Harbor Entrepreneur Center launches pilot accelerator internship program with MBA College of Charleston students
April 15, 2025
The Harbor Entrepreneur Center (HEC), a nonprofit innovation hub located in the Town of Mount Pleasant and home to more than 100 businesses, launched its Accelerator Internship Program. HEC has partnered with the College of Charleston School of Business Graduate & Executive Programs to offer this pilot program that will provide one-year MBA candidates with hands-on, project-based experience working with Harbor Accelerator founders and mentors.
The Harbor Accelerator Program provides accepted candidates with a focused Market Validation curriculum, mentoring from successful founders, access to subject matter experts and intensive pitch practice to build a strong customer acquisition platform. The mentors’ input is enhanced by the program’s extensive list of subject matter experts who provide an “on-call” wealth of knowledge. The experience is rounded out by repeated practice of a vital skill needed by all company leaders: The Pitch.
“This program provides invaluable experience directly from our founders and mentors,” said Grady Johnson, executive director of the nonprofit. “We are excited to collaborate with the MBA students and anticipate significant mutual growth.”
Erin O’Dea Halford, the director of the MBA career development with the College of Charleston, along with accelerator mentors Thomas Browning and Jim Veraldi, have strategically assigned students to founders for focused support on specific pitch deck elements. This targeted approach, while allowing for broader insights, will be most beneficial to the students.
The assignments given were for Competitive Analysis, Addressable Market, Go-to-Market Strategy, Pricing Strategy, Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) Lifetime Value (of a customer) (LTV), Valuation and Comparable Exits and Revenue, Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA) and Cash Burn Forecasting. The program launched in February and goes through May.
For more information, visit harborec.com, and follow HEC on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn for the latest updates.
About Harbor Entrepreneur Center
Harbor Entrepreneur Center (HEC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering and advancing the Lowcountry’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Since its founding in 2013, HEC has supported more than 200 companies through its innovative programs, providing mentorship, education and resources to help entrepreneurs scale their businesses. More than 100 companies are housed within HEC’s main facility in the Town of Mount Pleasant and its satellite office in West Ashley, creating a dynamic hub for innovation and collaboration. By cultivating a thriving startup community, HEC plays a vital role in driving economic growth and innovation at the local level and beyond. Learn more by visiting harborec.com.
