SCRA presents Company, Founder, and Researcher of the Year Awards at Annual Summit

Hundreds gathered at the South Carolina Research Authority’s annual summit in Columbia yesterday, where Charleston-based Case Status was awarded Company of the Year, Jim Jacob of StoryButton was awarded Founder of the Year, and Hai Yoa of Clemson University and the Medical University of South Carolina was awarded Applied Researcher of the Year.

Case Status is revolutionizing communication between attorneys and clients by providing all relevant information about their cases in one app, featuring robust integrations with case management systems, increased efficiency, and improved client outcomes. The criteria for being nominated for the Company of the Year award include exceptional job and revenue growth, a unique product or service, being a recognized technology leader with protected intellectual property, and proven scale-up capabilities.

Jim Jacob founded Storybutton, a startup that features a podcast player for children, playing engaging bedtime stories, child-friendly radio shows, and more, all without the risk of excessive screen time. The criteria for being nominated for Founder of the Year include being a visionary leader, a creative and technologically disruptive game-changer, having relentless passion, and telling a compelling and inspiring story.

Dr. Hai Yao is a professor at both Clemson University and the Medical University of South Carolina and the associate department chair for the Clemson-MUSC Bioengineering Program. He founded Apex Orthopedic Technologies, a medical device startup that addresses a critical need for less-invasive solutions to treat spinal deformities in young children. The criteria for being nominated for Applied Researcher of the Year include conducting breakthrough research in emerging technologies, serving as a university champion for use-inspired research that reaches commercial applications, and demonstrating a passion for research with market use and societal impact.

Themed “Founders First,” the summit celebrates the hard work of founders who are fueling our state’s innovation economy. It was a time for SCRA-supported and funded entrepreneurs, startups, project leaders, and members of the state’s entrepreneurial ecosystem to come together, network, and learn more about how to grow their businesses successfully. The success of these startups leads to economic growth and the creation of new jobs in the state, which pay 71% higher than the state’s average.

The keynote speaker was Ted Tanner, a chief technology officer, founder, AI expert, and published author. He inspired the audience by encouraging everyone to embrace the benefits of AI while remaining vigilant in understanding the risks involved in unauthorized and unethical use.