InnoVision Awards

What InnoVision Awards does

InnoVision Awards is a grassroots, all-volunteer nonprofit organization founded in 1999 and headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina. It serves as the state's premier platform for recognizing technological innovation, honoring South Carolina businesses, organizations, and individuals across six competitive award categories (Community Enrichment, Emerging Technology, Small Business, Sustainability, Technology Application, and Technology Development) plus two special recognitions (the Young Innovator Award and the Dr. Charles Townes Individual Achievement Award). The organization runs an annual ceremony each November, year-round InnoVision Forums on topics such as AI in healthcare, M&A, and funding resources, an invitation-only Meet the Finalists networking event, and the statewide South Carolina Innovation Awareness Month each April in partnership with MUSC, SC Department of Commerce, and SCRA.

Name

InnoVision Awards

Legal name

InnoVision Awards Organization

Website

https://innovisionawards.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

InnoVision Awards is a volunteer-led South Carolina nonprofit that recognizes innovation through an annual awards ceremony, six competitive award categories, the Townes Individual Achievement Award, and year-round forums and networking events across the state.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Awards and Recognition Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Awarding Organizations & Credentialing Bodies (Certificates/Diplomas) (EDADAFAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Virtual Awards Ceremonies & Competitions (Judging, Voting) (MPAGAOAN)

Keywords

• Innovation awards program
• Nonprofit recognition services
• Technology recognition events
• Innovation networking events
• Corporate sponsorship programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Greenville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel

Revenue model

1. Sponsorship Revenue: Corporate sponsors fund the annual awards ceremony and events. Sponsors include Contec, Michelin, Kim Lahey & Killough, SCRA, Velux, and others who support innovation recognition programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

InnoVision Awards operates an annual awards ceremony and supporting events that recognize distinguished South Carolina businesses, organizations, and individuals for excellence in innovation and technology advancement. The organization delivers a competitive awards program across six categories (Community Enrichment, Emerging Technology, Small Business, Sustainability, Technology Application, and Technology Development), complemented by year-round InnoVision Forums, a Meet the Finalists networking event, and the statewide Innovation Awareness Month in April.

Product overview

InnoVision Awards is a grassroots, volunteer-led nonprofit organization that serves as South Carolina's premier innovation recognition program. Founded in 1999, the organization operates as a platform-plus-events model centered on its flagship Annual InnoVision Awards ceremony, which recognizes distinguished businesses, organizations, and individuals across six competitive award categories: Community Enrichment, Emerging Technology, Small Business, Sustainability, Technology Application, and Technology Development. The organization also delivers supplementary programming including InnoVision Forums (educational networking events held throughout the year), the Meet the Finalists networking event, and the annual Innovation Awareness Month celebration. Two special recognitions—the Young Innovator Award and the Dr. Charles Townes Individual Achievement Award—round out the portfolio. The programs work together to foster South Carolina's innovation ecosystem through recognition, networking, and education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Annual InnoVision Awards Program South Carolina's premier annual awards program recognizing distinguished businesses, organizations, and individuals who demonstrate excellence in innovation and technology advancement across six competitive categories. For South Carolina-based innovators and technology adopters seeking public recognition and visibility within the state's innovation ecosystem.
• InnoVision Forums Educational business networking events held throughout the year across South Carolina featuring presentations and panel discussions on trending innovation topics, followed by networking opportunities. For South Carolina innovators, entrepreneurs, and corporate partners seeking ongoing engagement with the innovation community.
• Meet the Finalists Event Invitation-only intimate networking event connecting finalists with potential collaborators, sponsors, and board members before the Annual Awards Ceremony. For award finalists, sponsors, and board members.
• Innovation Awareness Month Annual statewide celebration in April recognizing South Carolina's growing role as a national hub for technology, entrepreneurship, and research-driven economic development, featuring a kickoff breakfast and partner events. For South Carolina innovators, corporate partners, universities, and government agencies engaged in the state's innovation economy.

Quantifiable outcome

• Record number of submissions received in Education category in 2025
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Partner in South Carolina Innovation Awareness Month, hosts the kickoff breakfast event, and collaborates on innovation commercialization through the Zucker Institute
• South Carolina Department of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState economic development agency partner in Innovation Awareness Month, supports innovation ecosystem development across South Carolina
• South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic nonprofit corporation chartered in 1983 that fuels the state's innovation economy through funding, workspace, and support for technology startups; presenting sponsor for Meet the Finalists events
• Kim, Lahey & Killough Law FirmmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerIntellectual property law firm providing sponsorship and hosting events including the 2026 Innovation Awareness Month Kickoff Breakfast
• ContecmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of InnoVision Awards, presenter of Dr. Charles Townes Individual Achievement Award
• MichelinmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of InnoVision Awards, sponsors the Ibrahim Janajreh Young Innovator Award named after Dr. Ibrahim Janajreh who was part of Michelin Research
• VeluxminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of InnoVision Awards
• South Carolina Council on Competitiveness (SC Competes)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness-led nonprofit driving economic growth; partner in Innovation Awareness Month and SC Competes Spring Summit; President Susie Shannon serves on InnoVision Board
• Clemson UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner through McNair Institute for Entrepreneurism and Free Enterprise; source of SkilRedi startup; CURF technology commercialization
• University of South CarolinacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner through McNair Institute; hosts InnoVision Forums at Winthrop University; collaboration on AI economy events

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Edison Awards: National innovation awards program recognizing excellence in new product and service development. Operates at a much larger national scale than InnoVision but shares the same core model: judged categories, annual ceremony, corporate sponsors, and external evaluator credibility.
• Stevie Awards: International business awards program with multiple competitions across categories and entry-fee-based submission model. Shares with InnoVision the multi-category judged award structure, annual ceremony format, and corporate sponsor ecosystem.
• R&D 100 Awards: Long-running national awards recognizing the year's 100 most significant technology innovations. Comparable to InnoVision's Technology Development/Application categories, but national in scope with professional judging and high-prestige sponsorship base.

Direct peers

• NC TECH: North Carolina's statewide technology industry association that runs an annual awards program recognizing innovation and tech leadership. Directly comparable to InnoVision as a state-level nonprofit awards platform serving the regional innovation ecosystem with corporate sponsorship.
• Wisconsin Innovation Awards: Statewide nonprofit awards program honoring Wisconsin innovators across multiple categories including technology, sustainability, and small business. Closest analog to InnoVision in structure: volunteer-led, single-state scope, multi-category competition, sponsored by regional corporations.

Regional players

• Technology Association of Georgia (TAG): Statewide technology industry association running multiple award and recognition programs for Georgia-based innovators. Comparable to InnoVision in serving a single-state innovation ecosystem but with broader association membership and programming scale.
• Mass Technology Leadership Council (MassTLC): Massachusetts technology industry association running annual awards (MassTLC Leadership Awards) honoring regional tech innovation. Comparable to InnoVision as a single-state tech association with annual awards, corporate sponsors, and ecosystem-building events.
• TechPoint: Indiana's tech industry growth initiative running the Mira Awards honoring statewide innovation and tech excellence. Direct comparable as a state-level nonprofit awards platform with corporate sponsorship, multi-category judging, and annual ceremony.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/InnoVisionAwards
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/innovision-awards

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about InnoVision Awards