CDC Tech Life Podcast

Hosted by Rich Conte

Business EntrepreneurshipInterviews guests

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Episodes

Latest episode

Sep 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Charleston’s tech community has grown from a small outpost of about 18 companies in 2001 to a diverse mix of almost 1700 businesses today. The success of tech companies in Charleston and lessons learned by entrepreneurs along the way can help inspire, guide, and foster the formation and success of other new tech and tech-related businesses in the region and beyond. Charleston Digital Corridor’s Tech Life Podcast will highlight the entrepreneurs who are driving Charleston’s tech community forward along with the wide cast of leaders supporting high wage economic development, education, workforce development.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

September 29, 2026Episode 7439 min

Episode 74: Nick Fogle - CEO and Co-Founder - Churnkey

Episode 74 of the Charleston Digital Tech Life Podcast features Nick Fogle; Co-founder and CEO of Churnkey . Nick shares his unlikely path from law school to self-taught engineer and three-time founder, from the early days at Casa and Wavve to selling Wavve in 2021. He walks us through how Churnkey grew out of an internal tool built to fight churn into the retention platform behind subscription businesses around the world, landing at #188 on the 2026 Inc. 5000 and #3 in South Carolina, and why the company keeps its flag planted in Charleston. This episode is sponsored by the Charleston County Economic Development Department . They're dedicated to recruiting new business, growing existing industry, and improving Charleston's business climate. Thanks to Charleston Digital , the Tech Life Podcast has returned to share stories from the rapidly growing Charleston SC Technology and Entrepreneur communities. Look for episodes every month and subscribe to make sure you don't miss a beat.

August 26, 2026Episode 7324 min

Episode 73: Bailey Hayne - Community and Operations Manager - Charleston Digital Corridor

Episode 73 of the CDC Tech Life Podcast features Bailey Hayne; the Charleston Digital Corridor’s own Community and Operations Manager . Bailey joins us to share the details of an exciting learning opportunity and initiative she’s leading at the Charleston Learning Center. The AI Academy is designed to provide educational opportunities for individuals and groups regardless of where they are in their AI adoption journey. This episode is sponsored by the Charleston County Economic Development Department . They're dedicated to recruiting new business, growing existing industry, and improving Charleston's business climate. Thanks to Charleston Digital , the Tech Life Podcast has returned to share stories from the rapidly growing Charleston SC Technology and Entrepreneur communities. Look for episodes every month and subscribe to make sure you don't miss a beat.

July 29, 2026Episode 7233 min

Episode 72: Kevin Eichelberger - Regional Director - South Carolina Research Authority

Episode 72 of the CDC Tech Life Podcast features Kevin Eichelberger, Regional Director for the Coastal Region for the South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA) . Kevin shares his experiences as the founder and CEO of Blue Acorn and the path that led him to his current role helping Technology Startups and building Entrepreneur ecosystems across the State. This episode is sponsored by the Charleston County Economic Development Department . They're dedicated to recruiting new business, growing existing industry, and improving Charleston's business climate. Thanks to Charleston Digital , the Tech Life Podcast has returned to share stories from the rapidly growing Charleston SC Technology and Entrepreneur communities. Look for episodes every month and subscribe to make sure you don't miss a beat.

June 24, 2026Episode 7123 min

Episode 71: Ashlee Jack - Founder and CEO - Arvaya Consulting

Episode 71 of the CDC Tech Life Podcast features Ashlee Jack, Founder and CEO of Charleston SC startup Arvaya Consulting . Ashlee shares her experiences in launching a business here in Charleston and how Arvaya is helping Architecture, Engineering and Construction companies automate and grow their businesses. This episode is sponsored by the Charleston County Economic Development Department . They're dedicated to recruiting new business, growing existing industry, and improving Charleston's business climate. Thanks to Charleston Digital , the Tech Life Podcast has returned to share stories from the rapidly growing Charleston SC Technology and Entrepreneur communities. Look for episodes every month and subscribe to make sure you don't miss a beat.

May 27, 2026Episode 7024 min

Episode 70: Dr. Gabe Hillegass - Founder and CEO - Solverein

Episode 70 of the CDC Tech Life Podcast features Dr. Gabe Hillegass, Founder and CEO of Charleston-based HealthTech Startup Solverein . Gabe shares his unique journey from Medicine to Law to Technology Entrepreneur and how Solverein is working to enable better care and a better experience for HealthCare consumers and providers. Look for MedicalEase , the first product that the Solverein team is bringing to market. This episode is brought to you by Blackbaud. Blackbaud delivers essential software for the people who change the world. They’re fueling bigger, bolder impact everywhere with Software built for fundraising, nonprofit accounting, education, CSR and more. Visit them at www.blackbaud.com to learn more. Thanks to Charleston Digital , the Tech Life Podcast has returned to share stories from the rapidly growing Charleston SC Technology and Entrepreneur communities. Look for episodes every month and subscribe to make sure you don't miss a beat.

April 29, 2026Episode 6922 min

Episode 69: Stephen Mueller - CEO and Founder - Strux OS

Episode 69 of the CDC Tech Life Podcast features Stephen Mueller, CEO and Founder of Charleston-based Tech Startup StruxOS . Stephen shares his somewhat unconventional journey as a Founder and how StruxOS standardizes the bid to payment lifecycle for property managers and service operators. Thanks to Charleston Digital , the Tech Life Podcast has returned to share stories from the rapidly growing Charleston SC Technology and Entrepreneur communities. Look for episodes every month and subscribe to make sure you don't miss a beat.

March 25, 2026Episode 6831 min

Episode 68: Tom Wilson - Lead Technical Advocate - ScoutOS

Episode 68 of the CDC Tech Life Podcast features Tom Wilson, Lead Technical Advocate for Charleston-based Scout , returning to the show to talk about AI. In this conversation, Tom breaks down how AI agents are reshaping the software development lifecycle. He shares a practical framework for how developers at every level — junior, mid, and senior — are experiencing the shift very differently, and why that matters. This episode is sponsored by the Charleston County Economic Development Department . They're dedicated to recruiting new business, growing existing industry, and improving Charleston's business climate. Thanks to Charleston Digital , the Tech Life Podcast has returned to share stories from the rapidly growing Charleston SC Technology and Entrepreneur communities. Look for episodes every month and subscribe to make sure you don't miss a beat.

February 25, 2026Episode 6729 min

Episode 67: Dustin Ellis - CEO and Co-founder - Lap1Labs

Episode 67 of the CDC Tech Life Podcast features Dustin Ellis, CEO and co-founder, of Charleston-based AI Startup Lap1Labs . Dustin talks about his experiences at Amazon and how Lap1Labs is leveraging AWS technology to power it’s first product effort Seddle . This episode is sponsored by Charleston County Economic Development Department . They’re dedicated to recruiting new business, growing existing industry and improving Charleston’s business climate. Thanks to Charleston Digital , the Tech Life Podcast has returned to share stories from the rapidly growing Charleston SC Technology and Entrepreneur communities. Look for episodes every month and subscribe to make sure you don't miss a beat.

January 28, 2026Episode 6633 min

Episode 66: Jordan Fowler - CEO and Co Chief Investment Officer - Shaw Circle

Episode 66 of the CDC Tech Life Podcast features Jordan Fowler, CEO and Co-Chief Investment Officer of Charleston SC-based Shaw Circle . We welcome back Jordan as he takes us on a deep dive into Quantum Computing and AI and how these technologies are transforming the Finance Industry. This episode is sponsored by Charleston County Economic Development Department . They’re dedicated to recruiting new business, growing existing industry and improving Charleston’s business climate. Thanks to Charleston Digital , the Tech Life Podcast has returned to share stories from the rapidly growing Charleston SC Technology and Entrepreneur communities. Look for episodes every month and subscribe to make sure you don't miss a beat.

December 29, 2025Episode 6528 min

Episode 65: Chris and Lindsay Lenard - Founders - Horse Spot

Episode 65 of the CDC Tech Life Podcast features Chris and Lindsay Lenard; two of the three member founding team of Charleston SC-based Startup Horse Spot . Chris and Lindsay talk about how their passion for Horse Shows provided the foundation for their entrepreneurial journey. They also shared their experiences in winning the Top Investment Prize at the Catalyst by Beemok event . This episode is sponsored by Charleston County Economic Development Department . They’re dedicated to recruiting new business, growing existing industry and improving Charleston’s business climate. Thanks to Charleston Digital , the Tech Life Podcast has returned to share stories from the rapidly growing Charleston SC Technology and Entrepreneur communities. Look for episodes every month and subscribe to make sure you don't miss a beat.