In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized (subject to certain rules and regulations).

NEXT Innovation Center
University Ridge
Greenville, South Carolina, 29601
United States

Chancy Lindsey-Peake

Chancey, owner and founder of Banana Manna, began baking out of necessity in her home with 6 borrowed pans. She didn’t set out to start a business, but to survive. Chancey went to different local markets to sell her bread, but word spread quickly and she started baking for different festivals, where she saw the potential to make Banana Manna a full-time business. Soon after, she was introduced to Nasha Lending and became their first entrepreneur. Since then, she has moved into the Downtown Greenville Farmers Market, opened a retail space, and baking bread has become a full-time job. Ask Chancey what she is most proud of and she responds: "I am most proud of the variety of flavors that I bake; after people try all my samples, they still can’t decide which is their favorite!”

Jon McClure

Born with entrepreneurism in his blood, Jon McClure established his first business at age 12 and sold another business while in college. With $1,200 in his pocket and a $10,000 line of credit, he took his business savvy and expertise in the plastics films industry and founded ISO Poly Films. The company extruded its first pound of film in Gray Court, SC in 1998 and, next year, expects to produce 130 million pounds of film for various applications including food packaging, consumer electronics, medical devices, pharmaceuticals and industrial products. Under Jon's leadership, the company has completed three major expansions and recently opened a second plant in Vancouver, Washington. In its early years, ISO Poly Films was named to Entrepreneur Magazine's "Hot 100" Small Business list by Dun & Bradstreet, and Jon was named Carolinas Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young. Today, ISO Poly Films has 110 employees and expects to generate $150 million in sales.