SC Launch Inc. invests in human-centered AI startup QWERKY AI

SC Launch Inc., the investment affiliate of the South Carolina Research Authority, announced a $400,000 investment in QWERKY AI. The Columbia-based startup works on computational costs, energy use, and infrastructure limits that affect scaling of large models. QWERKY AI became an SCRA Member Company in August 2025 and is now an SC Launch Inc. portfolio company. SCRA Chief Program Officer Lee MacIlwinen said the company reflects the kind of innovation supported because it prioritizes usability and trust. SCRA Senior Investment Associate Javon Jones said QWERKY AI has built protected intellectual property and has been accepted into the NVIDIA Inception Program, the NVIDIA DGX Cloud Innovation Lab, and the Microsoft for Startup Program. Jones added that the approach lowers costs without degrading model performance. QWERKY AI opened its headquarters last summer and recently announced a partnership with Inbox Beverage Inc. for an AI-powered design platform. QWERKY AI Co-founder and CEO Chris Thibault said the support helps make AI more accessible to organizations by scaling businesses without increasing budgets. SC Launch Inc. was established in 2006 to provide convertible loans and investment funding to qualifying SCRA Member Companies.