Furman's Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Today, our BMW Catalyst Fellows had the opportunity to tour BMW Manufacturing in Greer, SC—the global home of the BMW X models, where many of the company’s iconic Sports Activity Vehicles are built and shipped to customers around the world.

After spending the summer tackling real-world challenges alongside BMW teams, seeing the manufacturing process firsthand brought everything into focus.

Walking the production floor offered more than a behind-the-scenes look. It revealed the precision, collaboration, and innovation required to transform ideas into world-class products at a global scale.

As our fellows approach the end of their summer fellowship, they leave with more than project experience. They leave with a deeper understanding of the people, systems, and craftsmanship that power one of the world’s leading manufacturers, and a new perspective on how innovation moves from concept to reality.

Thank you to BMW Group for investing in the next generation of innovators and for giving our fellows an experience they’ll carry with them long after this summer.

FutureOfWork FurmanUniversity

Innovation Academy Day 6. The one they’ve been working toward all week. 🏆

Venture capital lessons in the AM. Pitch workshop. Pitch practice. And then 4PM. They came, they built, they PITCHED. 🎤

16 students walked in on Monday not knowing each other. Today they pitched companies they built from scratch, in front of their families and VentureSouth investors. 🔥

Week one done. Founders forever. 🍽️

This is Innovation Academy. And it does not miss.

Innovation Academy isn’t just about building companies—it’s about building community. 🍦

We asked our Innovation Academy students one important question: What’s your Pink Mama’s order? Safe to say, there were some great choices.

A little ice cream after another full day of learning, collaborating, and creating. Sometimes the best conversations happen outside the classroom.

Day 2 is in the books. 📋

Yesterday was about finding their identity. Today? It was time to test it. Innovation Academy students dove into customer empathy, lean startup methodology, and the art of the pitch, learning that the best ideas aren’t built in a vacuum, they’re shaped by real feedback from real people.

They pitched. They listened. They refined. And then they did it again. 💪

A huge thank you to our partners at Michelin Innovation Lab and SCRA for showing up and investing in these students, not just with resources, but with their time, expertise, and belief in the next generation of founders and leaders. That kind of investment changes the trajectory.

Tomorrow, Day 3 awaits. These students are just getting started. 👀

Day 1 is LIVE. 🔥

16 high school students just walked into Furman University Innovation Academy — and by Friday, they’ll have built a company from scratch. No shortcuts. Just real ideas, real teams, and real stakes.

Today was all about foundation: team building, finding their identity, and figuring out who they are before they figure out what they’re building. The energy in the room said it all. 👊

This is Day 1 of 6. Follow along all week as these students pitch, pivot, and build something from nothing. The next generation of founders starts here. 🚀

What does summer at THI look like? 👀
 
Our student fellows are spending the summer planning programs, creating content, building strategy, and developing the skills that help turn ideas into impact. 
 
At THI, preparation is never just preparation: it’s collaboration, creativity, and learning through real experience. 
 
The semester ahead is already taking shape and we’re excited for what’s next. 
 
Want to be part of what comes next? Get involved with THI this semester and come build with us. 🚀