Charleston Startups Land $25,000 Growth Grants

South Carolina Research Authority awarded new grants on April 14 to three Charleston-area startups, including two $25,000 startup grants. (scra.org) The recipients were Renoverse AI of Mount Pleasant, Algae Integration Utility Service of Charleston, and Realize Ascent Labs of Charleston. Renoverse AI and Algae Integration Utility Service each received $25,000 startup grants, while Realize Ascent Labs received a $25,000 micro grant. (scra.org) (counton2.com) SCRA announced the awards as part of a broader April funding round that also included Greenville-based RFIDKNOW, which received a $50,000 demonstration grant, and West Columbia-based Clutch Intelligence, which received a $25,000 startup grant. (scra.org) The Charleston companies are working in three different corners of the startup market. Renoverse AI builds an artificial-intelligence renovation planning platform, Realize Ascent Labs works on analysis tools for agriculture, food and manufacturing supply chains, and Algae Integration Utility Service is building a decentralized algae production model. (scra.org) SCRA’s startup grants are non-dilutive, meaning the agency funds companies without taking an ownership stake. The organization says those grants are designed to help early-stage companies reach commercialization milestones and improve their chances of raising follow-on funding. (scra.org) The money comes in part from SCRA’s Industry Partnership Fund, a program that gives contributors a dollar-for-dollar South Carolina tax credit. SCRA says that structure is meant to channel private support into startup growth and job creation. (scra.org) The April awards followed earlier 2026 SCRA rounds that funded other Charleston-area companies including FeatherPMS in January and Atapic in March. Renoverse AI had also joined SCRA as a member company in March before receiving its April grant. (scra.org 1) (scra.org 2) All SCRA member companies receive coaching, access to startup resources, and potential consideration for investment from SC Launch Inc., the authority’s investment affiliate. For the Charleston startups in this round, the grants add cash and a place deeper inside the state’s startup pipeline. (scra.org)