Entrepreneurs + Innovators

The Full Cleveland is inspiring Clevelanders to hike the urban jungle, eight miles at a time
Twice a year, Peet McCain invites other Cleveland residents to join him in exploring Northeast Ohio on foot on an eight-mile hike he calls "The Full Cleveland."
Flower power: This budding nonprofit has recycled 6,200+ bouquets for those who need it most
Floral arrangements from weddings and funerals see new life thanks to BigHearted Blooms, which repurposes the flowers and delivers them to nursing homes and hospitals.
Ready to pop: Collinwood's most colorful building set to open its doors as Pop Life
After two years, Pop Life is ready to make its debut at the intersection of creativity, collaboration, and wellness in Collinwood.
Euclid's got game: OMNI Board Game Parlor passes 'go' on Lake Shore Blvd.
The newest addition to downtown Euclid is the first board game parlor on Cleveland's east side.
Teachers will give top marks to this Collinwood resale shop
Monica Grays' resale shop for teaching materials is doing so well in Willoughby that she has opened a second store in Collinwood, called The Assembly by 2nd Semester.
Girl power: Women-owned businesses succeed in Fairfax
Sharon Barber Salon and the Cleveland Veterinary Clinic demonstrate how women-owned businesses can lead the way in Fairfax.
Borrow design firm banks on interest in custom decorating
Borrow Rentals has morphed into Borrow Curated Furniture + Design in Cleveland's New Chinatown neighborhood, with a new focus on custom interior design.
The proof is in the pudding: Restaurants open in Fairfax
New restaurants large and small are finding Cleveland's Fairfax neighborhood to be a tempting place to set up shop.
Wax on: Mistake by the Lake record shop gets into the groove in Cudell
Andrew Kirschner, founder of Cleveland record label Mistake by the Lake, plans to open a brick-and-mortar record store with the same name on Cleveland's West Side.
Opportunity zones were designed to spur development in poor areas. Are they doing the job?
Opportunity zones supposedly were intended to be good for investors and poor neighborhoods alike. Two years after their creation, the benefits for all city residents are still in dispute.
What if the Cleveland Flea became a conference? It just did.
Cleveland Flea founder Stephanie Sheldon is ready for some real talk with local entrepreneurs at the Creative Conversations conference.
Shipping containers mark the spot: BoxSpot ready to debut in Kinsman
When a lack of affordable retail space was preventing small businesses and startups from getting off the ground in Cleveland's Kinsman neighborhood, Burten, Bell, Carr decided to think out of the box.
Rewriting romance: CLE's newest publishing company wants readers to fall in love with inclusion
BeLonging Books, a new publishing company based in Cleveland's Collinwood neighborhood, wants to modernize the romance novel genre by focusing on inclusive and feminist works.
Documenters.org comes to Cleveland
A website making it easier for citizen watchdogs to keep track of government meetings is coming to Cleveland.
Two Fairfax innovators prove that ideas can be homegrown
Delesia Robinson and Tim Willis work in very different fields, but both innovators are using their talents to help their Fairfax neighborhood.
Latest entry at Van Aken District is an approachable contemporary art gallery
Art appreciation just got a little easier, thanks to a new, novice-friendly gallery inside the Van Aken District.
Collinwood catalyst: Meet the semifinalists vying for $250,000 in Cleveland Chain Reaction
In the third season of Cleveland Chain Reaction, 18 local businesses are competing for a share of $250,000 in investment dollars along East 185th Street. But even if they aren't one of the five or more companies chosen, all of them should benefit from the economic boost heading to the Collinwood neighborhood.
VIDEO: A Taste of La Villa Hispana
As La Villa Hispana continues to crystallize as a cultural hub, the neighborhood is amplifying the sounds, sights, and smells that make it so special—and events like La Placita and new spots like Las Tienditas are enticing all of Greater Cleveland to experience them.
Comeback Cafe serves up tasty dishes and second chances
The Comeback Café serves up breakfast and lunch to state workers in downtown Cleveland, prepared by women seeking a jump start on a career after they are released from prison.
JumpStart gives crucial boost to minority- and women-owned businesses
Angela Flowers' in-school consulting business took off when she connected with JumpStart Inc., a Cleveland-based venture development group that focuses on women- and minority-owned companies.