Jess O’ Brien
Leading Beaufort’s Innovation Revolution
In our charming coastal town, there is a quiet revolution happening that is shaping the future of the community. Led by Executive Director Jess O’Brien, this revolution is known as the Beaufort Digital Corridor (BDC). While the BDC itself is a vibrant tech incubator and community hub dedicated to innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic development in the region, Jess’s leadership shines through with a comprehensive commitment to empowering individuals and injecting renewed energy into our local tech ecosystem.
A CHAMPION OF INNOVATION
The Beaufort Digital Corridor is not a physical corridor, but rather a metaphorical one—a corridor of opportunities, collaboration, and growth for the local community. It all began when a group of forward-thinking individuals, entrepreneurs, and local civic leaders came together with a shared vision: to transform Beaufort into a hub for technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
The BDC was established in 2016 as a nonprofit organization that aimed to attract, nurture, and promote tech-related businesses and talent in the Beaufort area. The organization’s founders believed that fostering a thriving tech ecosystem could create high-paying jobs, stimulate economic growth, and ensure a prosperous future for our beloved community.
With the guidance and support of the BDC’s Board of Directors and Jess O’Brien’s dynamic leadership, the Beaufort Digital Corridor has blossomed into a dynamic tech incubator where diverse minds convene to exchange ideas and launch cutting-edge projects. It’s a place where innovation flourishes, and it’s through this innovation that the BDC’s people and programs have fostered job creation and economic growth, creating ripples of impact in the community.
EMPOWERING WOMEN IN TECH
While the BDC serves all tech entrepreneurs, Jess’s unwavering commitment to empowering women in a predominantly male-dominated industry is truly commendable. “Our aim is to eliminate traditional roadblocks hindering women from pursuing tech careers by offering flexible programs, whole-person mentorship, and a supportive network, enabling them not just to survive but to thrive in this field,” she emphasizes.
Jess launched the Beaufort Women in Tech Meetup initiative in June 2022, providing women in tech with a welcoming space to network, learn, and grow a community. What started as a small initiative has rapidly grown, boasting over 81 members within its first year, a testament to Jess’s commitment to providing representation and support for women in the tech industry.
EMPOWERING THROUGH COLLABORATION
One of the BDC’s most significant contributions to the community is the creation of a dynamic coworking space called “BASEcamp.” This hub provides a collaborative and inspiring environment for tech entrepreneurs, freelancers, and tech enthusiasts to work, share ideas, and build innovative solutions. It has quickly become a buzzing hive of activity where creativity is fostered and connections are made.
EMPOWERING TECH ENTREPRENEURS
But the BDC didn’t stop there. Its Board of Directors also help equip Jess with partnerships, resources, and industry knowledge. One result has been bringing an international event, Techstars Startup Weekend, to Beaufort. This remarkable event brings together budding entrepreneurs, innovators, and tech enthusiasts to transform their ideas into viable startups within a single weekend.
Techstars Startup Weekend is a whirlwind, 3-day event that encourages participants to pitch their startup ideas, form teams, develop prototypes, and present their final pitches to a panel of judges—all in a fast-paced, collaborative atmosphere. The event serves as a platform for learning, networking, and building valuable skills necessary for entrepreneurship.
Since its inception, Techstars Startup Weekend in Beaufort has experienced phenomenal growth, and it’s set to reach new heights. Under Jess’s visionary guidance, the event witnessed a remarkable 150% increase in participants from 2022 to 2023, reflecting not only a rising entrepreneurial spirit within the community but also underlining the growing awareness of the BDC’s role in nurturing startups, and featuring Beaufort as a destination for budding tech professionals.
As Beaufort’s tech ecosystem continues to grow, the BDC is gearing up for the third annual Techstars Startup Weekend, scheduled for March 2024. This event promises to be an exciting opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs to turn their dreams into reality, all while contributing to the thriving tech landscape that the Beaufort Digital Corridor’s leaders, members, and sponsors have cultivated.
EMPOWERING LOCAL STUDENTS
The BDC has also launched educational programs for local students, teaching them essential digital skills and sparking their interest in technology and entrepreneurship. They organize hackathons, coding bootcamps, and speaker series, igniting a passion for innovation in the next generation.
In the winter 2021, the BDC was awarded the South Carolina Department of Commerce’s Relentless Challenge Grant. The funding was used to develop a pilot Mobile Gaming Incubator program on-site. This specialized initiative was designed to support and nurture early-stage mobile game developers and startups, offering a range of resources, mentorship, and monetization strategies to help game developers bring their mobile game ideas to fruition and succeed in the highly competitive mobile gaming industry.
Scholarships were awarded to a total of 14 local students who went to work not just playing but also designing their own video games from the ground up, with the program and its mentors’ support.
The BDC’s curriculum designer and lead mentor for the Mobile Gaming Incubator pilot program was CEO Jason Loia, of Dolfin Ventures, and now a board member of the BDC. Loia designed an eight-week online course paired with in-person workshops that lead students through the process of planning, building, and publishing their games. The first cohort of program participants pitched their game concepts to representatives from Dolfin Ventures, the University of South Carolina Beaufort’s Computational Science Department, Metaverse Gaming, McAfee, Zodiac Entertainment, and Gaia Online. After many compelling pitches, Emma Montgomery was selected as the winner with her first player game, Clycktid. The BDC shared the curriculum from the Mobile Gaming Incubator pilot program with the University of South Carolina Beaufort, which now hosts its very own video game design course.
EMPOWERING BEAUFORT’S MILITARY
In the summer 2023, the BDC announced its strategic collaboration with Divergence Academy, a renowned leader in emerging tech education. This collaboration marks a significant step forward in equipping transitioning active-duty service members, veterans, and spouses with the skills and knowledge necessary to excel in the ever-evolving tech landscape.
The initiative addresses the unique needs of the transitioning military community by offering them tailored bootcamp-style courses led by experienced instructors. These courses are meticulously designed to equip participants with the skills they need to transition into the tech sector swiftly and efficiently, jump starting their career opportunities.
“We are elated to collaborate with Divergence Academy to offer invaluable opportunities to those who have selflessly served our nation,” expressed Jess. “Our joint efforts aim to provide transitioning veterans with a clear path to acquiring essential tech skills and connecting them with meaningful employment opportunities.”
Enrollment is now open for a range of certificate courses for those aiming to forge a path in the dynamic tech industry and earn esteemed certifications, including Cloud Engineering Immersive, Cybersecurity Professional Penetration Tester, Security Operations Management Immersive, and Data Science Immersive.
GROWING INTO THE FUTURE
As the years have passed, Beaufort’s reputation as a tech-savvy and innovative town has continued to grow. People from all over the country have moved to Beaufort, attracted by the sense of community, the natural beauty, and the incredible opportunities the BDC has helped create.
Melissa Venable, chair of the BDC Board of Directors credits Jess O’Brien’s leadership in this growth. She shared, “Thanks to Jess’s initiative, resourcefulness, and focus on the organization’s mission, the Beaufort Digital Corridor has become a local leader in innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic development.” Melissa commended Jess’s unwavering commitment to inclusivity and collaboration that have added to the BDC’s ability to drive positive change for the tech industry in Beaufort and across the region.
And so, the Beaufort Digital Corridor’s story has become a testament to the power of vision, collaboration, and innovation. Jess O’Brien has shown that with dedication and a forward-thinking mindset, even a small coastal town can be transformed into a thriving hub of technology and entrepreneurship, enriching the lives of its residents and ensuring a brighter future for generations to come.
