In the Spotlight: Some enterprising women entrepreneurs from South Carolina
#WomenInBusiness #SouthCarolinaEntrepreneurs #EmpoweredWomenSC #Innovation #Entrepreneurship
South Carolina or “The Palmetto State”, known for its southern charm & rich heritage – is also home to a growing community of women entrepreneurs, who are shaping the state’s economic landscape. Women-owned businesses in South Carolina make up more than 30% of all enterprises – showcasing their undeniable impact on industries such as technology, healthcare, retail, and beyond. These women are breaking barriers, transforming challenges into opportunities & redefining ‘success’ in the entrepreneurial world.
Women Entrepreneurs in South Carolina: Driving Growth and Innovation
What makes South Carolina unique for women entrepreneurs is its robust network of resources & support systems. From Charleston’s bustling tech scene to Columbia’s healthcare startups – women entrepreneurs are building businesses that not only contribute to the state’s economy, but also inspire future generations. So, as “The Palmetto State” continues to evolve, its women entrepreneurs remain at the forefront, proving that resilience, creativity, and community can create boundless opportunities.
Let us take a look at some enterprising women entrepreneurs from South Carolina.
> Donna Mungin, Owner, Donna M. Collection
Donna Mungin, Owner, Donna M. Collection launched her own boutique and fashion- on-line. And in addition, she also hosted the podcast – Fashion Unfiltered. Fashion has always been a passion for her, even before she decided to get into boutique ownership. She wanted to create a chain that is very different from all other online fashion houses. In 2016, her journey started by launching a unique brand that caters to the everyday woman – offering distinctive, versatile & affordable looks, that inspires every women to be confident with her own style, and to live life with authenticity. The mission of the company is – to inspire and ignite the inner beauty of
woman & to build confidence through style.
She has been featured in the press very often. She was interviewed by South Carolina Business Review (SC Public Radio) about being a woman entrepreneur of colour in South Carolina soon after graduating from the WE 360 program at the YWCA of Greater Charleston.
> Amy Barch, Founder & Executive Director, Turn90
Amy Barch, is Founder and Executive Director of Turn90, which is a non-profit company dedicated to working with men, who have barriers to success after prison. To be specific, the program includes – cognitive behavioral classes, supportive services, transitional work & job placement too. In 2017, she opened a print shop – to provide part-time employment to participants with the most barriers to success.
Awards have come their way too. Turn90 is the recipient of the Riley Institute’s 2024 OneSouthCarolina Partners in Progress Award; and Turn90 stands as a model for social progress and change in South Carolina and beyond.
> Minh Le, Owner, 831MINHLE
Having her roots in Vietnam, Minh Le – Owner, 831MINHLE had always had an eye for fashion and design. Initially, she was into teaching the artistry of sewing to women to help support her family, and later went on to creating her own styles and designs as a teenager.
After moving to America in 1994, she continued to create her own unique beauty and vision – with designs that even got published in the pages of Elle, In Style and Vogue magazines.
Minh Le founded 831Minhle to actually extend love to every woman. When you choose 831MINHLE, you’re not just wearing clothing, but you’re wearing a piece of love and empowerment!!
She operates out of Lexington, SC, and was recently voted one of Nylon’s 10 fashion designers to watch at New York Fashion Week! In fact, her personalized approach and artistry takes fashion to a new level.
> Lindsey Calcutt, Co-founder & CEO, Incora Health
Dr. Lindsey Calcutt, Co-founder & CEO, Incora Health is a business & technical executive who is driven by a passion – for improving the lives of women and also leveraging cutting-edge technology, to create novel solutions for women’s health.
Backed by 15+ years experience in the medical device and pharmaceutical industries, she is instrumental in building and managing diverse teams, navigating the FDA regulatory process, developing clinical partnerships and leading clinical trials.
She holds a doctorate in biomedical engineering and has held past leadership roles with Johnson & Johnson and various startup companies in the oncology, cardiovascular, and women’s health space. And, she serves on a number of professional, academic and community boards.
Incora Health is a Greenville-based start-up that has patented a smart earring that
tracks biodata without interrupting the user’s activities or sleep. The wearable tracks
core body temperature using machine learning and artificial intelligence very accurately;
and this provides women with reliable biometrics to help meet their maternal and
wellness goals.
> Dr. Kristen Quinn, Co-founder & CEO, Heartbeat Technologies
Dr. Kristen Quinn, Co-Founder and CEO, Heartbeat Technologies – a company that set out to improve CPR outcomes. To describe their product, the SAVER is a novel, patent-pending CPR adjunct device that preferentially redirects blood perfusion to key areas of the body. What is special is that the device can be deployed both in the field and in hospital settings, and will ultimately be found wherever an AED is stored.
The team here is an interdisciplinary, diverse, and experienced team of surgeons, medical students, engineers, and designers who are collaborating to improve medical outcomes. Plus, the team is uniquely positioned to make lasting impacts on healthcare outcomes.
> Catherine Cantey, Co- founder, Catherine Foundation & Co-Founder – CanteyCanFixIt.com
Catherine Cantey, Co-founder spent 20+ years in big banking and she is a huge advocate of the power of new thinking. The focus of her own business is to provide opportunities to innovate, disrupt and evolve to existing businesses, using her unique process for business vitality over time and in ever-changing markets.
As the Co-Founder operating behind the scenes, she facilitates and nurtures the development of the team. She provides strategic support and mentorship, leveraging her experience to empower the team; and her focus lies in fostering a collaborative and growth-oriented environment.
Avtar Madan
Himanshu
Shree Lahiri
