Catalyst — Featured Founders - Launch Announcement
Catalyst — Featured Founders - Launch Announcement
Beemok Capital announced that InvestSC will match all qualified investments made in the Catalyst by Beemok pitch competition, doubling the total potential funding available to this year’s finalists.
The match will be announced live at the Catalyst by Beemok Live Pitch Competition on Saturday, November 8 at Union Pier in Charleston, where 13 early-stage companies, 10 professional and three student finalists, will take the stage to pitch for investments totaling up to $1 million.
“We’re excited to showcase the founders participating in Catalyst’s inaugural competition,” said Ben Navarro, Co-Founder of Beemok Capital. “These finalists are building innovative, high-potential companies in the Lowcountry, and we’re thrilled that InvestSC is stepping forward to accelerate their growth alongside us.”
“Our goal is to expand access to early-stage capital for entrepreneurs across South Carolina,” said Will Cruz, Chief Investment Officer at InvestSC. “Catalyst finalists represent the future of the state’s innovation economy and we’re excited to support them with meaningful investment.”
Finalists were selected from 256 applications across Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties, and reflect a diverse cross-section of sectors, from electric boats and biotechnology to food innovation and workforce technology.
Finalists — Catalyst by Beemok 2025
Professional Category
- Alita — Matthew Rosa & Landon Feuerstein
- Bon Banh Mi — Jason Sakran & James Romano
- eat G.A.N.G.S.T.E.R. — Kerry Brown & Heather McDonough
- GrAIded — JT White & Coleman Isner
- Horse Spot — Christopher & Lindsay Lenard
- PGR — Pedro Galileo Romo & Takashi Tanaka
- SiteMarker — Landon Messal & Tom Evans
- Torpedo Bio — Dr. Leonardo Ferreira
- Volare Boats — Matthew Moore, Dustin Tupper & Brian Thompson
- WODA Bag — Britt Gardner & Erin Jewett
Student Category
- Charleston International Music Competition — Leonid & Constantin Matros, students at University of South Carolina
- Clarity — Owen Smith & Will Sadowski, students at College of Charleston
- Lowcountry Sourdough CHS — Lincoln & London Orr Miller
The live event will also feature a fireside chat with business leaders Ben Navarro, Tim Spence, Bud Watts and Austin McCombs, along with networking, food trucks and a chance for the community to meet Charleston’s next wave of entrepreneurs.
Schedule – Catalyst by Beemok Live Pitch Competition:
Saturday, November 8, 2025
- 9 a.m. – Registration & Networking
- 10 a.m. – Fireside Chat with Ben Navarro, Tim Spence, Bud Watts & Austin McCombs
- 11 a.m. – Live Pitch Competition (Professional Finalists)
- 1 p.m. – Lunch & Networking (complimentary from local food trucks)
- 2 p.m. – Awards & Investment Announcements
- 2:15 p.m. – Student Pitch Competition
- 2:45 p.m. – Closing & Networking
This event is $25 and open to the public, and all ticket proceeds benefit Meeting Street Schools.