Myrtle Beach has co-working downtown. The vibe is a focus on innovation, entrepreneurship

Steven Boatwright’s office — a laptop and smart phone — occupies a small corner at the end of a long, sleek table.

He pays $100 a month for the set up, which keeps overhead down as the 33-year-old father of three works to create his own health insurance agency.

The 33-year-old father of three started his own health insurance agency and has been using a tabletop at HTC Aspire Hub since July 1.

“It’s been everything I needed. Trying to find an actual office, I don’t need that right now. I don’t need $1,000 a month or an $800 a month space,” he said. “If they didn’t have this, I don’t know where I’d be working right now.”

Myrtle Beach’s only co-working space, HTC Aspire Hub opened in February with the goal of creating an entrepreneurial ecosystem in America’s fastest growing city — a plan officials hope will help create a new economic engine not so reliant on tourism.

Or as the Hub’s executive director says, an incubator for “BHAGS.”

“We want the people with the BHAGS: The big, hairy audacious goals,” she said. “Where are founders? Where are the people have game?”

The 2,500 square foot site is open and airy, with desks and pods available for between $100 and $500 a month. Applicants are screened and vetted to ensure they have a business plan and commitment to success.

The hub is a partnership between the city, HTC and eMYRge — a nonprofit also overseen by Royal aimed at developing South Carolina’s largest tourism destination into a center of business innovation.

Royal, a former teacher turned entrepreneur, watched her business go under during the pandemic. But she was able to raise $325,000 in private capital to get it started, which gives her perspective into the hard work her clients are putting in, she said.

“I’m an eternal optimist, and I believe in growth,” Royal said. “I know what it takes for the start-up grind, I know what it takes to create a scalable start-up, so that’s why I’m so passionate about it, because I didn’t have the resources that I needed and I want to provide that for other people.”

What you need to know about co-working in Mrytle Beach

• To learn more about the HTC Aspire Hub or to set up a tour, visit the eMYRge website or call
• In addition to monthly rents of between $100 and $500, day passes are available for $22
• The HTC Aspire Hub is located at 509 9th Avenue North and accessible to members via a security app
• Other features include conference rooms, a full kitchen, private pods with 24/7 access and a mailbox

Six months after opening, the Aspire Hub is already home to big-name investors like Neil Willis, who recently moved his company, Hypersign, from Spartanburg.

There’s also Ray Antonino, an entrepreneur-in-residence who launched Permits.com.

The “innovation economy” is becoming a major player in the Palmetto State, accounting for more than $1 billion worth of impact in 2021 according to the S.C. Research Authority, including the creation of 5,400 jobs.

Joseph Clarke, president of the eMYRge board, said the HTC Aspire Hub is a necessary part of the city’s long-term economic development.

“Having this thriving ecosystem will attract other entrepreneurs to our area, as well as software engineers, graphic designers and digital marketers that these new start-ups will need to be successful,” he said.

But for start-ups to get off the ground, it takes cash. And that’s where the Grand Strand Angel Network comes in. A group of private investors from across the region, the network plans to make up to $100,000 available for businesses that make it through a screening process.

Royal said Myrtle Beach needs an ecosystem that supports big ideas if it hopes to compete with other emerging cities.

“If we don’t have something like this where we can encourage innovation and technology, I mean, come on,” Royal said. “We’ve got to get the people and then we’ve got to be the place.”

This story was originally published August 1, 2022 at 5:00 AM.