DIG SOUTH

In 2012, with two young children at home and a bold vision for the South’s untapped potential, Stanfield Gray and his wife, Sunny Gray, launched DIG SOUTH in Charleston, South Carolina. They were driven by a simple question: Why should a child from the South have fewer opportunities than a child in Boston or Silicon Valley?

Their answer? Build the infrastructure right here at home.

With the support of a small but mighty community of Charleston innovators, technologists, and ecosystem leaders, they launched a Kickstarter campaign, sold sponsorships, called in every personal favor to attract local and national speakers, and hosted the first Dig South Tech Summit at the College of Charleston TD Arena, April 12-14, 2013.

Today, DIG SOUTH is the Southeast’s first and only platform purpose-built to connect scalable startups to leading global brands, capital, and talent, and to help power the South’s innovation economy. Anchored by the annual DIG SOUTH Tech Summit and the newly launched Charleston Tech Week, the organization has become a hub for collaboration, economic development, and regional pride.

“We started Dig South because we wanted Stella and Garrison – and kids across the South – to see a future for themselves in tech and entrepreneurship without having to leave home to chase it,” says Gray.

Since its founding on July 4, 2012, DIG SOUTH has welcomed more than 13,000 attendees, 500 startups to its Wild Pitch event, and 1,500 speakers, serving as a launchpad for hundreds of startups and a trusted partner for leading corporations, universities, and economic development agencies.

Dig South’s mission remains crystal clear:

• Help founders find the network, know-how, and capital to scale at home
• Connect the South’s most scalable startups to global brands
• Grow the region into a globally recognized epicenter of innovation

A Personal Legacy with Public Impact

Stanfield Gray was recently named one of TIME magazine’s “31 People Changing the South”, a fitting recognition for a founder whose work is equal parts professional and personal. Gray’s children – Stella and Garrison – have grown up alongside the summit and will both attend the University of South Carolina in the fall. DIG SOUTH was built from the ground up with the next generation in mind.

Beyond the stage, the impact is deep and far-reaching. DIG SOUTH actively collaborates with public sector organizations like Charleston County Economic Development, The Harbor Entrepreneur Center, and the Charleston Regional Development Alliance, as well as universities including the College of Charleston, University of South Carolina, Medical University of South Carolina, Clemson, The Citadel, and Trident Technical College to power workforce development, thought leadership, and innovation pipelines. Large corporate collaborators have included Oracle, Redwood Materials, Benefitfocus, Coca-Cola, Boeing, Amazon and many more, giving them a front-row seat to breakthrough ideas in logistics, healthtech, fintech, AI, cybersecurity, and other industries.

“We’re not trying to copy Silicon Valley,” says Gray. “We’re building something rooted in Southern grit, creativity, and collaboration. The future of tech is also being written here – and our kids are part of that story.”

Expanding the Reach: Charleston Tech Week

In 2025, with the fantastic support of companies, universities, and community organizations, Stanfield Gray launched Charleston Tech Week, the Lowcountry’s first and only decentralized festival celebrating tech innovation, startups, and entrepreneurship. From rooftop mixers to pitch contests and industry panels, the event spotlights Charleston’s growing role as a Southeastern tech hub. CTW presented 23 events in 2025 and will offer more than 50 events, April 27-May 1, 2026.

The model is flexible but focused: every participant gains visibility from the larger promotional campaign under a unified banner while retaining the ability to tailor programming to their specific niche, community, or mission.

“Charleston Tech Week is about showcasing the depth and diversity of our innovation ecosystem,” says Gray. “It’s a platform for everyone – from bootstrapped startups to billion-dollar brands – to shine together.”

A Founder at the Center of Innovation

In addition to his role at DIG SOUTH, StanfieldGray is Partner and COO of Moveflow.ai, a Charleston-based, mobility-intelligence startup that will soon empower trucking companies and independent drivers to route more efficiently, connect with new clients, and increase profitability.

A graduate of the University of South Carolina Honors College and holder of a Master’s in Southern Studies from the University of Mississippi, Stanfield Gray serves on the board of the Charleston Gaillard Center, the Lowcountry Land Trust Business Council, and is a Liberty Fellow in the Aspen Global Leadership Network.

As Gray looks toward Dig South’s 14th Tech Summit and the second year of Charleston Tech Week in 2026, the mission remains the same – but the momentum has never been greater.

“This is about creating opportunity for the next generation of brilliant founders, ”says Gray. “As the saying goes, ‘Talent is evenly distributed, but opportunity is not,’ and it’s up to all of us to make those opportunities happen in our own backyards.”
– Stanfield Gray – Dig South Chief/Founder –