MISSION
SHC's mission is to create more high-paying jobs, high-growth businesses, and a stronger culture of support for ventures in Western NC, resulting in a more robust local economy. We're doing this by investing time, expertise, fresh ideas and money into new startups and existing businesses.
WHO WE ARE
We are entrepreneurial advocates. We're a team of entrepreneurs, mentors, investors, coders, and professionals that have a passion for entrepreneurship and our community. By connecting both, we'll change the economic trajectory of the High Country.
WHAT WE DO
Ideas are cheap and execution is hard - that's where we come in. We are actively shaping the entrepreneurial culture of the High Country to instill a positive image and supportive environment for high-growth ventures in the area. We do this through events, programs, media, storytelling, and intentional networking so that big-thinking entrepreneurs can see that high-growth, scalable businesses are possible to build in the High Country, and that the proper resources and tools are available to help them succeed.
We help with product and go-to-market strategies, making introductions to investors, avoiding the hassles of building a company for the first time and the legal pitfalls and delays caused by not structuring correctly.
We’re working to connect and empower the small business owners, entrepreneurs, and side hustlers of the High Country to help them better succeed. We believe that starting / running an enterprise is the most impactful, and also most challenging, activity that a person can do. By driving their success, we can change the economic trajectory of the High Country.
PHILOSOPHY
Our philosophy is simple - Empower entrepreneurs to do what they do best - Build, Lead and Inspire.
LEADERSHIP TEAM
James Bance
James co-founded his first tech company and moved to the Silicon Valley in 2000. His career has spanned over 18 years with a focus on technology and investments. He's held marketing, sales leadership and strategic partnership roles at Verizon Digital Media (formerly AOL and Yahoo), Bazaarvoice (IPO in 2012), Adometry (acquired by Google 2014). He’s currently co-founder and Head of Sales at ServeHub, a local software startup helping nonprofits grow their mission.
Sam Glover
Sam is an entrepreneur and growth leader working with high growth SaaS companies the past 10+ years. He has worked with several NC based startups, helping them define and measure core metrics and acquire more customers. He has successfully launched, scaled and exited technology companies including Zip-Services and Shoeboxed. He currently serves as the COO for Follow Up Boss. He lives in Blowing Rock with his wife, 3 kids and dog.
Jeffrey Scott
Jeffrey is a long-time High Country resident, big thinker, conservationist, lover of the outdoors, digital nomad and bourbon connoisseur. He currently runs Metamorphic Consulting where he works with companies in fractional CEO and CFO roles providing executive leadership and business development services for early and mid-stage social enterprises to help them grow, scale and reach impact.
Ashley Kubota
Ashley is an entrepreneur, artist and creative. She has 10+ years experience running her own business and over 15 years in business management and administration. An artist at heart, Ashley’s passion is to empower others through the magic of photography.
Ashley believes that as a community we thrive when we uplift others. Always one to listen, she’s loves to troubleshoot problems and celebrate wins over a cup of Hatchet coffee or a Booneshine beer.
Declan Nishiyama
Declan is the founder of Mountain Dev, a software development studio based here in Boone. He is also a word nerd (etymologyexplorer.com) and ice cream fanatic. He’s current working on new software to help entrepreneurs manage their key metrics and finances. He received his MBA from Georgia Tech and has worked at Amazon Web Services as a Product Manager.
164 Depot St.
Boone, NC 28607
Note: We don't keep regular office hours, so the best way to get in touch with us is to drop us a line with the button above.
We're excited that you are interested in
Startup High Country!