Regional Economy
The inaugural Great Lakes Venture Fair will take place at the Cleveland Marriott Downtown October 17-18, on the heels of the National Association of Seed and Venture Funds annual conference. The fair is a collaborative effort between JumpStart, Ohio Capital Fund, Ohio Venture Association, TiE Ohio, CincyTech and TechColumbus and will bring together investors and startups from across the Midwest.
“It’s a chance for the venture capital community to come together and see some of the most promising startups,” explains Carolyn Pione Micheli, director of communications for CincyTech. “According to a study by the Kauffman Foundation, in 2007 all net news job growth came from companies that are less than five years old.” The event is the successor to the Ohio Capital Fund’s Early Stage Summit, which was held in Columbus for seven years.
The GLVF will only accept 18 startup companies in bioscience and IT to pitch their companies to investors. Other activities at the event include presentations on regional investment activity, and conversations about building future growth in startups and investing.
“In terms of growing fresh new jobs, small companies are the key, “ says Micheli. “The startup community is really important to our economic future.”
Keynote speaker will be Jeff Weedman, vice president of global business development for Proctor & Gamble. The application deadline for companies looking for funding is Aug. 12. Registration to attend is $200 before Sep. 15, $250 after that.
Source: Carolyn Pione Micheli
Writer: Karin Connelly
“It’s a chance for the venture capital community to come together and see some of the most promising startups,” explains Carolyn Pione Micheli, director of communications for CincyTech. “According to a study by the Kauffman Foundation, in 2007 all net news job growth came from companies that are less than five years old.” The event is the successor to the Ohio Capital Fund’s Early Stage Summit, which was held in Columbus for seven years.
The GLVF will only accept 18 startup companies in bioscience and IT to pitch their companies to investors. Other activities at the event include presentations on regional investment activity, and conversations about building future growth in startups and investing.
“In terms of growing fresh new jobs, small companies are the key, “ says Micheli. “The startup community is really important to our economic future.”
Keynote speaker will be Jeff Weedman, vice president of global business development for Proctor & Gamble. The application deadline for companies looking for funding is Aug. 12. Registration to attend is $200 before Sep. 15, $250 after that.
Source: Carolyn Pione Micheli
Writer: Karin Connelly
In the best of cases, getting a book published can take one to three years from start to finish. Or, you can do it the way Richey Piiparinen and Anne Trubek did with Rust Belt Chic: The Cleveland Anthology. The pair of Cleveland writers managed to compress the entire Sisyphean process into an implausible three-month timeframe.
The Cedar Center North project, envisioned as a bold, mixed-use development featuring a midrise condo building above new shops and restaurants, is a far cry from what the original developer and community backers had hoped for originally. Gone are the high-end condos, replaced by an upscale strip retail center filled with familiar national chains.
The Coral Company and DeVille Developments broke ground on the project, which has been in the works since 2001 but stymied by the recession that began in 2007, this spring. So far, they've secured leases from Piada, PetSmart, Menchies, Chipotle, Panera Bread, Starbucks, Jimmy Johns, Five Guys, Sprint, Sport Clips, Little Caesar's Pizza and Huntington Learning Centers, among other tenants.
When Piada Italian Street Food opens this fall, it will be the first location for the Columbus-based restaurant chain. For the most part, the other new tenants that have leased space at Cedar Center North already have locations in Northeast Ohio.
Despite the downscaled nature of the project, Patrick Sirpilla of co-developer DeVille Developments says that many members of the community are simply happy that the project has broken ground and is well on its way to completion.
"We're getting a great response from the community and people are excited about the types of tenants going in," he says. "We've gotten a lot of great comments on the design, which has nice architectural features and lots of brick and stone."
Sirpilla says that three of the tenants he is currently negotiating with are retail operators, and that he hopes to ultimately see more stores within the project.
Two new retailers, Gordon Food Service and Bob Evans, opened locations here last year. Although it is scaled back, Cedar Center North is much more pedestrian-friendly than its predecessor, a maligned strip mall dominated by parking lots. It features outdoor dining, bike racks, community areas and varying architecture.
A mile away, First Interstate Development recently broke ground on Oakwood Commons, a large new retail center off of Warrensville Center Road that will feature a SuperWalmart and other tenants that have not been announced.
Source: Patrick Sirpilla
Writer: Lee Chilcote
The Coral Company and DeVille Developments broke ground on the project, which has been in the works since 2001 but stymied by the recession that began in 2007, this spring. So far, they've secured leases from Piada, PetSmart, Menchies, Chipotle, Panera Bread, Starbucks, Jimmy Johns, Five Guys, Sprint, Sport Clips, Little Caesar's Pizza and Huntington Learning Centers, among other tenants.
When Piada Italian Street Food opens this fall, it will be the first location for the Columbus-based restaurant chain. For the most part, the other new tenants that have leased space at Cedar Center North already have locations in Northeast Ohio.
Despite the downscaled nature of the project, Patrick Sirpilla of co-developer DeVille Developments says that many members of the community are simply happy that the project has broken ground and is well on its way to completion.
"We're getting a great response from the community and people are excited about the types of tenants going in," he says. "We've gotten a lot of great comments on the design, which has nice architectural features and lots of brick and stone."
Sirpilla says that three of the tenants he is currently negotiating with are retail operators, and that he hopes to ultimately see more stores within the project.
Two new retailers, Gordon Food Service and Bob Evans, opened locations here last year. Although it is scaled back, Cedar Center North is much more pedestrian-friendly than its predecessor, a maligned strip mall dominated by parking lots. It features outdoor dining, bike racks, community areas and varying architecture.
A mile away, First Interstate Development recently broke ground on Oakwood Commons, a large new retail center off of Warrensville Center Road that will feature a SuperWalmart and other tenants that have not been announced.
Source: Patrick Sirpilla
Writer: Lee Chilcote
travel writer visits cleveland, compiles list of quirky finds
A travel writer makes a visit to the North Coast and compiles a list of her quirky finds.
"Last month I traveled to northeastern Ohio -- around Lake Erie. The region is shaking its reputation based on the Cuyahoga river catching fire many years ago. Old images are hard to kick, but like other rustbelt cities, Cleveland and its environs is rejuvenating, regentrifying and reclaiming, with lively neighborhoods, farm-to-table restaurants, and a renewed pride in culture and history.
"Here, a few of my images representing some of the quirky happenings of summer in Ohio. The photos speak for themselves, I think."
Stops include the Greater Cleveland Aquarium, West Side Market, Big Fun, Melt Bar and Grilled, Polka Hall of Fame, and the Duct Tape Festival.
Read it here.
"Last month I traveled to northeastern Ohio -- around Lake Erie. The region is shaking its reputation based on the Cuyahoga river catching fire many years ago. Old images are hard to kick, but like other rustbelt cities, Cleveland and its environs is rejuvenating, regentrifying and reclaiming, with lively neighborhoods, farm-to-table restaurants, and a renewed pride in culture and history.
"Here, a few of my images representing some of the quirky happenings of summer in Ohio. The photos speak for themselves, I think."
Stops include the Greater Cleveland Aquarium, West Side Market, Big Fun, Melt Bar and Grilled, Polka Hall of Fame, and the Duct Tape Festival.
Read it here.
cle stop added to popular rock 'n' roll marathon series
The Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series has grown from a single-city (San Diego) event to a multi-stop series that extends all across and even outside the United States. The unique event merges marathon running with music, as courses are often lined with live music, cheerleaders and themed water stations. Participants often dress up in costumes.
The Cleveland half-marathon will take place October 5, 2013. It will start, appropriately enough, at The Rock Hall.
From the announcement:
"The ideal destination for sports junkies and music lovers alike! Home of the Browns, Cavaliers and Indians and of course the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. ‘The Cleve’ is sure to have you rockin’ next fall. This flat, scenic course starts at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum will run along Lake Erie, past Tower City, and other iconic landmarks. Bands all along the route are sure to keep you rockin’ for 13.1 miles. Cleveland ROCKS!"
Click here for more info or to register.
The Cleveland half-marathon will take place October 5, 2013. It will start, appropriately enough, at The Rock Hall.
From the announcement:
"The ideal destination for sports junkies and music lovers alike! Home of the Browns, Cavaliers and Indians and of course the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. ‘The Cleve’ is sure to have you rockin’ next fall. This flat, scenic course starts at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum will run along Lake Erie, past Tower City, and other iconic landmarks. Bands all along the route are sure to keep you rockin’ for 13.1 miles. Cleveland ROCKS!"
Click here for more info or to register.
Startup Lakewood is looking for new businesses and the organization is willing to help entrepreneurs take their ideas to fruition. The second annual Ideation Challenge showcases the new ideas and new business startups that will add to the diversity of the Lakewood business community.
“We think there are all sorts of people right here in Lakewood who have ideas for businesses but haven’t taken the steps to launch them,” says Mike Belsito, Lakewood’s entrepreneur-in-residence and director of the Ideation Challenge. “New businesses are important to the city, and this is one way to help people actually get started.”
Anyone with a business idea can submit an executive summary and a one- to two-minute elevator pitch for a chance to win a prize package that includes consulting, training and other resources for starting a new business. “The prizes will help the entrepreneurs take the next steps and take their ideas into reality,” says Belsito.
Two winners will be chosen -- one from Lakewood and one from Northeast Ohio. All entrants will receive feedback from Startup Lakewood. The competition is open to anybody, with the hope that the winners will start their businesses in Lakewood.
The deadline to submit executive summaries was recently extended to August 14. Startup Lakewood will then invite finalists by August 17 to make their elevator pitches on August 28 at University of Akron’s Lakewood Campus.
Source: Mike Belsito
Writer: Karin Connelly
“We think there are all sorts of people right here in Lakewood who have ideas for businesses but haven’t taken the steps to launch them,” says Mike Belsito, Lakewood’s entrepreneur-in-residence and director of the Ideation Challenge. “New businesses are important to the city, and this is one way to help people actually get started.”
Anyone with a business idea can submit an executive summary and a one- to two-minute elevator pitch for a chance to win a prize package that includes consulting, training and other resources for starting a new business. “The prizes will help the entrepreneurs take the next steps and take their ideas into reality,” says Belsito.
Two winners will be chosen -- one from Lakewood and one from Northeast Ohio. All entrants will receive feedback from Startup Lakewood. The competition is open to anybody, with the hope that the winners will start their businesses in Lakewood.
The deadline to submit executive summaries was recently extended to August 14. Startup Lakewood will then invite finalists by August 17 to make their elevator pitches on August 28 at University of Akron’s Lakewood Campus.
Source: Mike Belsito
Writer: Karin Connelly
Incoming ninth graders at Max Hayes High School took it to the parking lot last week, Thursday, July 26, to race the cars they had crafted as part of the Take it to the Max program. Part summer camp, part school orientation, nearly 60 students participated in two WIRE-Net program sessions to see if a career in manufacturing is the right path. Max Hayes students concentrate on manufacturing in their studies.
"The goal of the program is to introduce the students to careers in manufacturing and the careers taught at Max Hayes,” explains Jose Estrenera, director of youth programs for WIRE-Net. “If they get a leg up on what Max Hayes is about, they’ll be more productive.”
Two three-week sessions this summer focused on building a car. Students were given a block of wood, four wheels and four nails. “At first they look at it and say, ‘how am I going to make a car out of this,’” says Estrenera. But they figure it out as they take computer classes with a CAD type program to develop a plan, hear lectures from volunteers on aerodynamics and the rudimentary skills needed, and take a 3D model into the lab to shape, sand, paint and decorate their cars.
“The camp has four parts: the technical lab, the computer lab, physical exercise and social skills,” says Estrenera. “There are a lot of good jobs around in manufacturing. This camp gets them actively thinking about what they are doing in courses at Max Hayes.”
Not to mention the fun that was involved. “The reaction was great,” says Estrenera. “The kids were really proud of their cars and really expressed themselves.”
Source: Jose Estrenera
Writer: Karin Connelly
"The goal of the program is to introduce the students to careers in manufacturing and the careers taught at Max Hayes,” explains Jose Estrenera, director of youth programs for WIRE-Net. “If they get a leg up on what Max Hayes is about, they’ll be more productive.”
Two three-week sessions this summer focused on building a car. Students were given a block of wood, four wheels and four nails. “At first they look at it and say, ‘how am I going to make a car out of this,’” says Estrenera. But they figure it out as they take computer classes with a CAD type program to develop a plan, hear lectures from volunteers on aerodynamics and the rudimentary skills needed, and take a 3D model into the lab to shape, sand, paint and decorate their cars.
“The camp has four parts: the technical lab, the computer lab, physical exercise and social skills,” says Estrenera. “There are a lot of good jobs around in manufacturing. This camp gets them actively thinking about what they are doing in courses at Max Hayes.”
Not to mention the fun that was involved. “The reaction was great,” says Estrenera. “The kids were really proud of their cars and really expressed themselves.”
Source: Jose Estrenera
Writer: Karin Connelly
cle-based biotech firms raise $83m in first half of year
According to the Midwest Health Care Venture Investment Report, released by BioEnterprise, Cleveland area biotech firms raised $83 million in venture capital the first half of 2012.
Juventas Therapeutics, developer of a pipeline of regenerative therapies to treat life threatening diseases, secured $22 million alone. Pharmaceutical developer Athersys raised $9 million.
Read the entire report here.
Juventas Therapeutics, developer of a pipeline of regenerative therapies to treat life threatening diseases, secured $22 million alone. Pharmaceutical developer Athersys raised $9 million.
Read the entire report here.
Eight years ago Alon Weiner and Ram Tamir were in the offset printing business, doing flyers and newspaper inserts. But the two of them imagined something bigger – in print format, that is. So, in January 2004, the two founded Post-Up Stand, a large format printing company that does everything from banners and tablecloths to retractable display banners that roll up and down in seconds.
“As we looked to diversify the business, we checked the large format printing opportunity,” says Weiner. “After a short time with one large format printer, we realized that this market had much bigger growth potential than offset.”
Weiner and Tamir eventually shut down the offset side of the business completely and focused on the large format. “The nice thing about our product is that any business, from mom-and-pop shops to Fortune 500 companies can use them,” says Weiner. “We manufacture for trade shows, retail store displays and non-profits.”
Post-Up Stand started in a 500-square-foot office in Valley View with one employee. Today the company has 49 employees and has grown into a 30,000-square-foot facility in Maple Heights.
Post-Up Stand has customers across the country, and they are known for quality work done fast. “Everything we do here is custom,” says Weiner. “We keep our technology top of the line. No lens is more than three years old. If we don’t like it, we reprint it.”
Weiner credits his customers with Post-Up Stand’s success. “I try to see everything through the customer’s eye,” he says. “Everybody here, no matter what you do, you’re in customer service. We invest a lot in customer service. A lot of returning customers recommend us. Word of mouth is a great tool for us to grow.”
Source: Alon Weiner
Writer: Karin Connelly
“As we looked to diversify the business, we checked the large format printing opportunity,” says Weiner. “After a short time with one large format printer, we realized that this market had much bigger growth potential than offset.”
Weiner and Tamir eventually shut down the offset side of the business completely and focused on the large format. “The nice thing about our product is that any business, from mom-and-pop shops to Fortune 500 companies can use them,” says Weiner. “We manufacture for trade shows, retail store displays and non-profits.”
Post-Up Stand started in a 500-square-foot office in Valley View with one employee. Today the company has 49 employees and has grown into a 30,000-square-foot facility in Maple Heights.
Post-Up Stand has customers across the country, and they are known for quality work done fast. “Everything we do here is custom,” says Weiner. “We keep our technology top of the line. No lens is more than three years old. If we don’t like it, we reprint it.”
Weiner credits his customers with Post-Up Stand’s success. “I try to see everything through the customer’s eye,” he says. “Everybody here, no matter what you do, you’re in customer service. We invest a lot in customer service. A lot of returning customers recommend us. Word of mouth is a great tool for us to grow.”
Source: Alon Weiner
Writer: Karin Connelly
project for public spaces lauds cleveland as a 'market town'
In the lead up to the 8th International Public Markets Conference, which will be held in Cleveland September 21 to 23, the Project for Public Spaces continues to blog about placemaking.
In a recent post titled " You Are Where You Eat: Re-Focusing Communities Around Markets," the writer discusses the importance of public markets like Cleveland's West Side Market.
"If you want to see a Market City in action, you may want to consider attending the 8th International Public Markets Conference in Cleveland this September. Chosen as the host city because of the role that food is playing in its remarkable turnaround, Cleveland illustrates many of the aspects of a Market City, according to David O’Neil."
“From agricultural production areas, to smaller markets, to bigger markets, you can really see things changing in Cleveland,” he says. “For a long time, Cleveland was a Market Town, and now institutions like the West Side Market are leading its post-industrial revival. The WSM isn’t a suburban market, but it’s not right downtown -- it was always a neighborhood market. It’s a good lab for seeing the power that a market can have on its town or district. The Ohio City district has become an attractive place to open up a business because of the market. The effect is becoming so positive that it’s affecting the larger city of Cleveland, itself. The market is becoming a sun, and the city is leaning toward it for oxygen, light, and life.”
Read the rest right here.
In a recent post titled " You Are Where You Eat: Re-Focusing Communities Around Markets," the writer discusses the importance of public markets like Cleveland's West Side Market.
"If you want to see a Market City in action, you may want to consider attending the 8th International Public Markets Conference in Cleveland this September. Chosen as the host city because of the role that food is playing in its remarkable turnaround, Cleveland illustrates many of the aspects of a Market City, according to David O’Neil."
“From agricultural production areas, to smaller markets, to bigger markets, you can really see things changing in Cleveland,” he says. “For a long time, Cleveland was a Market Town, and now institutions like the West Side Market are leading its post-industrial revival. The WSM isn’t a suburban market, but it’s not right downtown -- it was always a neighborhood market. It’s a good lab for seeing the power that a market can have on its town or district. The Ohio City district has become an attractive place to open up a business because of the market. The effect is becoming so positive that it’s affecting the larger city of Cleveland, itself. The market is becoming a sun, and the city is leaning toward it for oxygen, light, and life.”
Read the rest right here.
Voss Industries, an employee-owned aerospace and industrial applications company on West 25th Street in Ohio City, is replacing all the windows on its century-old building -- all 650 of 'em.
The investment will help the company to make key improvements to its headquarters on Cleveland's near west side, where it has been since 1957.
"It's been a rather long project," says Voss President and CEO Dan Sedor with a chuckle. "It's a 100-year-old building, so we're refacing it. What's going on in Ohio City is definitely a renaissance, and our company wants to play a small part in it."
"Small" is not the word that accurately describes the outsized ambitions of this half-century-old company that occupies 240,000 square feet in Ohio City, however. Voss has experienced 20-percent growth annually for the past several years, and has hired 80 workers in the last two years alone. The progress, says Sedor, is due to the improving economy and Voss's competitiveness in the marketplace.
"We're a metal manipulator -- we bend it, roll it, stamp it and machine it," says Sedor. "We've been steadily gaining market share by diversifying the markets we serve and also by providing engineering solutions to many of our customers."
Voss has more than 330 employees. Sedor says he likes Ohio City because it offers a convenient, centralized location for employees, who live throughout the region.
Source: Dan Sedor
Writer: Lee Chilcote
The investment will help the company to make key improvements to its headquarters on Cleveland's near west side, where it has been since 1957.
"It's been a rather long project," says Voss President and CEO Dan Sedor with a chuckle. "It's a 100-year-old building, so we're refacing it. What's going on in Ohio City is definitely a renaissance, and our company wants to play a small part in it."
"Small" is not the word that accurately describes the outsized ambitions of this half-century-old company that occupies 240,000 square feet in Ohio City, however. Voss has experienced 20-percent growth annually for the past several years, and has hired 80 workers in the last two years alone. The progress, says Sedor, is due to the improving economy and Voss's competitiveness in the marketplace.
"We're a metal manipulator -- we bend it, roll it, stamp it and machine it," says Sedor. "We've been steadily gaining market share by diversifying the markets we serve and also by providing engineering solutions to many of our customers."
Voss has more than 330 employees. Sedor says he likes Ohio City because it offers a convenient, centralized location for employees, who live throughout the region.
Source: Dan Sedor
Writer: Lee Chilcote
eQED is developing a solar microinverter that will improve the efficiency of solar panels. As with all solar panels, an inverter converts the output from the panel to AC power. Normal setups use one large inverter for an entire string of solar panels. eQED’s technology places one small inverter under each panel, increasing the amount of power gained from each solar panel.
The HIKARI microinverter provides improved energy harvesting, is more reliable than traditional inverters, and is easier to install and requires little maintenance.
“With the microinverter you can adjust each panel individually to adjust for shade or bright sun,” explains John Patrick, chief technical marketing officer. “This way you can extract up to 15 percent more power in shady conditions and five to 10 percent more power in normal conditions.”
eQED’s 250-watt HIKARI solar microinverter earned the company a NorTech 2012 Innovation Award in March. eQED is a partner company of Quality Electrodynamics (QED), a medical imaging company. Both are growing substantially. QED employs 87 people – up from 75 a year ago.
“We probably have five or six openings right now,” says Patrick. “eQED has 10 people, but that number will grow quite a bit as we commercialize the product.” eQED is in the final stages of development before sending it to market. Patrick says they expect to conduct testing on several hundred units later this year and begin commercial shipments in early 2013.
Source: John Patrick
Writer: Karin Connelly
The HIKARI microinverter provides improved energy harvesting, is more reliable than traditional inverters, and is easier to install and requires little maintenance.
“With the microinverter you can adjust each panel individually to adjust for shade or bright sun,” explains John Patrick, chief technical marketing officer. “This way you can extract up to 15 percent more power in shady conditions and five to 10 percent more power in normal conditions.”
eQED’s 250-watt HIKARI solar microinverter earned the company a NorTech 2012 Innovation Award in March. eQED is a partner company of Quality Electrodynamics (QED), a medical imaging company. Both are growing substantially. QED employs 87 people – up from 75 a year ago.
“We probably have five or six openings right now,” says Patrick. “eQED has 10 people, but that number will grow quite a bit as we commercialize the product.” eQED is in the final stages of development before sending it to market. Patrick says they expect to conduct testing on several hundred units later this year and begin commercial shipments in early 2013.
Source: John Patrick
Writer: Karin Connelly
dispatch writes about osu, cleveland clinic partnership
"The Cleveland Clinic and Ohio State University agreed yesterday to join forces in fast-tracking the commercialization of health-care technology, signaling a desire to compete less and collaborate more," writes Ben Sutherly for The Columbus Dispatch.
"In addition to health care, cooperation between the two institutions will focus on venture capital, funding and Third Frontier activities," The Dispatch adds.
"Cleveland Clinic Innovations has filed more than 1,600 patents and formed 48 spinoff companies receiving more than $600 million in equity investment, officials said. Cleveland Clinic Innovations and those spinoffs have generated nearly 1,000 jobs. Wexner Medical Center and Ohio State’s College of Medicine have filed 168 patents and have spun off five health-care companies that have secured about $26 million in equity investment. The number of jobs created wasn’t available yesterday."
Read the rest here.
"In addition to health care, cooperation between the two institutions will focus on venture capital, funding and Third Frontier activities," The Dispatch adds.
"Cleveland Clinic Innovations has filed more than 1,600 patents and formed 48 spinoff companies receiving more than $600 million in equity investment, officials said. Cleveland Clinic Innovations and those spinoffs have generated nearly 1,000 jobs. Wexner Medical Center and Ohio State’s College of Medicine have filed 168 patents and have spun off five health-care companies that have secured about $26 million in equity investment. The number of jobs created wasn’t available yesterday."
Read the rest here.
As a designer and illustrator, Nick Pavlak sees the artistic elements of creating a successful business. From website design to a company logo, he founded BABL Media in April 2011 around the philosophy that art, design and creative thinking can build a better business.
That thought proved to be accurate. A little over a year later, BABL Media has made a reputation for itself, especially among startup companies. “Typically, we work with startups with planning, design, and social media,” Pavlak, who is the company’s creative director, says. “We work with them on logo, color palettes and everything associated with their brand.”
Pavlak started BABL Media based on his graphic design background. “When we started I discovered everyone needs a website,” he recalls. But he soon realized he needed a little more. So when he ran into college friend Robert Clark at a Rochester Institute of Technology reunion, Pavlak asked Clark to join the company as the master developer. Soon after, Andrew Wozniak joined the team as art director. “He’s very good at handling the details,” says Pavlak. This summer, BABL Media was able to hire two paid interns to work on development.
Pavlak and Clark have gone on to form FounderSync with two other partners, a matchmaking site for entrepreneurs. The concept is to pair up entrepreneurs with different skill sets to help each other succeed. Both companies are based out of LaunchHouse.
"Our long term goals for the company are to continue to grow and develop our own process and team so as we can build and innovate great ideas," adds Pavlak. "The more brilliant people we can put together, the more amazing products and technologies we can bring to market. Our end goal is to find the one (or several hopefully) disruptive and ground breaking products that can actually change the world for the better."
Source: Nick Pavlak
Writer: Karin Connelly
That thought proved to be accurate. A little over a year later, BABL Media has made a reputation for itself, especially among startup companies. “Typically, we work with startups with planning, design, and social media,” Pavlak, who is the company’s creative director, says. “We work with them on logo, color palettes and everything associated with their brand.”
Pavlak started BABL Media based on his graphic design background. “When we started I discovered everyone needs a website,” he recalls. But he soon realized he needed a little more. So when he ran into college friend Robert Clark at a Rochester Institute of Technology reunion, Pavlak asked Clark to join the company as the master developer. Soon after, Andrew Wozniak joined the team as art director. “He’s very good at handling the details,” says Pavlak. This summer, BABL Media was able to hire two paid interns to work on development.
Pavlak and Clark have gone on to form FounderSync with two other partners, a matchmaking site for entrepreneurs. The concept is to pair up entrepreneurs with different skill sets to help each other succeed. Both companies are based out of LaunchHouse.
"Our long term goals for the company are to continue to grow and develop our own process and team so as we can build and innovate great ideas," adds Pavlak. "The more brilliant people we can put together, the more amazing products and technologies we can bring to market. Our end goal is to find the one (or several hopefully) disruptive and ground breaking products that can actually change the world for the better."
Source: Nick Pavlak
Writer: Karin Connelly
“By 2015, more people will access the web from their smartphone than from their desktops and laptops,” says EXP president Barb Cagely. In Cleveland, numerous app developers are ahead of the curve, dreaming up mobile apps that do everything from enrich your tourism experience to making sure workers in the field have all the resources they need.
In a wide open office at MAGNET, a manufacturing advocacy organization situated on the Cleveland State University campus, groups of students are fomenting new ideas. They include an innovative pothole patch, social media tools for landlords, an information technology startup and a biofuels company.
These emerging entrepreneurs have found a new launching pad in The Beta Space, a business incubator and coworking space that offers entrepreneurial support, mentoring and advice from industry experts at MAGNET. David Crain, Director of Entrepreneurial Services at MAGNET, says that he came up with the idea as a way to help student entrepreneurs start companies in Cleveland.
"Students are comfortable starting businesses in their dorm rooms, and yet while they might hear of all these great resources within the region, they're often not sure where to go," says Crain. "Once you have a relationship with someone here, it's really easy to walk down the hallway, ask a question and get an answer."
Students admitted into the Beta Space program have access to a wide array of resources at their fingertips. Not only can they use the physical space anytime they want, but they also have access to coaching services from MAGNET's mentors. Finally, they can brainstorm with other student entrepreneurs.
"We coach them on what they're up against and help them put together a business plan," says Crain. "The entrepreneurial education taking place at the college level is starting to have an impact, and we're seeing a quantum leap in student ideas."
The Beta Space also offers free legal, finance and marketing advice to any entrepreneur, a resource that Crain says is unavailable elsewhere.
Source: Dave Crain
Writer: Lee Chilcote
These emerging entrepreneurs have found a new launching pad in The Beta Space, a business incubator and coworking space that offers entrepreneurial support, mentoring and advice from industry experts at MAGNET. David Crain, Director of Entrepreneurial Services at MAGNET, says that he came up with the idea as a way to help student entrepreneurs start companies in Cleveland.
"Students are comfortable starting businesses in their dorm rooms, and yet while they might hear of all these great resources within the region, they're often not sure where to go," says Crain. "Once you have a relationship with someone here, it's really easy to walk down the hallway, ask a question and get an answer."
Students admitted into the Beta Space program have access to a wide array of resources at their fingertips. Not only can they use the physical space anytime they want, but they also have access to coaching services from MAGNET's mentors. Finally, they can brainstorm with other student entrepreneurs.
"We coach them on what they're up against and help them put together a business plan," says Crain. "The entrepreneurial education taking place at the college level is starting to have an impact, and we're seeing a quantum leap in student ideas."
The Beta Space also offers free legal, finance and marketing advice to any entrepreneur, a resource that Crain says is unavailable elsewhere.
Source: Dave Crain
Writer: Lee Chilcote
The Capital Continuum in Northeast Ohio on Thursday, August 2 will feature a panel discussion to help entrepreneurs find ways to access capital for their businesses.
“I believe we’ve created an ecosystem in Northeast Ohio to help entrepreneurs, both public and private,” says Dennis Cocco, manager of the JumpStart Entrepreneurial Network, manager of the Innovation Fund and associate director at Great Lakes Innovation and Development Enterprise (GLIDE). “Entrepreneurship is doing really great in this region, but accessing capital is not the first thing people think about when starting a business.”
A lot of local entrepreneurs are not aware of the funding resources that are available in the area. The Continuum is designed to illustrate all that is out there. “Here we have precious capital we’re trying to dole out to the best entrepreneurs,” says Cocco. “But they’re not like banks, which have big buildings with their names on every corner. It would be a shame if people with a good idea fail because they don’t know we’re out there.”
Panel members include Cocco, Ken Marblestone, president, Charter One and RBS Citizens; Daniel Kellogg, managing director, Crystal Venture Funds; Claiborne Rankin, manager of North Coast Angel Fund; and Jerry Frantz, managing venture partner with JumpStart.
The free event will be held at JumpStart’s offices. Cocco says about 30 people have already signed up and he hopes for 50 or 60. “If 100 show up I’ll be really pleased,” he says.
Registration is required.
Source: Dennis Cocco
Writer: Karin Connelly
“I believe we’ve created an ecosystem in Northeast Ohio to help entrepreneurs, both public and private,” says Dennis Cocco, manager of the JumpStart Entrepreneurial Network, manager of the Innovation Fund and associate director at Great Lakes Innovation and Development Enterprise (GLIDE). “Entrepreneurship is doing really great in this region, but accessing capital is not the first thing people think about when starting a business.”
A lot of local entrepreneurs are not aware of the funding resources that are available in the area. The Continuum is designed to illustrate all that is out there. “Here we have precious capital we’re trying to dole out to the best entrepreneurs,” says Cocco. “But they’re not like banks, which have big buildings with their names on every corner. It would be a shame if people with a good idea fail because they don’t know we’re out there.”
Panel members include Cocco, Ken Marblestone, president, Charter One and RBS Citizens; Daniel Kellogg, managing director, Crystal Venture Funds; Claiborne Rankin, manager of North Coast Angel Fund; and Jerry Frantz, managing venture partner with JumpStart.
The free event will be held at JumpStart’s offices. Cocco says about 30 people have already signed up and he hopes for 50 or 60. “If 100 show up I’ll be really pleased,” he says.
Registration is required.
Source: Dennis Cocco
Writer: Karin Connelly
How do you export an entire region? That's the question Northeast Ohio's promoters are pondering as the investment in local tourism is projected to reach into the billions of dollars over the next few years. Harnessing the economic power of the tourism industry means telling the world loud and proud, "Northeast Ohio is the place to be."
Bringing the 18-county Cleveland Plus region to the disposable income-flush masses should not be a hard sell these days, says Lexi Hotchkiss, director of communications with Positively Cleveland, the region's tourism and economic development group.
Cuyahoga County alone is undergoing a $2 billion tourism investment revival over the next five years, a confluence of high-profile projects including a new casino, a medical mart and convention center, and the dramatic renovation of Cleveland's illustrious art museum.
"Two-billion is not chump change," says Hotchkiss. "It's a big deal that can have a domino effect [on the area]."
Tourism is bigger business locally than many people realize, adds Hotchkiss. The industry is Cuyahoga County's fourth-largest employer. In 2011, 30 million people visited the Cleveland Plus region, sustaining 163,000 jobs with $13 billion in economic impact. During that same time frame, 14 million visitors decended upon Cleveland, supporting 61,000 jobs.
(Continue reading...)
Bringing the 18-county Cleveland Plus region to the disposable income-flush masses should not be a hard sell these days, says Lexi Hotchkiss, director of communications with Positively Cleveland, the region's tourism and economic development group.
Cuyahoga County alone is undergoing a $2 billion tourism investment revival over the next five years, a confluence of high-profile projects including a new casino, a medical mart and convention center, and the dramatic renovation of Cleveland's illustrious art museum.
"Two-billion is not chump change," says Hotchkiss. "It's a big deal that can have a domino effect [on the area]."
Tourism is bigger business locally than many people realize, adds Hotchkiss. The industry is Cuyahoga County's fourth-largest employer. In 2011, 30 million people visited the Cleveland Plus region, sustaining 163,000 jobs with $13 billion in economic impact. During that same time frame, 14 million visitors decended upon Cleveland, supporting 61,000 jobs.
(Continue reading...)
A healthcare industry vet and resident of Cleveland since 1982, Jim Bennett was hired in April by developer MMPI Inc. to oversee the $465 million medical mart and convention center. The complex is expected to draw 200,000 visitors annually, add thousands of new jobs, and generate about $50-$75 million in economic impact per year.
venturebeat suggests investing venture capital in ohio
"For investors looking to go off the beaten track to find quality deals, Ohio might be the answer," Mitchell Rosich, partner at Athenian Venture Partners, writes in VentureBeat.
"According to the most recent Ohio Venture Capital Report, venture capital activity in Ohio was up more than 80 percent in 2010, surpassing the national average, which was up only 20 percent."
An increase in pre- and seed-stage investments amounting to $183.8 million is paid to angel groups and state programs.
What makes Ohio so ripe for investment?
1. Untapped investment opportunities: Ohio has significant deal flow in two of the most dynamic market segments — healthcare and information technology.
2. Attractive deals for the right price: Ohio is full of quality investment opportunities that are not typical “club” deals, allowing venture firms to avoid overpaying.
3. Long-term vision: Midwestern investors are more likely to back companies that actually create something tangible – such as a new medical device or electronics products due to the region’s supply chain assets and sophisticated manufacturing workforce.
4. Supporting its entrepreneurs: Ohio has an abundance of resources for entrepreneurs across the state to help them along the way and to get their ideas out. A select few include TechColoumbus, TechGrowth, CincyTech, and JumpStart.
"Investing in Ohio will continue to reap impressive returns over the next 10 years."
Read the rest right here.
"According to the most recent Ohio Venture Capital Report, venture capital activity in Ohio was up more than 80 percent in 2010, surpassing the national average, which was up only 20 percent."
An increase in pre- and seed-stage investments amounting to $183.8 million is paid to angel groups and state programs.
What makes Ohio so ripe for investment?
1. Untapped investment opportunities: Ohio has significant deal flow in two of the most dynamic market segments — healthcare and information technology.
2. Attractive deals for the right price: Ohio is full of quality investment opportunities that are not typical “club” deals, allowing venture firms to avoid overpaying.
3. Long-term vision: Midwestern investors are more likely to back companies that actually create something tangible – such as a new medical device or electronics products due to the region’s supply chain assets and sophisticated manufacturing workforce.
4. Supporting its entrepreneurs: Ohio has an abundance of resources for entrepreneurs across the state to help them along the way and to get their ideas out. A select few include TechColoumbus, TechGrowth, CincyTech, and JumpStart.
"Investing in Ohio will continue to reap impressive returns over the next 10 years."
Read the rest right here.