SC Launch Inc. invests in cloud-based platform startup Horse Spot
February 24, 2026
SC Launch Inc., the investment affiliate of the South Carolina Research Authority, has announced a $200,000 investment in Horse Spot. The Charleston-based startup is turning the management of equestrian shows into a turnkey operation. SCRA Interim President and CEO Bill Kirkland said, “Horse Spot’s innovative capabilities and service offerings are now managing shows in South Carolina and worldwide. They provide an all-in-one platform with a modern and user-friendly interface, and we’re proud to partner with them.”
Horse Spot became an SCRA member company in October 2025 and an SC Launch Inc. portfolio company with this investment. “Their SaaS platform is modernizing equestrian competitions by providing a one-stop shop for shows to organize and digitize entries, manage scheduling, and process payments in real time,” said SCRA Senior Investment Manager Kevin Eichelberger. “Horse Spot’s capabilities generate relevant data for riders and spectators and can be used for strategic planning and execution of future shows.”
“The teams at SCRA and SC Launch Inc. understood our mission and passion for the equestrian industry early on. Our ability to revolutionize the management of horse shows, including real-time scoreboards and rider and horse stats, empowers both show managers and exhibitors with real-time data and automated reporting built by industry insiders,” said Horse Spot Co-founder and CEO Chris Lenard.
Developed from a passion for equestrian shows themselves, Horse Spot complies with major governing bodies such as the United States Equestrian Federation, the United States Dressage Federation, and the Fédération Equestre Internationale, to name a few.
Horse Spot was recently featured in Hypepotamus, a source for startups in the Southeast, where they addressed the pain points faced by show organizers and participants.
Established in 2006, SC Launch Inc. is the investment affiliate of the South Carolina Research Authority. The independent, nonprofit corporation provides convertible loans and investment funding to qualifying SCRA member companies. The returns from this funding will fund additional investments in next-generation technology startups.
Chartered in 1983 by the State of South Carolina as a public, nonprofit corporation, South Carolina Research Authority fuels the state’s innovation economy through the impact of its comprehensive services to technology-based startups, academia, and industry. SCRA provides funding and support to accelerate the growth of academic startups; high-quality lab and administrative workspaces; facilitation and funding for partnerships between and among industry, startups, and academic institutions; assistance and funding for the relocation of technology-based companies to South Carolina; and coaching and funding for startups that may also receive investments from its affiliate, SC Launch Inc.
