Entrepreneurs + Innovators
Bob PerkoskiSam McNulty and Andy Tveekrem
American author Napoleon Hill said that, "Ideas are the beginning points of all fortunes." True, but good ideas aren't just one-man money-makers -- they can serve as triggers for the kind of economic development that turns around entire blocks, neighborhoods, even cities and regions. In Cleveland, good ideas lead to an ever-growing array of new businesses filling needs across a wide spectrum. From food trucks to got-to-have-it smartphone apps, small start-ups are the lifeblood of a progressive economy.
Masrah Cleveland Al-Arabi, Cleveland Public Theatre's Arabic-speaking theater group, presents "The Wolf" Thursday, April 4 through Saturday, April 6 as part of the Test Flight play development program. The production, written and directed by Shakeeb Julien, follows a young villager's journey of learning and growth, while also serving as a creative outlet for the ensemble who represent Arabic-speaking communities from across the Middle East and North Africa.
The Cleveland Leadership Center's 12th Annual Accelerate: Citizens Make Change pitch competition awarded its $5,000 grand prize to LanguageBridge, an extension designed to help K-12 English learners master the language. Finalists were chosen in four other categories, and in the Technovation and Teens Make Change competitions.
Josh Bartell, a 38-year-old former Marine and Tremont resident, created "Dudes of Cleveland" to address male social isolation after realizing he lacked meaningful connections with other men. Two years later, the group hosts monthly meetups focused on low-pressure activities—providing a space for men of all ages to build genuine friendships.
The Short.Sweet.Film Fest opens its 15th year this week, showcasing 338 short films from 26 countries across 33 programs at Atlas Cinemas Shaker Square. The festival has grown from a small basement gathering to a platform for independent short filmmakers. Highlights include Women in Focus, featuring 29 films directed or produced by women.
Two Cleveland advocates will pitch their project, "The Concrete Quilt," at the Cleveland Leadership Center's Accelerate Pitch competition on Feb. 26. The concept is for a public art installation at Edgewater Park that will honor those lost to AIDS and offer HIV/AIDS education and awareness.
Cleveland Public Theatre concludes its annual Test Flight play development series with "The Exit Door," a new work by Nathalie Bermúdez presented by Teatro Público de Cleveland. The play explores migratory grief through the story of a woman trapped in an unnamed airport, blending realism and magical elements to reflect the emotional cost of migration.
Cleveland Public Theatre's Test Flight program allows local playwrights to develop new work in front of live audiences and gather real-time feedback. The program gives artists creative freedom and practical support. 2026 Test Flight features "Boxed," a dance theater piece by Elizabeth Pollert that uses movement and cardboard boxes to explore how people are labeled and confined by identity categories.
Benjamin Colas, founder of Forest City Academy, is pitching his Stronger Together concept at the Cleveland Leadership Center's Accelerate competition. Stronger Together would offer free parent-child workout classes, held in local parks, and designed to promote family bonding. As both an educator and parent, Colas envisions scalable classes as a solution for families seeking both physical health and quality time together.
Cleveland Public Theatre celebrates the 10th anniversary of its Test Flight series with six productions by local playwrights, choreographers, and directors over three weekends. Test Flight offers development of works-in-progress while showcasing diverse voices in CPT, Teatro Público de Cleveland, and Masrah Cleveland Al Arabi.
The Cleveland Leadership Center's Accelerate pitch competition is coming up in February. Meanwhile, FreshWater Cleveland is talking to some of the entrepreneurs about their visions to make Cleveland a better place to live, work, play, and visit in hopes of winning funding. Today, we talk to two CWRU juniors, who are pitching their sustainability app uniSWAP.
Tomorrow, Saturday, Jan. 24, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., people of all talents and abilities are invited to Waterloo Arts for a Brite Winter workshop to fill in life-sized figures with Day Glo paint for Cleveland's winter arts and music festival. Brite Winter debuts in its new location in the Waterloo Arts District on February 21.
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The Cleveland Leadership Center's 12th annual Accelerate: Citizens Make Change pitch competition takes place on February 26 at the Huntington Convention Center, featuring 35 presenters pitching 26 innovative ideas.
![Mike Crawford uses a big laser cutter to make wooden gift boxes at the Sears think[box].](/galleries/2026/Jauary_2026/Issue_683/Sears_thinkbox/Mike_Crawford_laser_cutter.jpg?s=lf)
CWRU's Sears think[box] is the nation's largest free public makerspace, offering equipment, materials, and mentorship in a 50,000-square feet space to students, professionals, and the community. Think[box] levels the playing field so anyone can access typically expensive tools and transform their ideas into reality.
The North Union Farmers Market will host its last farmers market of 2025 at Shaker Square and Crocker Park, and its final Holiday Market this Saturday, Dec. 20, at Van Aken District Market Hall, featuring more than 35 local makers, bakers, and artists offering handcrafted gifts and specialty foods.
Steve Presser has opened his beloved Big Fun store as a holiday pop-up for the third consecutive year, this time in the former Record Revolution space. Open through January 11, Big Fun features vintage posters, t-shirts, and memorabilia, while also serving this year as an incubator for four local entrepreneurs.
Danielle McGough, a professional gingerbread house designer who has created holiday structures for major retailers, launched the Jolly Gingerbread Makery Pop-Up Workshop in 78th Street Studios this holiday season. Participants decorate hand-baked gingerbread houses with access to a variety of decorations and optional add-ons like LED lights and edible windows.
Malley's Chocolates this week unveiled a refreshed look to its 1937 Lakewood flagship store. The new look has modern updates while preserving the nostalgic charm that has made it a Cleveland favorite for nearly 90 years. Local artist Lisa Quine contributed an enormous mural, while designers preserved, yet updated, Malley's signature pink and green colors.
Cleveland's 21st annual Día de Muertos Festival, organized by Cleveland Public Theatre and Día de Muertos Ohio, will take place on November 1st in the Gordon Square Arts District. The event, which honors the memory of those who have passed, will feature traditional arts, music, dance, food, and cultural activities, including altar installations and the Skulls and Skeletons Procession.
Rid-All Green Partnership's sixth annual Fresh Fest brought Kinsman residents and people from all over Greater Cleveland to the urban farm. The event featured local vendors, activities, and tours of the farm's facilities. Photographer Bob Perkoski captured the events of the day.
Rooms to Let, the annual art program in Slavic Village, has evolved from transforming vacant homes to revitalizing outdoor spaces. The 2025 exhibition will feature 14 local artists and music groups, creating temporary art enclaves on 12 vacant lots to bring attention to urban renewal and the power of art in transforming neighborhoods.