S.C. investment accelerator helping diverse entrepreneurs succeed

By Mike Switzer

Published May 23, 2025 at 6:30 AM EDT

Millicent Lann, program director at the Benedict College Statewide Investment Accelerator, part of the Tyrone Adam Burroughs School of Business and Entrepreneurship.

Over a year ago, we introduced our listeners to an organization in our state that is working hard to address the gap in venture capital access for women, minority, veteran, and other often underfunded entrepreneurial demographics. Today, we’ll get an update on their efforts. Mike Switzer interviews Millicent Lann, program director at the Benedict College Statewide Investment Accelerator, part of the Tyrone Adam Burroughs School of Business and Entrepreneurship.

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Mike Switzer

After almost 20 years, Mike Switzer retired from Wells Fargo Securities in 2001 as Senior Vice President/Investment Officer and Certified Portfolio Manager. In 1999, he and his wife, Maggie, purchased and operated for eight years the Baskin Robbins ice cream store on Forest Drive in Columbia. They grew the store from a bottom-tier operation in the Baskin Robbins franchise system to one in the top 5% nationwide within three years, tripling sales along the way. While operating the ice cream store, Mike and Maggie received patents for a portable ice cream sink and fold-down sneezeguard they invented and in 2002 started Magnolia Carts, an ice cream cart manufacturing company, which they sold in 2013.

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