**Venture Carolina Announces 2025-2026 Class of the Palmetto Venture Fellowship**

Venture Carolina, a nonprofit dedicated to bridging the funding gap between investors and entrepreneurs, has once-again partnered with VentureSouth, the South Carolina Department of Commerce’s Office of Innovation, and the SC Jobs-Economic Development Authority (JEDA) to facilitate the Palmetto Venture Fellowship, a program designed to create more local accredited investors and expand risk-capital accessibility for early-stage startups in South Carolina. The Palmetto Venture Fellowship, now in its second year, utilizes a seven-part, comprehensive workshop series to expose participants to the intricacies associated with early-stage capital formation.

Meet the Palmetto Venture Fellowship 2025-2026 Class

**HAYDEN ALBERT**
After serving nine years in the U.S. Navy, Hayden Albert transitioned into real estate, completing over 150 deals in just three years. His work includes home flipping, new construction, and land development — with several large neighborhood projects underway.
Founder of Carolina Quality Buyers, Icon Window and Door, Icon Cabinetry, and Southern Acres Land & Homes, Hayden takes a hands-on, mission-driven approach to every project.

**SEAN BATTLE**
Sean Battle, CPA is a Senior Manager with BPS, and currently performs assurance and business advisory services. Sean works with various industries, with an emphasis in mergers and acquisitions diligence and advisory services. As a part of these services, Sean’s role is to ensure buyers or sellers have a trusted advisor, financial results are accurately represented during sale or purchase, and potential financial risks mitigated to the extent possible. Sean serves in leadership roles at BPS, including leading the BPS Innovations Committee and several industry group roles. He also serves on non-profit boards and committees, including as the treasurer of Wholespire and the Salvation Army of the Midlands.
Sean earned a bachelor’s degree from University of Connecticut and a master’s from the University of Pittsburgh. He lives in Columbia, SC with his wife and children.

SAM BIONDI

Sam Biondi is a real estate finance professional connecting real estate investors and developers—ranging from emerging players to established firms—with the capital they need to bring their projects to life. Sam’s career spans the debt capital markets, advising clients on optimal capital structures and financing strategies. Sam works closely with a wide network of capital partners, cultivating strong relationships while underwriting real estate transactions to ensure sound financing solutions. His expertise spans financial underwriting and business development—skills he leverages to deliver value and drive successful outcomes for clients. Sam earned a B.S. in Economics from the College of Charleston.

Outside of work, he enjoys playing golf and pickleball, as well as exploring new destinations through travel.

WES CARR

Wes Carr, CPA, is a cofounder and managing partner at Ethan Rivers, LLC – a management accounting and business operations firm in Greenville, SC. Wes began his public accounting career with Ernst & Young, LLP and then went on to gain industry experience within manufacturing, life sciences, tech, real estate, service, and non-profit organizations. Wes currently serves a number of businesses as fractional CFO. He holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Bob Jones University and an MBA from Clemson University. He lives in Greenville with his wife and three children.

**RHYNO COETSEE**
Originally from South Africa, Rhyno Coetsee is a founding member of C4SM and an entrepreneur with startups in healthcare and real estate. He graduated with a BSPT degree from the Medical University of South Carolina in 1996 and has extensive experience in idea development, strategic thinking, and building productive teams. At C4SM, he focuses on sound money advocacy and integration efforts.

**MICHAEL COSTA**
For the past 17 years, Michael Costa has served as the Chief Operating Officer of ES Integrated, leading the company’s strategic growth and operational performance across its environmental, industrial cleaning, waste management, and safety service lines throughout the Southeast. Under his leadership, ES Integrated has expanded its capabilities and geographic reach in both the Federal and Commercial sectors while maintaining a strong focus on safety, service quality, and customer partnerships. Prior to joining ES Integrated, Michael built a diverse foundation of environmental consulting and financial sector experience, where he developed hands-on expertise in environmental risk management, project delivery, and business operations.
Michael grew up in Virginia Beach, VA and has lived in Charleston, SC for more than 22 years. His daughter is a freshman at the University of South Carolina majoring in biochemistry and his son is a freshman at West Ashley High School.

**HAL CUMMINGS**
Hal Cummings is a visionary financial and strategic leader that sets ambitious goals and rallies the organization behind a shared vision. He is a business expert with analytical acumen on finance, accounting, and data analysis.
Currently, Hal serves as Chief Financial Officer for Chandler Investment Properties, an entrepreneurial company founded in 2017 that focuses on the construction, development, and management of large residential rental and for-sale communities. Its mission is to build vibrant neighborhoods that offer an unparalleled, value-focused living experience.
Prior to joining Chandler, Hal spent more than three decades with a Fortune 500 company, rising to Vice President of Finance and Treasurer. In that role, he led a global team of approximately 500 finance professionals across 28 business units, overseeing corporate FP&A, global treasury activities, and CFO-level special projects.

**MATTHEW DECKER**
Matthew Decker is an M&A and Startup attorney at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, LLP. After earning both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Stanford University, where he was also captain of the baseball team and research assistant to former Secretary of State, Dr. Condoleezza Rice, Matthew moved to the Palmetto State with his wife (a Charleston native) and their three dogs. Matthew has worked extensively on private entity transactions (both buy and sell side), capital raises, and entity structuring. Matthew is also involved with startup, VC, and broader M&A communities in South and North Carolina. Through both his professional and personal endeavors, Matthew is excited to continue building the scaffolding around the entrepreneurial ecosystem of the Southeast. Outside of work, Matthew enjoys spending time with his family, endurance sports, and writing.

**JOSH EDWARDS**
Josh Edwards is a partner at Edcon, Inc., a family-owned construction company located in Peak, SC. He learned the business working as a laborer during his teenage years before studying construction science and management at Clemson University. Josh has worked in a variety of roles and now helps lead the strategic vision of Edcon with a primary focus of making the construction process enjoyable. Edcon has grown to become one of the premiere builders of K-12 facilities in the state of South Carolina. Josh currently serves on the Planning Commission for the Town of Chapin, the Clemson CSM Student Advisory Board, and serves as an IPTAY Representative.
Outside of work, Josh enjoys coaching youth sports, running, playing basketball, and serving in a variety of roles at his church, Lake Murray Presbyterian. He lives in Chapin with his wife and three children.

WESS HELTON

Wess Helton is an associate attorney in the Charleston office of Burr & Forman LLP. His practice focuses on general corporate and business transactional law with an emphasis on venture financing and private mergers and acquisitions. A Lexington, SC native, Wess earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Mississippi and his J.D. from the University of Georgia School of Law. Before returning to South Carolina, Wess practiced in the NYC office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP, where he advised high-profile sponsors on debt and equity financings across a range of energy and infrastructure transactions.

Outside of work, Wess is active in the community, including participating in the “Be a Mentor” program, and he enjoys spending quality time with family and friends, golf and strength training.

**BRITT HOLSTEIN**
Britt Holstein is a second-generation dentist from Chapin, SC, and an owner of Chapin Dental Associates. A graduate of Clemson University and the Medical University of South Carolina College of Dental Medicine, Britt has grown Chapin Dental from a single-doctor practice into a thriving group with four doctors and more than 20 team members. Building on that success, he has since launched and acquired additional practices designed to offer an alternative to the corporate dental model. His focus is on creating mentorship-driven environments where young dentists with an ownership mindset can develop as clinicians, leaders, and future practice owners. Beyond dentistry, Britt is an active investor in start-up ventures and real estate. He is also a two-time past president of the Rotary Club of Chapin Sunrise.
Britt is married to Renee Holstein, PharmD, and together they have two children—Anna and Thomas— both students at Clemson University.

**BROOKS HOST**
Brooks Host is a real estate investor based in Charleston, SC. He focuses on retail and industrial investments in the Southeast, but has worked all over the country. Brooks has been investing for 15 years and started his own business in 2018.

WILSON HUNTER

Wilson Hunter is a partner in Vicinity Ventures. He is an experienced tech founder and real estate investor. His previous ventures include an interactive streaming platform for collectible card games and an e-commerce recommendation engine. Wilson currently resides in Greenville, SC with his wife Lindsey and their six children.

**DEON JACKSON**
Deon Jackson is a civic leader, and emerging investor focused on the intersection of real estate, education, and community-scale economic development. He serves as Director of Construction and Business Development at Contract Construction, a South Carolina–based commercial general contractor specializing in public-sector projects for K–12, higher education, and municipal clients. Previously, Deon served as Superintendent and Chief Operations Officer of Berkeley County School District, where he led district operations and large-scale capital improvement programs. As founder of JWP Solutions, he focuses on mixed-use and affordable housing development and provides consulting services to organizations navigating growth, capital projects, and strategic planning.
His investment interests center on businesses and technologies that strengthen communities—particularly in the built environment, workforce and education, and neighborhood-serving services in high-growth, under-capitalized markets in the Southeast.

**IAN JESTER**
Ian is a global leader in sales and marketing with over 28 years of experience in the life sciences market. Recently retired, Ian started his career at Charles River Laboratories in 1997 and held several sales leadership positions. In 2021, he was appointed Chief Commercial Officer for the Microbial Solutions division of CRL. His experience includes a broad background spanning strategic planning, product commercialization and life-cycle management and M&A integration. He is a collaborative leader who has consistently driven growth while building high-performing teams and navigating complex organizational change.
He received a Bachelor of Arts from UCLA and an MBA from the University of San Francisco. He and his wife live on the Isle of Palms and have a daughter who is a freshman at University of South Carolina. Ian is a mentor for the SCORE organization.

**KYRI KAMBANIS**
Born and raised in South Africa, Kyri Kambanis grew up immersed in entrepreneurship. He earned his medical degree from the University of Cape Town in 1993 and completed his internship at Groote Schuur Hospital before moving to the United Kingdom, where he practiced in the National Health Service and served as Medical Director for the largest private laser clinic in London.
In 1999, Kyri relocated to the United States and transitioned into real estate, building a portfolio of commercial and residential properties and expanding into land development. His collaborative spirit and appetite for new ideas led him to invest in multiple companies and participate in a range of startup ventures across diverse industries.

AJ LEONE

AJ Leone is a seasoned executive and board leader with 30+ years of success across military, commercial real estate, and entrepreneurial sectors, bringing deep expertise in strategic leadership, M&A execution, and large-scale acquisition policy. A retired U.S. Air Force Brigadier General, he culminated his service as Mobilization Assistant to the Air Force Acquisition Deputy, overseeing more than $60 billion in annual acquisition efforts, and previously served as Director of the Joint Reserve Directorate (R&E), Special Operations Navigator, and twice as Commander. In the private sector, he co-founded and scaled a multi-site business to a successful 2015 M&A exit, manages a real-estate portfolio of 65+ properties, and advises Private Equity, Defense, and Healthcare firms on telecom strategy. He holds an MBA from Auburn University and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and serves actively as an angel/PE investor and board member.

**MATT MEYER**
Matt Meyer is a seasoned financial leader, leveraging over 20 years of expertise in banking, management, and corporate finance to drive strategic outcomes. As the Portfolio Manager for the Project Rhino family office, he is directly responsible for overseeing the entire portfolio, which includes asset allocation, investment strategy, and performance across both public and private markets.
Matt's core focus is on balancing capital preservation with targeted growth and innovation, ensuring that every investment strategy aligns with the family office's long-term legacy goals. A graduate of Pennsylvania State University, Matt currently splits time between Charleston, SC and Pittsburgh, PA with his wife and four children, and he enjoys reading, traveling, playing golf and strength training.

**PATRICK O’MALLEY**
Dr. Patrick O’Malley is an emergency physician with over 20 years of clinical experience and a proven track record as an entrepreneur, healthcare technology consultant, and online educator. He has built multiple ventures that empower clinicians through innovative education and community building, including The Laceration Course and the EM Docs Side Hustle community. Passionate about bridging medicine and business, Dr. O’Malley is eager to deepen his understanding of venture capital and the financial strategies that drive early-stage healthcare and technology startups.

**MARGARET ELLEN PENDER**
Margaret Ellen Pender isn’t your typical financial advisor. With a knack for turning complex financial landscapes into clear paths to success, Margaret Ellen has spent over two decades guiding clients through the intricacies of wealth management. But beyond the numbers, there’s a side of Margaret Ellen that speaks to her deep-rooted passions and unwavering dedication.
When she’s not helping clients achieve their financial goals, you can find Margaret Ellen in the great outdoors, accompanied by her loyal Boykin Spaniel, Decoy. An avid hunter, Margaret Ellen finds peace and purpose in the stillness of nature, where the thrill of the chase parallels the strategic challenges of her profession.

**JAY RATTERREE**
Born in Columbia and a lifelong South Carolinian, Jay has spent nearly 40 years in commercial banking across the Midlands and Upstate. After purchasing a vacation home on Folly Beach in early 2025, he joined Beacon Community Bank in a Senior Commercial Business Development role. Jay is married to his high school sweetheart and they have an adult daughter and two adult sons. He and his wife enjoy traveling, attending Clemson and South Carolina events, especially USC Women’s Basketball, listening to music, and embracing spur-of-the-moment adventures. Above all, Jay shares a deep passion for serving others.

MELISSA SMITH

Melissa Smith is the founder of OriGen Strategies, where she helps small businesses and nonprofits grow with clarity, structure, and intention. She brings over 20 years of experience to the intersection of strategy, operations, and innovation, supporting visionary leaders across sectors. Her work centers on diagnosing operational gaps, aligning teams with their mission, and guiding organizations toward sustainable, intelligent systems. Melissa’s approach blends calm precision with an ability to connect big-picture vision to practical execution. She is known for intuitive leadership, strong communication, and a talent for translating complexity into clear, actionable strategy. Her belief that structure should liberate, not restrict, guides every engagement.

**JACK TEITEL**
Jack Teitel is an AI consultant and founder of Title AI (title-ai.com), where he helps businesses build practical, high-impact AI solutions. He has over 10 years of industry experience applying AI, specializing in healthcare AI, computer vision, and GenAI / LLMs. Previously, Jack was an adjunct professor of data science at the University of Rochester, and he now works with organizations nationwide to turn complex AI concepts into real-world results.

**JEWEL WALKER**
Jewel Walker is a venture capital professional with a decade of experience across investing, diligence, and ecosystem operations. She is a Pipeline & Diligence Associate at VentureSouth, where she evaluates early-stage companies and supports investment decisions across one of the largest angel networks in the U.S.
Previously, Jewel led Operations and Community at Goodie Nation, partnering with Google, Amex Ventures, and Lenovo to create over $3M in tech and funding opportunities for founders. She also managed partnerships and programming for Smart City Expo USA, overseeing 75 national and global partners including Mastercard and the National League of Cities.
Her background includes roles with Techstars Anywhere and Atlanta Tech Angels, as well as founding Cadencey, a marketing agency supporting early-stage companies.

**JOSH WATTS**
Josh Watts is an entrepreneur and healthcare executive known for combining innovative leadership with strong operational expertise. A Clemson University graduate, he began his career in pharmaceutical sales and real-estate leadership before founding MedTrust Holdings, which he grew into one of South Carolina’s fastest-growing EMS providers. After MedTrust’s acquisition in 2025, Watts became the company’s VP of Partnerships. His leadership centers on service, growth, and strong hospital relationships —over 90% of MedTrust’s business came from hospital referrals—reflecting a model built on dependable service, transparency, and collaboration. A 2014 *Charleston Regional Business Journal* 40 Under 40 honoree, Watts is recognized as a thought leader in EMS operations and regional healthcare entrepreneurship.

**LUKE WRIGHT**
Luke Wright is a strategic entrepreneur and industry leader with a track record of scaling businesses, driving innovation, and creating lasting economic impact. With nearly five decades of family legacy in the construction sector, he has spent his career leading transformative growth and fostering operational excellence.
Now, as the Founder of Project Rhino, Luke is leveraging his expertise to identify, invest in, and accelerate high-potential businesses. His vision is to unlock untapped markets, disrupt traditional industries, and drive scalable, long-term growth. With a focus on strategic partnerships, operational optimization, and financial backing, Project Rhino is designed to propel businesses beyond their current limits—reshaping industries and redefining success.

CECELIA ZAPATA-HARMS

Cecilia is a founder, an entrepreneur, and an executive. She has held leadership positions in strategy, joint venture, startup development, and program administration, and has experience with mergers and acquisitions. Her career spans more than 30 years in life science/biotechnology and the healthcare industry. Cecilia held executive leadership roles and tenure at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research for 27+ years including as the Division Program Administrator for the Molecular Pharmacology, Clinical Research Division. In 2017, Cecilia started a new company with scientific partners, 3rdEyeBio, LLC, an accelerator and investor group for early-stage life science/biotech companies. Cecilia is currently the CEO of Palmetto InnovaSphere, Inc., a life science accelerator institute headquartered in Spartanburg, SC. She is the founder and executive director of Women, Life and Science, Inc., and is a board member of the Luskin Family Foundation.