Digital Corridor!

Session Details

☑️ Part 1: Unlock Hiring Incentives: Get Paid to Build Your Workforce with Apprenticeship Carolina

Wednesday, September 10
Time: 12:00 PM–1:00 PM

☑️ Part 2: Understanding Benefits: A No-Fluff Guide for Business Owners with 843 Benefits

843 Benefits offers a quick, high-impact educational session designed for entrepreneurs and business owners who want to attract and retain great talent but aren’t sure where to start with health insurance and employee benefits. We’ll break down the basics—group plans, ICHRA, and individual options—in plain English, with real examples and zero pressure. Whether you’ve got 2 employees or 200, we’ll help you understand what’s possible and what’s smart for your business.

🍴Sponsored Lunch - lunch for this session will be provided by our friends at 843 Benefits.

Wednesday, September 17
Time: 12:00 PM–1:00 PM

☑️ Part 3: Fueling Innovation: Funding Options for High-Growth Startups with SCRA

The South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA) hosts a Lunch & Learn to support high-growth founders and startups. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect directly with their investment team and learn about funding pathways for scaling your business.

Wednesday, September 24
Time: 12:00 PM–1:00 PM

AND...

1-on-1 Founder Meetings with SCRA:

Don't miss an exclusive opportunity to connect with the SCRA investment team. Founders can book a 15–20 minute one-on-one session to share their startup vision, ask questions, and explore how SCRA can support their growth. Drop-in hours will also be available for casual networking.

• 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM | By appointment only!
  → Book Your Appointment Here
  

Lunch: Lunch will be available before each session.

Tickets:  Please have your Digital Ticket📱ready to be scanned upon arrival.

Meet The Presenters

Dave Williams, CEO of 843 Benefits and Health Marketplace:

For over 20 years, I have helped local businesses and their employees navigate the ever-changing world of benefits and insurance. Today is no different, as a wide range of options has many employers confused and almost gun-shy of installing a new plan for fear of messing up existing plans or government subsidies. Let me guide and educate you on your journey, and become part of your team. It costs you NOTHING!

Christopher O'Neill, Apprenticeship Carolina Consultant:

An operational leader with more than 30 years of experience in personnel leadership, operations, safety, training across diverse teams and environments, law enforcement, criminal/cybercrime investigations, and research. Extremely organized in managing high-profile projects and coordinating complex workflow and logistics. Effectively balances competing priorities in fast-paced, client-facing environments. Maintains a rapid trajectory of growth in positions of increasing leadership and accountability. Top Secret security clearance.

Meghan Corsello, SCRA Senior Investment Associate:

Expert catalyst and consensus builder helping portfolio companies go to market with momentum and find product-market fit faster. Experience making game-changing decisions for 200+ B2B SaaS startups and scale-ups in a variety of industries.

Kevin Eichelberger, SCRA Investment Manager:

I help Entrepreneurs scale businesses.

I accomplish this through two vehicles - as an Investment Manager with SCRA, and as an Advisor & Investor through Oak Point Ventures. SC Research Authority is a public non-profit providing the rocket fuel for Entrepreneurs to launch and scale businesses in South Carolina focused around technology, advanced manufacturing and materials, life sciences, and clean technology and sustainability. As part of SCRA’s SC Launch program, I help tech and innovation businesses in South Carolina grow through capital, coaching, and industry connections.

At Oak Point Ventures, I'm a board advisor to Founders and CEOs of tech-enabled services businesses, primarily (but not solely) within the Ecommerce ecosystem. Leveraging my experience founding, scaling and bootstrapping one myself, partnering with private equity, getting investment from Salesforce Ventures, acquiring and integrating several businesses, and exiting to the largest strategic acquirer in the world - it has uniquely equipped me to help other founders of similar businesses navigate the opportunities and challenges to help them come out on top. Oak Point Ventures also invests in Ecommerce & tech.

Lunch & Learn Live Stream Update

The Beaufort Digital Corridor will no longer live-stream its Lunch & Learn sessions. Subscribe to the BDC's YouTube channel to watch any recorded sessions and be notified when new ones become available: https://youtube.com/playlist?l... Thanks for tuning in!

A Special Thank You to Our 2025 Lunch & Learn Sponsor!

We are incredibly grateful to SNS Technologies for their generous sponsorship of our 2025 Lunch & Learn series. Their support allows us to continue providing essential educational resources that tech entrepreneurs seek to ensure the success of their startups.

As a leading provider of innovative IT solutions, SNS Technologies is dedicated to empowering businesses with cutting-edge technology and exceptional service. We’re proud to have them as a partner and appreciate their investment in the success of the local tech community.

Join us in thanking SNS Technologies by visiting SNS Technologies to learn more about their impactful business.