Charleston's Top 10 Startups That Tech Professionals Should Watch Out For in 2025

Charleston's tech scene is absolutely crushing it right now, with over 1,100 tech companies calling this city home. According to Charleston Digital Corridor, the average tech salary here hit $123,079 in 2024, making it seriously attractive for young professionals like me.

The startup ecosystem is leveling up fast, ranking 53rd nationally and 187th globally according to StartupBlink's 2024 rankings.

What's super exciting is the variety - we're seeing everything from AI and fintech to greentech innovations.

• AI and Fintech: Workiva is revolutionizing financial tech.
• Cybersecurity: PhishLabs is making waves in cybersecurity with over $30 million in funding.

The coolest part? Google just dropped $2 billion to build two new data centers in the area, creating 200 new tech jobs.

The startup scene here is getting massive support from accelerators and incubators like the Charleston Digital Corridor and Harbor Accelerator, plus there's tons of networking events happening all the time.

Whether you're looking to join a startup or start your own thing, Charleston's tech ecosystem is seriously the place to be in 2025.

Charleston's startup scene is crushing it in 2025, with tech companies attracting serious attention and investment. The tech sector grew 26% faster than the national average, with local startups pulling in over $200 million in venture capital last year.

When picking the top startups, we look at five main things: innovation, growth rate, funding, market impact, and sustainability. These metrics help us spot which companies are really making waves in areas like AI, fintech, and greentech.

The numbers don't lie - employee growth and revenue jumps show which startups are ready to scale big time.

Our research process is super thorough, drawing from multiple sources to get the full picture.

Charleston ranks 53rd nationally among startup ecosystems, with 148 active startups across different sectors.

We analyze data from venture capital reports, market studies, and track records from local accelerators. The really cool part? We're seeing more startups focusing on solving real problems while building sustainable businesses.

Companies that nail both innovation and community impact tend to stand out from the crowd.

What makes Charleston's tech scene so exciting is how it's evolving.

The annual Dig South Tech Summit showcases how our startups are competing on a global scale while keeping their roots in the local community.

We're seeing companies that aren't just chasing profits but are actually changing how industries work. The best part is how these startups are creating jobs and bringing fresh energy to Charleston's economy.

It's pretty amazing to watch these companies grow from small teams into major players in their industries.

Gigpro has become a total game-changer in the hospitality industry since its founding in 2021, and the numbers speak for themselves. Their mind-blowing 14,424% growth rate made them South Carolina's fastest-growing company, which is seriously impressive.

The platform is changing how hotels, restaurants, bars, and even sports arenas handle staffing. They just secured $16 million in Series A funding this summer, led by Foundry, with plans to expand their tech capabilities and reach even more cities.

Right now, they're crushing it in 28 cities across the US, connecting businesses with workers through their super intuitive app. Their platform helps solve the never-ending headache of short staffing, letting hospitality businesses find qualified workers when they need them most.

CEO Daniel Brown's vision goes beyond just filling shifts - it's about creating real opportunities for hospitality professionals while giving businesses the flexibility they desperately need.

The app's success comes from its smart matching system that connects the right workers with the right venues, whether it's for high-end hotels, buzzing bars, or fancy country clubs.

What started as a solution for staffing problems has turned into a full-on revolution in how the hospitality industry handles workforce management. With their recent funding and explosive growth, Gigpro is definitely one of Charleston's most exciting tech stories of 2025.

In Charleston's fast-growing tech scene, Workiva stands out as a leader in transforming how companies handle their complex data challenges.

Their commitment to innovation shows in their ambitious ESG goals, including plans to reduce emissions by 63% and achieve carbon net zero by 2040. Their focus on people - they're pushing for 100% employee participation in diversity training and maintaining a killer 90% employee engagement score.

At their annual Amplify conference, which brings together thousands of finance and tech professionals, Workiva showcases how their AI-powered solutions are changing the game in financial reporting and compliance.

The results are impressive - their platform helps companies save serious time and money while keeping accuracy on point.

What makes Workiva stand out is their genuine investment in their team's growth.

According to recent workplace statistics, while only 23% of employees globally feel engaged at work, Workiva's approach to professional development and inclusive culture sets them apart.

They're not just another tech company - they're creating real solutions for real problems, from sustainability reporting to financial compliance. Their success in Charleston shows how a tech company can grow globally while keeping its values intact.

Looking ahead to 2025, Workiva's combination of cutting-edge technology and strong company culture makes them a perfect example of why Charleston's tech scene is becoming impossible to ignore.

Palmetto has transformed Charleston's clean technology scene in 2025, making renewable energy actually accessible for everyone. Their focus on decentralized energy solutions is revolutionizing how we power our homes, letting people take control of their energy production instead of relying on outdated grid systems.

The company recently secured a massive $150 million investment from TPG Rise Climate, which is seriously boosting their mission to make solar energy mainstream.

The renewable energy market is expected to hit $1.5 trillion by 2025, and Palmetto is right at the front of this massive shift.

Their platform handles everything from solar design and installation to maintenance and support, making it super easy for homeowners to switch to clean energy.

They've got this smart tech that uses predictive algorithms and local data to keep costs down, plus they offer flexible payment options including $0 down plans.

The impact is already huge - their installations are set to prevent over 2 million metric tons of CO2 emissions. Chris Kemper, their CEO, is passionate about putting customers first and making clean energy affordable for everyone.

With their innovative approach to energy management and strong financial backing, Palmetto isn't just another tech company - they're actively shaping how we'll power our homes in the future.

The best part? They're making it happen right here in Charleston, proving that our city is becoming a serious player in the clean technology revolution.

Blue Acorn iCi has totally transformed the eCommerce game since their 2019 merger. As reported by Adweek, they've built a powerhouse team of 400+ professionals, including engineers, data scientists, and digital commerce experts.

Their approach to commerce is seriously next-level - they're helping brands modernize their tech and create amazing shopping experiences that actually work.

What makes them stand out is their focus on platform modernization and AI integration, which helps businesses stay ahead of the curve. The company's expertise in delivering unified experiences across all commerce touchpoints is pretty impressive - they're making sure customers get the same awesome experience whether they're shopping on their phone, computer, or in-store.

According to recent industry projections, mobile checkouts could reach nearly 60% of total eCommerce sales by 2025, and Blue Acorn iCi is definitely ready for this shift.

They've been crushing it with major brands like a leading automotive company and even helped a multi-billion dollar Japanese video game company upgrade their direct-to-consumer platform.

What's really cool is how they're using AI to handle everything from personalized recommendations to customer support, making shopping easier and more intuitive for everyone.

Their success stories prove they're not just talking the talk - they're actually delivering results that matter for both local Charleston businesses and global brands.

ResProp Management is seriously changing the game in property management with their tech-forward approach. As a third-party management firm managing over $1B in assets, they've grown from managing 7,000 units in 2005 to an impressive 17,000+ units across 89 properties today.

What's really cool is their focus on operations - they're not just about collecting rent. Their regional managers handle fewer than 1,500 units each and spend at least three days per week on-site, making sure everything runs smoothly.

They just won the Pioneer in Centralization Award at the 2024 ResMania Awards for their innovative platform use.

The company's secret sauce? They hire people who are super driven and focused on serving others, plus they've got this amazing Biz Tech Program that turns fresh university grads into future leaders.

They're crushing it with consistent 10% year-over-year growth and have expanded their team to over 200 professionals across the US. What makes them stand out is their no-nonsense approach to management - they promise owners they'll handle things with urgency, keep communication open, and deliver real results.

Whether you're in Texas, Florida, or South Carolina, these guys are definitely worth watching in the property management space.

Wider Circle is revolutionizing healthcare by creating neighborhood-based health communities that actually work. Through their Connect for Life program, they're building trusted circles of support that help people navigate their health journey together.

What makes them stand out is how they've mixed social connection with healthcare - imagine having a group of friends who help you stay on track with your health goals! Their recent partnership with ApolloMed shows they're serious about scaling up their impact, especially for Medicaid members who often face the biggest healthcare challenges.

Instead of just throwing technology at the problem, they're creating real human connections that make a difference. Their Partner Referral Program is connecting healthcare providers, community members, and resources in ways that totally transform how people access and experience healthcare.

The results are pretty impressive - they're seeing better health outcomes, stronger community engagement, and fewer people ending up back in the hospital. What's cool is how they're using both high-tech and high-touch approaches, combining data analytics with neighborhood meet-ups to create healthcare solutions that actually feel personal and accessible.

By 2025, they've grown into this powerhouse that's showing everyone how community-driven healthcare can work better than the old-school way of doing things. They're not just another tech company - they're building something that changes how people take care of themselves and each other.

Buck Mason stands out as an innovative force in American fashion, blending classic style with modern tech solutions. Founded in 2013 in a Venice Beach garage by Sasha Koehn and Erik Allen Ford, the brand has grown from selling basic tees and jeans to becoming a tech-savvy retail powerhouse.

Their commitment to quality shows in their rapid expansion to 30 retail locations, where they've mastered the integration of online and in-store experiences.

Their custom retail tech platform has slashed inventory issues and boosted sales efficiency. The company's recent acquisition of their own knitting mill in Pennsylvania, as mentioned in Business of Fashion, shows their dedication to controlling quality and innovation in manufacturing.

Their tech-forward approach includes a unified commerce platform that handles both digital and physical sales, leading to a 15% improvement in online sales fulfillment from retail inventory.

By focusing on timeless designs and cutting-edge retail solutions, Buck Mason has achieved impressive double-digit growth annually for the past decade. Their success comes from smart choices like implementing contactless payments and developing a seamless omnichannel experience that connects their online platform with physical stores.

This practical approach to fashion retail, combining traditional craftsmanship with modern technology, has helped them maintain competitive pricing while delivering premium quality products made in the USA.

Since its launch in 2012, Crunchy Data has revolutionized PostgreSQL by making it the go-to choice for organizations serious about their data management needs.

What makes them stand out is their unwavering commitment to keeping PostgreSQL 100% open source while adding enterprise-grade features that really matter.

Their flagship product, PGO (the PostgreSQL Operator), has transformed how businesses handle database deployment and management in cloud environments. The Postgres Operator automates complex tasks like high availability setup, disaster recovery, and monitoring, making life easier for developers and database administrators.

Security is a major priority for Crunchy Data, with their PostgreSQL distribution being the first to achieve Common Criteria EAL 2+ certification.

Their platform includes advanced features like role-based access control, row-level security, and encrypted data storage, ensuring top-notch protection for sensitive information.

Their enterprise database management system supports everything from geospatial data handling with PostGIS to advanced monitoring through pgMonitor, proving that open-source solutions can deliver professional-grade performance.

What really sets Crunchy Data apart is their team of PostgreSQL experts, including key contributors to the PostgreSQL Global Development Group.

They've assembled an impressive roster of professionals who previously worked on major cloud database platforms like Heroku Postgres and Microsoft Azure Postgres.

This expertise translates into better support for customers and continuous improvements to the PostgreSQL ecosystem. The company's focus on developer experience shows in their user-friendly interfaces and comprehensive documentation, making complex database operations accessible to teams of all skill levels.

Blackbaud has totally transformed into Charleston's tech powerhouse, making waves with their AI-powered fundraising and financial management solutions that are changing how social impact organizations operate.

The company's latest innovations include Blackbaud Copilot, set to launch in 2025, which will revolutionize how nonprofits interact with their data. I'm seriously impressed by how they've managed to process over $100 billion annually through their platforms - that's huge! Their latest product updates show they're not slowing down, with hundreds of new features rolling out, including a completely reimagined user experience for their flagship products.

What really caught my attention is their six waves of innovation strategy, which includes everything from enhanced donor recognition programs to tap-to-pay capabilities for donations.

They're basically making it super easy for organizations to achieve their missions while using cutting-edge tech. The company's growing presence in Charleston's tech scene isn't just about business - they're actually making a real difference in how organizations tackle social challenges.

With their remote-first approach and recognition on lists like Newsweek's Most Responsible Companies, they're showing how tech companies should operate in 2025.

Pretty amazing to see a Charleston-based company leading the global charge in social impact technology!

Charleston's startup scene in 2025 is seriously taking off, and it's incredible to see how much has changed. The latest data shows over 1,100 tech companies calling Charleston home, with some really cool developments happening.

Google just dropped a massive $2 billion investment for two new data centers in the area, which is huge for the local tech ecosystem.

The startup landscape is super diverse - we've got companies crushing it in everything from AI to cybersecurity.

The Charleston Angel Partners are actively backing new ventures, making it easier for fresh ideas to get off the ground.

What's really exciting is seeing companies like PhishLabs, which has raised over $30 million and employs around 100 people, proving that Charleston startups can scale big time.

The upcoming DIG SOUTH Tech Summit is going to be a game-changer for networking and showcasing what Charleston's got going on.

Looking ahead, experts predict a 20% increase in tech jobs by 2026, particularly in cybersecurity, IoT, and AI. The combination of affordable living, strong support systems, and a growing talent pool from local universities is making Charleston impossible to ignore as a legit tech hub.

For anyone in tech looking to make moves in 2025, Charleston's definitely where the action is.