Southeast Roundup: May 2026
This is the May edition of the Southeast Roundup, where we recap what happened in the Southeast startup and venture scene this month.
Welcome to the May edition of the Southeast Roundup, where we recap the latest developments in the region’s startup and venture ecosystem. This month featured a range of announcements, including:
Significant funding momentum across space tech, AI, and logistics
A range of accelerator application and program launches
Top innovation ecosystem conferences coming up shortly
Dive in for this month’s highlights, and be sure to subscribe below.
From Build In SE
As we gear up for the summer, the Build In SE team is actively mapping the next wave of ecosystem resources and preparing for upcoming regional events - we are excited to be at Fintech + Insurtech Generations, Sloss Tech, and other programming throughout the summer, and hope to see you there!
We also continue to track the latest capital deployments and connect founders with the resources, capital, and opportunities they need to scale. Stay tuned for new content coming soon from our team.
Funding & M&A
Stord (Atlanta, GA) raised a massive $250M round, bringing the logistics and supply chain software company’s valuation to $3 billion. This significant capital injection will further scale their cloud supply chain network and end-to-end fulfillment services. Axios
Star Catcher (Jacksonville, FL) raised a $65M Series A led by B Capital to build the first power grid in space. The funding will accelerate the development of their orbital energy grid, utilizing optical power beaming to deliver on-demand electricity to spacecraft. Star Catcher
Quartermaster (Arlington, VA) secured $43M to develop an AI-powered “hive mind” for ships. The technology creates a shared sensor network that provides real-time situational awareness for fleets, going beyond standard AIS capabilities for commercial and defense applications. TechCrunch
Scout Space (Reston, VA) closed an $18M Series A led by Washington Harbour Partners. The capital will fuel the expansion of its space domain awareness sensors and software, including a new 2,600-square-foot manufacturing facility in Northern Virginia. Payload Space
Optura (Nashville, TN) raised a $17.5M Series A backed by Salesforce Ventures and Echo Health Ventures to scale its healthcare AI platform. The funding will help health systems measure and optimize the financial returns of their artificial intelligence deployments. FierceHealthcare
ReFiBuy (Raleigh, NC) secured a $13.6M Seed round led by NewRoad Capital Partners. The oversubscribed round will accelerate the rollout of its agentic commerce optimization platform, helping brands prepare product catalogs for AI-driven shopping experiences. ReFiBuy
Trillium Renewable Chemicals (Knoxville, TN) closed a $13M Series B led by HS Hyosung Advanced Materials. The capital funds the construction of Project Falcon, a demonstration plant for manufacturing bio-based acrylonitrile at an industrial scale. Hydrocarbon Processing
Psilera (Tampa, FL), a biopharmaceutical company developed neuroplastogens and psychedelic therapies, raised $8.8M in seed funding to advance its lead clinical asset towards human trials. PR Newswire
CLEATUS (Arlington, VA) raised a $4M Seed round co-led by Las Olas VC and REVO Capital. The funding supports their agentic AI platform designed to automate the find, bid, and win workflow for government contractors. LinkedIn
Saltbox (Atlanta, GA) raised a Series C led by Packard Capital. The logistics and operations platform for product-based businesses will use the capital to expand its national footprint, including a new facility in the Atlanta area. PR Newswire
Startup Milestones
NUREAM (Wilmington, NC) secured two major grants this month to advance its research and development. The company won an NC INNOVATION grant in partnership with UNC Wilmington, alongside a competitive NC IDEA Grant. LinkedIn
Embarc Collective (Tampa, FL) launched the Florida Oncology and Radiopharmaceutical Growth Engine (FORGE) Coalition, which brings together partners like Speros, Moffitt Cancer Center, USF, and Pasco-Hernando State College to provide robust life science and manufacturing resources for founders. Embarc Collective
IQExit (Wilmington, NC) is capitalizing on the “Silver Tsunami” of retiring business owners. The startup provides detailed M&A insights and deal ranges through financial advisors to help founders prepare for optimal exits and ownership transitions, and was featured for this work in Hypepotamus. Hypepotamus
Founders Green (Atlanta, GA) had a ribbon-cutting event this month, as the South Downtown startup community continues its evolution. As Atlanta Ventures notes, “With over 100 entrepreneurs already calling the neighborhood home, new storefronts opening up, and the World Cup around the corner, this public-private project is actively supercharging Atlanta’s future.” Urbanize Atlanta
Events & Programming
Upcoming Events
Startups & Standups is bringing a unique blend of entrepreneurship and comedy to the region this June. The hybrid pitch events will take place in both (Atlanta, GA) and (Charlotte, NC), offering founders a lighthearted platform to showcase their businesses. Hypepotamus
Fintech + Insurtech Generations (Charlotte, NC) – Returning June 10th at The Dubois Center as the anchor event for Charlotte Fintech Week, this annual conference convenes 400+ global leaders to explore the theme of “From Hype to Reality: How financial innovation truly scales within real institutions, where effective governance, operating models, and practical AI converge to deliver measurable operational value.” Attendees can expect panel insights, unicorn spotlights, and a founder showcase. Build In SE subscribers use code BUILDSE25 for 25% off. Fintech + Insurtech Generations
DIG SOUTH Tech Summit (Charleston, SC) takes place June 11-12. The region’s premier tech gathering connects leading brands, founders, and investors for two days of keynotes, networking, and the highly anticipated Wild Pitch event. Hypepotamus
Sloss.Tech (Birmingham, AL): One of the Southeast’s top tech and innovation events is returning to downtown Birmingham from June 24-26. The three-day event will feature mainstage speakers, specialized developer tracks, and the Sloss.Tech/Ideas pitch competition, which recently boosted its grand prize to $100,000 for early-stage startups. Members of the Build In SE team will be onsite—we hope to see you there! Sloss.Tech
NEXT Venture Summit (Greenville, SC): This September summit is bringing startup solutions directly to enterprise problems. After sourcing specific pain points from corporate leaders at BMW, Michelin, GE Vernova, and Current, 20 startups were selected from 54 applicants to travel to Greenville for targeted pitching, speed-dating, and networking. NEXT Venture Summit
Opportunities
Bronze Valley Investment Accelerator (Birmingham, AL) is accepting applications from Alabama-based startups until June 7. The 12-week program offers equity investment, access to gener8tor’s network, and structured support to help founders close funding rounds. gener8tor
Techstars Alabama EnergyTech (Birmingham, AL) is closing applications for its next cohort on June 10. The accelerator focuses on startups building solutions in the energy and cleantech sectors. Techstars
Alabama Launchpad (Birmingham, AL) is accepting applications for Cycle 2 of its startup competition. Early-stage founders across tech, life sciences, and consumer goods can apply to win up to $100K in non-dilutive funding, alongside intensive mentorship through their Launch Prep program. Alabama Launchpad
Dynamo Ventures (Chattanooga, TN) released its latest Request for Startups, outlining the specific supply chain and mobility themes their team is currently looking to back. Founders building in these spaces are highly encouraged to review the thesis and apply. Dynamo
gener8tor gBETA / Spark Huntsville (Huntsville, AL) is actively recruiting for its next cohort, offering an equity-free accelerator experience for early-stage startups in North Alabama. Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis. (gener8tor)
Resources & Reads
The Wall Street Journal published its ranking of the best cities for new college graduates, with Birmingham, AL taking the top spot and other Southeast hubs like Tampa and Raleigh scoring highly. These markets stand out for robust early-career hiring, competitive salaries, and housing affordability, providing a vital talent pipeline for the region’s scaling tech companies. This influx of young, educated professionals serves as a vital talent pipeline, fueling the growth and innovation required for the Southeast’s scaling tech companies to thrive in competitive global markets. The Wall Street Journal
McKinsey & Company published “Alabama’s Playbook for Jobs, Growth, and Economic Opportunity,” offering a data-driven strategy for accelerating workforce development and upward mobility across the state. McKinsey
Ember Fellowship (Atlanta, GA) was featured for its unique approach to startup hiring, offering insights into how local founders can better attract and retain early-stage talent. Hypepotamus
And in case you missed it last month, Front Porch Venture Partners released the Southeast VC Pulse Survey 2026, offering critical insights into regional deal flow and valuations. The Raleigh-Durham-based firm, operating a unique “hybrid fund” model across venture funds and direct startup investments, uses the report to highlight the region’s structural uniqueness, trends, and more key information. LinkedIn
Thanks for reading! If you have reactions or feedback, suggestions for future newsletters, or want to get in touch, email ryan@buildinse.com.