Venture for America, a non-profit group that places new college grads in startup companies, is coming to Cleveland. The New York-based organization focuses on placing new college grads in jobs at startups in cities with a low cost of living and in the process of revitalization.
“The goal is to create young entrepreneurs,” explains VFA vice president of corporate development Mike Tarullo. “Too many of our best and brightest are going into big firms and too few are going into growth businesses and startups.” Ultimately, the hope is that the fellows will become successful entrepreneurs themselves in the cities where they are assigned.
The VFA team scours college campuses for recruits. The grads then spend two years in startup or growing companies, getting hands-on experience in developing a company. The employers pay the fellows $36,000 a year.
VFA launched 18 months ago with 40 fellows in five cities: Cincinnati, Detroit, New Orleans, Providence and Las Vegas. This year the organization expanded to Cleveland and Baltimore. The concept is modeled after the Teach for America program, which places new teachers in underserved schools.
“We identify cities that are kind of reinventing themselves through entrepreneurship industries,” says Tarullo. “A lot of it is about preventing brain drain.” The VFA wants to create 100,000 new jobs by 2025 by helping young companies expand and train new college graduates to become business builders and job creators.
The organization has identified 25 possible Cleveland companies, and Tarullo has already talked to more than 10 companies that are interested in hiring a fellow. “They are all different sizes in all industries,” he says. “The common thread is great leadership and exciting growth opportunities. The fellows can cut their teeth and spend a couple of years learning and growing.”
VFA plans to send eight to 10 fellows to Cleveland each year. Tarullo has relied on area support organizations to identify companies. “JumpStart and Bizdom have played a huge role,” he says. “They have welcomed us to the community and introduced us to the right people.”
Source: Mike Tarullo
Writer: Karin Connelly
“The goal is to create young entrepreneurs,” explains VFA vice president of corporate development Mike Tarullo. “Too many of our best and brightest are going into big firms and too few are going into growth businesses and startups.” Ultimately, the hope is that the fellows will become successful entrepreneurs themselves in the cities where they are assigned.
The VFA team scours college campuses for recruits. The grads then spend two years in startup or growing companies, getting hands-on experience in developing a company. The employers pay the fellows $36,000 a year.
VFA launched 18 months ago with 40 fellows in five cities: Cincinnati, Detroit, New Orleans, Providence and Las Vegas. This year the organization expanded to Cleveland and Baltimore. The concept is modeled after the Teach for America program, which places new teachers in underserved schools.
“We identify cities that are kind of reinventing themselves through entrepreneurship industries,” says Tarullo. “A lot of it is about preventing brain drain.” The VFA wants to create 100,000 new jobs by 2025 by helping young companies expand and train new college graduates to become business builders and job creators.
The organization has identified 25 possible Cleveland companies, and Tarullo has already talked to more than 10 companies that are interested in hiring a fellow. “They are all different sizes in all industries,” he says. “The common thread is great leadership and exciting growth opportunities. The fellows can cut their teeth and spend a couple of years learning and growing.”
VFA plans to send eight to 10 fellows to Cleveland each year. Tarullo has relied on area support organizations to identify companies. “JumpStart and Bizdom have played a huge role,” he says. “They have welcomed us to the community and introduced us to the right people.”
Source: Mike Tarullo
Writer: Karin Connelly
The city of Beachwood already is home to 2,500 businesses, and the city has long taken pride in providing services and amenities that make the city an attractive place to locate. Now Beachwood is launching a grant program to further entice new businesses and encourage existing businesses to expand.
The Job Creation Incentive Grant Program offers annual grant payments to companies. The payments are based on a percentage of payroll withholding taxes generated by new jobs. Businesses that relocate to Beachwood must create a minimum of 30 full-time jobs or a minimum annual payroll of $1 million within three years. An existing Beachwood company that expands within the city also qualifies for the grant under the same rules. Retail and food service businesses are not eligible.
Mayor Merle S. Gorden and city council must approve each grant application.
“We know that expansion of business is very important to the wellbeing of the community,” says Beachwood economic development director Jim Doutt. “Payroll is subject to income tax. A company would be able to get back some of that tax if it locates here.”
The program is just the first step in a larger economic development plan recommended after Gorden commissioned a study last October to position Beachwood for future business growth. City council approved the program on Feb. 4.
“This is just one element of a larger incentive framework we’ll be putting in place,” Doutt says. He has no estimates on how many jobs the incentive program may create in the city. “It’s anyone’s guess; we just hope it spurs job growth.”
Source: Jim Doutt
Writer: Karin Connelly
The Job Creation Incentive Grant Program offers annual grant payments to companies. The payments are based on a percentage of payroll withholding taxes generated by new jobs. Businesses that relocate to Beachwood must create a minimum of 30 full-time jobs or a minimum annual payroll of $1 million within three years. An existing Beachwood company that expands within the city also qualifies for the grant under the same rules. Retail and food service businesses are not eligible.
Mayor Merle S. Gorden and city council must approve each grant application.
“We know that expansion of business is very important to the wellbeing of the community,” says Beachwood economic development director Jim Doutt. “Payroll is subject to income tax. A company would be able to get back some of that tax if it locates here.”
The program is just the first step in a larger economic development plan recommended after Gorden commissioned a study last October to position Beachwood for future business growth. City council approved the program on Feb. 4.
“This is just one element of a larger incentive framework we’ll be putting in place,” Doutt says. He has no estimates on how many jobs the incentive program may create in the city. “It’s anyone’s guess; we just hope it spurs job growth.”
Source: Jim Doutt
Writer: Karin Connelly
For the second year in a row, Amplified Wind Solutions competed in the Ohio Clean Energy Challenge. This year the company won $10,000 and a trip to Chicago for a chance to win $100,000 in the Midwest competition.
Amplified Wind Solutions has designed a wind amplification system that can produce up to six times more electricity than a typical wind turbine. The company is targeting the telecommunications industry.
AWS CEO and co-founder Niki Zmij had eight minutes to present the company to the competition judges. They were the second company to present, but Zmij felt prepared and that she answered the judges’ questions well. Apparently, she was right.
“The winner was not to be announced until the awards reception at the very end of the day, but during our judges’ feedback session they decided to tell us early that we had won,” says Zmij. “They said our presentation really set the bar for the entire day, and wanted to ask us to present again at the awards ceremony so the other teams could hear our pitch. It was such a huge compliment.”
AWS is a Cleveland State University company co-founded in February 2012 based on technology invented by Majid Rashidi, chair of CSU’s engineering technology department. Other company members include Terry Thiele, director of sustainable product strategies at Lubrizol Corporation and Jon Stehura, financial manager at Laird Technologies and former CFO of Park Ohio.
The company has prototypes at CSU and Progressive Field. They have now completed designs for a third prototype, and Zmij is in discussions with several telecom companies about installing the pilot model on their towers. They are also looking for a manufacturing partner. Zmij predicts AWS will be ready for commercial sale in 2014.
If AWS wins the Midwest challenge in Chicago, the company will proceed to the national competition, for a chance to win an additional $100,000.
Zmij will earn her MBA in August and will stay with AWS full-time. “I'm fairly certain the entrepreneurial bug has given me the entrepreneurial virus,” she says. “I don't anticipate it going away any time soon.”
The company anticipates hiring additional staff in the third quarter of this year.
Source: Niki Zmij
Writer: Karin Connelly
Amplified Wind Solutions has designed a wind amplification system that can produce up to six times more electricity than a typical wind turbine. The company is targeting the telecommunications industry.
AWS CEO and co-founder Niki Zmij had eight minutes to present the company to the competition judges. They were the second company to present, but Zmij felt prepared and that she answered the judges’ questions well. Apparently, she was right.
“The winner was not to be announced until the awards reception at the very end of the day, but during our judges’ feedback session they decided to tell us early that we had won,” says Zmij. “They said our presentation really set the bar for the entire day, and wanted to ask us to present again at the awards ceremony so the other teams could hear our pitch. It was such a huge compliment.”
AWS is a Cleveland State University company co-founded in February 2012 based on technology invented by Majid Rashidi, chair of CSU’s engineering technology department. Other company members include Terry Thiele, director of sustainable product strategies at Lubrizol Corporation and Jon Stehura, financial manager at Laird Technologies and former CFO of Park Ohio.
The company has prototypes at CSU and Progressive Field. They have now completed designs for a third prototype, and Zmij is in discussions with several telecom companies about installing the pilot model on their towers. They are also looking for a manufacturing partner. Zmij predicts AWS will be ready for commercial sale in 2014.
If AWS wins the Midwest challenge in Chicago, the company will proceed to the national competition, for a chance to win an additional $100,000.
Zmij will earn her MBA in August and will stay with AWS full-time. “I'm fairly certain the entrepreneurial bug has given me the entrepreneurial virus,” she says. “I don't anticipate it going away any time soon.”
The company anticipates hiring additional staff in the third quarter of this year.
Source: Niki Zmij
Writer: Karin Connelly
TOA, a developer and provider of field service and mobile management applications, was named to the Forbes Most Promising Companies in America list, ranking 81 out of 100 and the only Ohio company on the list of privately-held, high-growth companies. TOA went through a rigorous application process to be chosen from thousands of applicants.
“It’s a big honor for us,” says John Opdycke, TOA’s vice president of worldwide marketing. Opdycke and others involved kept the application process a secret until they found out they made the list last week. “Co-founder Yuval Brisker was just over the moon.”
Criteria for the honor included sales and hiring growth, quality of the management team and investors, market size and key partnerships. “It says TOA is a great place to work, our technology solves a problem that reaches a lot of people and we’re recognized as a technology innovator,” says Opdycke.
TOA’s ETAdirect Mobility App provides accurate, up-to-the-minute workforce management on any browser for in-home services – making sure the service people arrive on time.
The Forbes recognition is not only good for TOA’s business, but it helps put Cleveland on the map for technology business as a whole. “We absolutely enjoy and embrace the role of visionary of technology in Northeast Ohio,” says Opdycke. “You think the only companies on the list are in the Silicon Valley, New York or Boston. But you can be doing technology in Cleveland and doing business all over the world.”
Opdycke says the title helps attract top talent and customers from around the country, as well as locally. “It’s a great acknowledgement that we’re a company on the move and were growing,” he says. “It helps us attract people -- the best and the brightest -- retain our customers and attract new customers."
TOA employs 425 people worldwide, with more than 50 in its Beachwood headquarters. Opdycke predicts significant growth in the upcoming year, while continuing to foster creativity among TOA’s current employees and providing top customer service.
Source: John Opdycke
Writer: Karin Connelly
“It’s a big honor for us,” says John Opdycke, TOA’s vice president of worldwide marketing. Opdycke and others involved kept the application process a secret until they found out they made the list last week. “Co-founder Yuval Brisker was just over the moon.”
Criteria for the honor included sales and hiring growth, quality of the management team and investors, market size and key partnerships. “It says TOA is a great place to work, our technology solves a problem that reaches a lot of people and we’re recognized as a technology innovator,” says Opdycke.
TOA’s ETAdirect Mobility App provides accurate, up-to-the-minute workforce management on any browser for in-home services – making sure the service people arrive on time.
The Forbes recognition is not only good for TOA’s business, but it helps put Cleveland on the map for technology business as a whole. “We absolutely enjoy and embrace the role of visionary of technology in Northeast Ohio,” says Opdycke. “You think the only companies on the list are in the Silicon Valley, New York or Boston. But you can be doing technology in Cleveland and doing business all over the world.”
Opdycke says the title helps attract top talent and customers from around the country, as well as locally. “It’s a great acknowledgement that we’re a company on the move and were growing,” he says. “It helps us attract people -- the best and the brightest -- retain our customers and attract new customers."
TOA employs 425 people worldwide, with more than 50 in its Beachwood headquarters. Opdycke predicts significant growth in the upcoming year, while continuing to foster creativity among TOA’s current employees and providing top customer service.
Source: John Opdycke
Writer: Karin Connelly
Shaker LaunchHouse raised $15,000 at its second annual gala, held last week at Crawford Galleries of Western Reserve Historical Society. The money will help support Cleveland’s budding entrepreneurs. More than 260 attended the event, which was sponsored by the Shaker Heights Development Corporation.
“It was huge,” says LaunchHouse co-founder Todd Goldstein. “There were entrepreneurs, business leaders, successful CEOs of companies and people from the city of Shaker Heights. We even had people who flew in from out of state. It was a broad range of people supporting the entrepreneur community.”
The money will be used to support LaunchHouse startups and for programming. Specifically, Freebie Fridays, when people can come into the offices to work and pitch their ideas, will continue. LaunchHouse will also continue its support of the LightHouse Entrepreneurial Accelerator Program (LEAP), a program targeted at high school students.
Goldstein points out that LaunchHouse staff will assist anyone with an idea. “We never turn an entrepreneur away,” he says. “If an entrepreneur shows up at our door, we’ll work with them. And we’ve helped hundreds of small business owners who come in on Thursdays for open office hours and one-on-one business advice from our team members.”
Since its founding in 2009, LaunchHouse has invested in more than 40 companies, with more than 100 working directly out of LaunchHouse.
“Our advanced goal is to be an idea hub in the region,” says Goldstein. “Seeing that many people come out really is a testament to all the entrepreneurial activity happening in Shaker Heights.”
Stephanie Colangelo, director of public relations and marketing, adds that LaunchHouse has a solid relationship with other entrepreneurial support organizations. “If something is not necessarily for LaunchHouse, we direct them to JumpStart or Bizdom,” she explains. “And they do the same for us.”
Source: Todd Goldstein, Stephanie Colangelo
Writer: Karin Connelly
“It was huge,” says LaunchHouse co-founder Todd Goldstein. “There were entrepreneurs, business leaders, successful CEOs of companies and people from the city of Shaker Heights. We even had people who flew in from out of state. It was a broad range of people supporting the entrepreneur community.”
The money will be used to support LaunchHouse startups and for programming. Specifically, Freebie Fridays, when people can come into the offices to work and pitch their ideas, will continue. LaunchHouse will also continue its support of the LightHouse Entrepreneurial Accelerator Program (LEAP), a program targeted at high school students.
Goldstein points out that LaunchHouse staff will assist anyone with an idea. “We never turn an entrepreneur away,” he says. “If an entrepreneur shows up at our door, we’ll work with them. And we’ve helped hundreds of small business owners who come in on Thursdays for open office hours and one-on-one business advice from our team members.”
Since its founding in 2009, LaunchHouse has invested in more than 40 companies, with more than 100 working directly out of LaunchHouse.
“Our advanced goal is to be an idea hub in the region,” says Goldstein. “Seeing that many people come out really is a testament to all the entrepreneurial activity happening in Shaker Heights.”
Stephanie Colangelo, director of public relations and marketing, adds that LaunchHouse has a solid relationship with other entrepreneurial support organizations. “If something is not necessarily for LaunchHouse, we direct them to JumpStart or Bizdom,” she explains. “And they do the same for us.”
Source: Todd Goldstein, Stephanie Colangelo
Writer: Karin Connelly
4 Walls, a Cleveland designer and manufacturer of digital wall coverings for residential and commercial markets, has partnered with Sherwin-Williams in a new program, SurroundDecor.
The program caters primarily to the health care, hospitality, retail and corporate markets, and features new original digital designs printed on premium recycled PVC-free material. Customers choose their designs, colors and sizes and SurroundDesign creates custom murals for their spaces.
4 Walls and Sherwin-Williams are long term partners, and SurroundDecor is a natural fit, says4 Walls founder Patrick Walker.
“We have a good and close relationship with the decor group at Sherwin Williams, and have for many years,” he says. “They are familiar with our commitment to quality in both product design and manufacturing. When we presented the program, they felt we'd be a great partner.”
Sherwin-Williams announced the program at its annual show last week. Their sales network will handle initial requests and quotes, then 4 Walls will take over. “They not only handle 100-percent of the sales process with their rep network, but they also field the incoming requests for quotes and information,” says Walker “As soon as the questions get more complex and technical -- things we like to handle and take off their plate -- they pass the calls to us. They are great to work with, and provide solid guidance regarding their needs, and those of their customers.”
Because one order can typically take between three and 12 months to complete, Walker anticipates sales in the SurroundDecor program to ramp up by second quarter of this year. “We are planning for 15 to 20 percent sales growth, and to hire one to two additional people,” Walker predicts. “This is our forecast, and is certainly achievable. Getting there will of course depend on both the overall economy and the trends in our industry. As always, we are cautiously optimistic.”
Source: Patrick Walker
Writer: Karin Connelly
The program caters primarily to the health care, hospitality, retail and corporate markets, and features new original digital designs printed on premium recycled PVC-free material. Customers choose their designs, colors and sizes and SurroundDesign creates custom murals for their spaces.
4 Walls and Sherwin-Williams are long term partners, and SurroundDecor is a natural fit, says4 Walls founder Patrick Walker.
“We have a good and close relationship with the decor group at Sherwin Williams, and have for many years,” he says. “They are familiar with our commitment to quality in both product design and manufacturing. When we presented the program, they felt we'd be a great partner.”
Sherwin-Williams announced the program at its annual show last week. Their sales network will handle initial requests and quotes, then 4 Walls will take over. “They not only handle 100-percent of the sales process with their rep network, but they also field the incoming requests for quotes and information,” says Walker “As soon as the questions get more complex and technical -- things we like to handle and take off their plate -- they pass the calls to us. They are great to work with, and provide solid guidance regarding their needs, and those of their customers.”
Because one order can typically take between three and 12 months to complete, Walker anticipates sales in the SurroundDecor program to ramp up by second quarter of this year. “We are planning for 15 to 20 percent sales growth, and to hire one to two additional people,” Walker predicts. “This is our forecast, and is certainly achievable. Getting there will of course depend on both the overall economy and the trends in our industry. As always, we are cautiously optimistic.”
Source: Patrick Walker
Writer: Karin Connelly
SafeCare, which provides continuous monitoring and background checks of employees in the healthcare industry, received a $25,000 grant in November from the Innovation Fund. The money will help SafeCare expand and refocus the company, which was formed out of Bizdom Cleveland’s inaugural class in April 2012.
The grant will allow SafeCare to concentrate more on the B2B market, rather than the consumer market. The company monitors employees on a monthly basis against nationwide healthcare and criminal public data sources.
“We will be using that money to really concentrate on flushing out our B2B offerings,” explains SafeCare founder and CEO Lissette Rivera. “We’re moving away from consumer products because of the sticky situations you can have when you share people’s information.”
SafeCare is in the process of re-designing their website to create a more personal feel. “We’re focused on providers rather than families, and our website will have a more warm and fuzzy feel,” Rivera says. The new website should launch by the end of this month.
SafeCare has three clients spanning nine healthcare facilities. Rivera has grown the company to four employees -- a CTO, two contract employees and a paid intern -- and is hoping to hire a salesperson in the next six months. “We’re fast moving in the direction of creating more and more jobs,” boasts Rivera.
Source: Lissette Rivera
Writer: Karin Connelly
The grant will allow SafeCare to concentrate more on the B2B market, rather than the consumer market. The company monitors employees on a monthly basis against nationwide healthcare and criminal public data sources.
“We will be using that money to really concentrate on flushing out our B2B offerings,” explains SafeCare founder and CEO Lissette Rivera. “We’re moving away from consumer products because of the sticky situations you can have when you share people’s information.”
SafeCare is in the process of re-designing their website to create a more personal feel. “We’re focused on providers rather than families, and our website will have a more warm and fuzzy feel,” Rivera says. The new website should launch by the end of this month.
SafeCare has three clients spanning nine healthcare facilities. Rivera has grown the company to four employees -- a CTO, two contract employees and a paid intern -- and is hoping to hire a salesperson in the next six months. “We’re fast moving in the direction of creating more and more jobs,” boasts Rivera.
Source: Lissette Rivera
Writer: Karin Connelly
Salaries for technology professionals working in Cleveland rose by double percentage points over last year, according to the 2013-2012 Dice Salary Survey from Dice, a career site for technology and engineer professionals.
Salaries for tech and engineering jobs rose 11 percent in the city, compared to the national average of just 5.3 percent. The average salary in 2012 was $75,773, compared to $68,519 in 2011 and $65,045 in 2007, according to the report.
“It’s really good to see, from a career perspective, salaries going up,” says NEOSA director Brad Nellis. “We like to see more students go into IT after high school because the pipeline is not full enough. The salaries drive more interest among students to go into IT.”
Nellis reports that 82 percent of NEOSA companies had job openings last year, and 73 percent expected to add staff this year. Given Cleveland’s cost of living, the salary increase gives the area an advantage, especially when the 11 percent growth ranked Cleveland fifth out of the seven cities that saw double digit tech salary growth.
While some of the smaller and startup tech companies in the region may struggle a bit to offer the higher salaries, JumpStart recruiter Kara Hornikel says these companies are also eager to attract the best employees. “Our startups want to attract and retain top talent,” she says, adding that one third of the 50 to 70 open jobs at JumpStart companies are in IT.
There are advantages to working at a startup tech firm too. “It’s a lot more exciting for a developer to work in a startup environment,” says Hornikel. “They get a lot more say from start to finish and they get to stretch their creative skills.”
The increase gives technology companies in Cleveland the ability to attract and retain talented employees from both within and outside the region. “Northeast Ohio is starting to recognize how important attraction and retention is,” says Sean Turner, senior recruiter at JumpStart. “We’re trying to be more competitive about attracting talent here. With the salary increases compared to the national average and the cost of doing business here, you get more bang for your buck.”
Sources: Brad Nellis, Kara Hornikel, Sean Turner
Writer: Karin Connelly
Salaries for tech and engineering jobs rose 11 percent in the city, compared to the national average of just 5.3 percent. The average salary in 2012 was $75,773, compared to $68,519 in 2011 and $65,045 in 2007, according to the report.
“It’s really good to see, from a career perspective, salaries going up,” says NEOSA director Brad Nellis. “We like to see more students go into IT after high school because the pipeline is not full enough. The salaries drive more interest among students to go into IT.”
Nellis reports that 82 percent of NEOSA companies had job openings last year, and 73 percent expected to add staff this year. Given Cleveland’s cost of living, the salary increase gives the area an advantage, especially when the 11 percent growth ranked Cleveland fifth out of the seven cities that saw double digit tech salary growth.
While some of the smaller and startup tech companies in the region may struggle a bit to offer the higher salaries, JumpStart recruiter Kara Hornikel says these companies are also eager to attract the best employees. “Our startups want to attract and retain top talent,” she says, adding that one third of the 50 to 70 open jobs at JumpStart companies are in IT.
There are advantages to working at a startup tech firm too. “It’s a lot more exciting for a developer to work in a startup environment,” says Hornikel. “They get a lot more say from start to finish and they get to stretch their creative skills.”
The increase gives technology companies in Cleveland the ability to attract and retain talented employees from both within and outside the region. “Northeast Ohio is starting to recognize how important attraction and retention is,” says Sean Turner, senior recruiter at JumpStart. “We’re trying to be more competitive about attracting talent here. With the salary increases compared to the national average and the cost of doing business here, you get more bang for your buck.”
Sources: Brad Nellis, Kara Hornikel, Sean Turner
Writer: Karin Connelly
In 2012, Northeast Ohio was a popular place for venture capitalists and angel investors to back startup companies. Investments nationally decreased by 10 percent last year, and decreased in the rest of Ohio by 33 percent, according to a study in The MoneyTree Report by PricewaterhouseCoopers and the National Venture Capital Association.
But in Northeast Ohio, according to the Northeast Ohio Venture Capital Advisory Task Force, 105 tech-based companies in Greater Cleveland raised $201 million from venture capitalists and angel investors -- a 34-percent increase over the amount raised by companies in 2011.
“We’ve been on an upward trajectory of the number of companies that have been able to raise money,” says Samantha Fryberger, vice president of marketing for JumpStart. “There’s a strong angel community here and our angels are well organized and well educated.”
In fact, Northeast Ohio has the first and fifth largest angel funds in the country. Fryberger says the diversity of businesses and the number of support organizations attract investors to Northeast Ohio.
“We have a very robust early-stage investment ecosystem right here in Northeast Ohio,” says Clay Rankin, managing member of the North Coast Angel Fund, which invests in life sciences companies and is the country’s fifth largest angel group. “We’ve been building a lot of momentum in the last six to eight years. We’ve been very fortunate in supporting early stage ventures.”
Citing successful companies like Juventas Therapeutics, Cleveland HeartLab and Neuros Medical, Rankin says it’s no wonder Cleveland is growing in investments. “There really are world class companies being developed right here in our backyard,” he says. “When you have world class companies, you attract support from angel groups.”
Source: Samantha Fryberger and Clay Rankin
Writer: Karin Connelly
But in Northeast Ohio, according to the Northeast Ohio Venture Capital Advisory Task Force, 105 tech-based companies in Greater Cleveland raised $201 million from venture capitalists and angel investors -- a 34-percent increase over the amount raised by companies in 2011.
“We’ve been on an upward trajectory of the number of companies that have been able to raise money,” says Samantha Fryberger, vice president of marketing for JumpStart. “There’s a strong angel community here and our angels are well organized and well educated.”
In fact, Northeast Ohio has the first and fifth largest angel funds in the country. Fryberger says the diversity of businesses and the number of support organizations attract investors to Northeast Ohio.
“We have a very robust early-stage investment ecosystem right here in Northeast Ohio,” says Clay Rankin, managing member of the North Coast Angel Fund, which invests in life sciences companies and is the country’s fifth largest angel group. “We’ve been building a lot of momentum in the last six to eight years. We’ve been very fortunate in supporting early stage ventures.”
Citing successful companies like Juventas Therapeutics, Cleveland HeartLab and Neuros Medical, Rankin says it’s no wonder Cleveland is growing in investments. “There really are world class companies being developed right here in our backyard,” he says. “When you have world class companies, you attract support from angel groups.”
Source: Samantha Fryberger and Clay Rankin
Writer: Karin Connelly
Jenni Baker and three of her friends were talking one day and realized they all had some degree of background in event planning. The realization sparked an idea. “We decided to come together and form this company,” says Baker.
So, in January 2012, Baker, Holly Lauch, Timi Kormos and Jane Diemer started Cardigan Events. Baker and Lauch work on the development and business side of the company, while Diemer and Kormos apply their talents on the creative and design side.
Instead of just serving as another party planning company, Cardigan focuses on helping clients attain certain goals with respect to their events. “We’re really focused on events for companies trying to reach specific objectives,” says Baker. “Whether it’s raising awareness -- helping nonprofits tell their stories or raise supporters -- or showcasing a new program or facility, we really try to hone in on the reasons to have the event.”
Cardigan’s first event was a fundraising dinner for St. Vincent DePaul. Other clients include a March Madness fundraising event for In it Together, a support organization for families of children with cancer, and the Catholic Community Foundation.
“I never thought that working on this kind of stuff could be so much fun,” says Baker. “Someone said to us, ‘All of this gives me a headache.’ So our unofficial motto became, ‘Your headache is our fun.”
Source: Jenni Baker
Writer: Karin Connelly
So, in January 2012, Baker, Holly Lauch, Timi Kormos and Jane Diemer started Cardigan Events. Baker and Lauch work on the development and business side of the company, while Diemer and Kormos apply their talents on the creative and design side.
Instead of just serving as another party planning company, Cardigan focuses on helping clients attain certain goals with respect to their events. “We’re really focused on events for companies trying to reach specific objectives,” says Baker. “Whether it’s raising awareness -- helping nonprofits tell their stories or raise supporters -- or showcasing a new program or facility, we really try to hone in on the reasons to have the event.”
Cardigan’s first event was a fundraising dinner for St. Vincent DePaul. Other clients include a March Madness fundraising event for In it Together, a support organization for families of children with cancer, and the Catholic Community Foundation.
“I never thought that working on this kind of stuff could be so much fun,” says Baker. “Someone said to us, ‘All of this gives me a headache.’ So our unofficial motto became, ‘Your headache is our fun.”
Source: Jenni Baker
Writer: Karin Connelly
Great Lakes NeuroTechnologies (GLNT), which creates biomedical technologies for the treatment of movement disorders, announced last week that they will be leading a study to improve algorithms for deep brain stimulation in treating Parkinson’s disease.
The study will use GLNT’s Kinesia technology and is funded by a $283,828 phase I Small Business Innovative Research grant from the National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. It will take place at the University of Alabama at Birmingham this spring.
Deep brain stimulation involves implanting an electrode in a certain area of the brain to treat the side effects of Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders. But the technology has varied results. GLNT hopes to improve the outcomes.
“Implanting the electrode is more art than science right now,” says Dustin Heldman, biomedical researcher and principal investigator for GLNT, explaining that outcomes depend on amplitude and frequency -- leaving a lot of variables on the individual programmer.
“With the existing Kinesia system we’re trying to level the playing field for everyone by making an objective standard way of programming,” explains Heldman. “We’re taking the guesswork out of it.”
While phase I will just collect preliminary data, deep brain stimulation could be another application for GLNT’s Kinesia. “It’s great for us,” Heldman says. “We have this sensor technology now, it’s released and it’s FDA cleared. This is just another application. Assuming we get good results, we'll apply for a much larger study.”
GLNT grew from 15 to 23 employees last year, and is hiring three additional people now.
Source: Dustin Heldman
Writer: Karin Connelly
The study will use GLNT’s Kinesia technology and is funded by a $283,828 phase I Small Business Innovative Research grant from the National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. It will take place at the University of Alabama at Birmingham this spring.
Deep brain stimulation involves implanting an electrode in a certain area of the brain to treat the side effects of Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders. But the technology has varied results. GLNT hopes to improve the outcomes.
“Implanting the electrode is more art than science right now,” says Dustin Heldman, biomedical researcher and principal investigator for GLNT, explaining that outcomes depend on amplitude and frequency -- leaving a lot of variables on the individual programmer.
“With the existing Kinesia system we’re trying to level the playing field for everyone by making an objective standard way of programming,” explains Heldman. “We’re taking the guesswork out of it.”
While phase I will just collect preliminary data, deep brain stimulation could be another application for GLNT’s Kinesia. “It’s great for us,” Heldman says. “We have this sensor technology now, it’s released and it’s FDA cleared. This is just another application. Assuming we get good results, we'll apply for a much larger study.”
GLNT grew from 15 to 23 employees last year, and is hiring three additional people now.
Source: Dustin Heldman
Writer: Karin Connelly
What began as a game and website development company in 1996 has blossomed into a thriving developer of software products.
After creating internal software that allowed UrbanCode to track the progress of its own software development projects, the company began developing similar products for its customers. UrbanCode products help their customers get their software to production faster -- decreasing time to market and ultimately getting their technology to the end users quickly and easily.
“One trait that unites all our customers is that they realize the strategic importance of their technology,” says Maciej Zawadzki, UrbanCode cofounder and CEO. “They need to get their technology into the hands of end users as quickly as possible. Our products facilitate the adoption of Agile methodologies in development and DevOps practices in operations."
Last year, UrbanCode was a finalist for Tech Company of the Year in NEOSA’s Best of Tech Awards, and its AnthillPro product won Best Software Product, Impact in 2008.
By recognizing their clients’ needs, UrbanCode has been growing by leaps and bounds. “Recently, we have been focused on DevOps releasing three new products: uDeploy, uBuild and uRelease,” says Tracy Gavlak, UrbanCode’s office manager. “We have been able to increase our growth rate to 70 percent over the last two years, with no signs of slowing down.”
UrbanCode has grown from 25 employees to 55 in the past year. Gavlak cites finding the right talent as one of the company’s biggest challenges. The company is currently recruiting sales engineers, field sales executives and software developers.
“We have the energy and informal atmosphere of a start-up, with the customers and financial security of a much larger firm” says Gavlak.
Company officials expect to double in size again this year. Plans are underway to move to a larger space in the Halle Building later this year.
Source: Maciej Zawadzki and Tracy Gavlak
Writer: Karin Connelly
After creating internal software that allowed UrbanCode to track the progress of its own software development projects, the company began developing similar products for its customers. UrbanCode products help their customers get their software to production faster -- decreasing time to market and ultimately getting their technology to the end users quickly and easily.
“One trait that unites all our customers is that they realize the strategic importance of their technology,” says Maciej Zawadzki, UrbanCode cofounder and CEO. “They need to get their technology into the hands of end users as quickly as possible. Our products facilitate the adoption of Agile methodologies in development and DevOps practices in operations."
Last year, UrbanCode was a finalist for Tech Company of the Year in NEOSA’s Best of Tech Awards, and its AnthillPro product won Best Software Product, Impact in 2008.
By recognizing their clients’ needs, UrbanCode has been growing by leaps and bounds. “Recently, we have been focused on DevOps releasing three new products: uDeploy, uBuild and uRelease,” says Tracy Gavlak, UrbanCode’s office manager. “We have been able to increase our growth rate to 70 percent over the last two years, with no signs of slowing down.”
UrbanCode has grown from 25 employees to 55 in the past year. Gavlak cites finding the right talent as one of the company’s biggest challenges. The company is currently recruiting sales engineers, field sales executives and software developers.
“We have the energy and informal atmosphere of a start-up, with the customers and financial security of a much larger firm” says Gavlak.
Company officials expect to double in size again this year. Plans are underway to move to a larger space in the Halle Building later this year.
Source: Maciej Zawadzki and Tracy Gavlak
Writer: Karin Connelly
flydrive's regenerative braking flywheel replaces battery in hybrid, electric cars
What started as a design project in CWRU mechanical and aerospace engineering student Kristen Brouwer’s senior design class has evolved into a full-blown business. Brouwer and three of her classmates took an existing patent for a regenerative braking flywheel and created FlyDrive, which makes a flywheel that replaces the battery in electric and hybrid cars. They are bringing their flywheel to market.
“In a Prius, for instance, when you brake, the electric motors are charged, which then charge the battery,” says Brouwer. “With our flywheel, it’s just as efficient in returning energy and doesn’t have to be replaced. And it’s environmentally better than batteries because it doesn’t use chemicals.”
Brouwer and teammates Jordan Lajoie, Luke Voigt, Kris Bosma and Cleveland Institute of Art industrial design student Adam Lauser have been developing the flywheel for market since September. “Most of our developments have stemmed from market identification and development as well as creating a preliminary concept for implementing the flywheel in a transportation system,” says Brouwer.
FlyDrive will be competing in the Ohio Clean Energy Challenge semi-finals next week, where they will compete for $10,000 and the chance to move on the Midwest regional competition in Chicago. The company has been assessing licensing options in the meantime.
“We’re waiting to see if we make it to the next level of competition,” says Brouwer. “It’s been a great learning experience.”
Source: Kristen Brouwer
Writer: Karin Connelly
“In a Prius, for instance, when you brake, the electric motors are charged, which then charge the battery,” says Brouwer. “With our flywheel, it’s just as efficient in returning energy and doesn’t have to be replaced. And it’s environmentally better than batteries because it doesn’t use chemicals.”
Brouwer and teammates Jordan Lajoie, Luke Voigt, Kris Bosma and Cleveland Institute of Art industrial design student Adam Lauser have been developing the flywheel for market since September. “Most of our developments have stemmed from market identification and development as well as creating a preliminary concept for implementing the flywheel in a transportation system,” says Brouwer.
FlyDrive will be competing in the Ohio Clean Energy Challenge semi-finals next week, where they will compete for $10,000 and the chance to move on the Midwest regional competition in Chicago. The company has been assessing licensing options in the meantime.
“We’re waiting to see if we make it to the next level of competition,” says Brouwer. “It’s been a great learning experience.”
Source: Kristen Brouwer
Writer: Karin Connelly
Phil Alexander and Mohit Ahluwalia realized something when they were earning their MBAs at CWRU: that people in all segments of businesses are charged with creating presentations at some point in their careers. However, not everyone has the talent -- or budget to hire an agency -- to create an eye-catching presentation.
“Thirty million PowerPoint presentations are made every day across America,” says Alexander.
So Alexander and Ahluwalia thought about starting a business that would help customers create their presentations.
“We wanted to do something with digital media,” recalls Alexander. “We were looking to figure out if we could automate the process and avoid paying the high rates of agencies.”
The two applied to LaunchHouse Accelerator last summer and developed Quick2Launch, a company that creates great visuals for any presentation. The company officially launched last week with its ConceptDrop technology.
With the company’s ConceptDrop, users login, upload their content outlines and fill out a creative brief questionnaire describing their presentation. They are then presented with a selection of pre-approved templates and themes, and Quick2Launch takes it from there and creates the visuals to go along with the content. The end result is a complete, professional presentation.
“We’re just trying to hold their hand throughout the creation of the presentation,” says Alexander. “We’ve tried to make it so it’s really simple.”
Quick2Launch partners with Reality Premedia Services, which provides access to 150 graphic designers. The company is about a month away from launching its business-to-business platform.
Alexander says they hope to hire a sales team and in-house designers soon. “The goal is to completely build our own entity,” he says. “We really want to be the all-in-one stop for presentations.”
Source: Phil Alexander
Writer: Karin Connelly
“Thirty million PowerPoint presentations are made every day across America,” says Alexander.
So Alexander and Ahluwalia thought about starting a business that would help customers create their presentations.
“We wanted to do something with digital media,” recalls Alexander. “We were looking to figure out if we could automate the process and avoid paying the high rates of agencies.”
The two applied to LaunchHouse Accelerator last summer and developed Quick2Launch, a company that creates great visuals for any presentation. The company officially launched last week with its ConceptDrop technology.
With the company’s ConceptDrop, users login, upload their content outlines and fill out a creative brief questionnaire describing their presentation. They are then presented with a selection of pre-approved templates and themes, and Quick2Launch takes it from there and creates the visuals to go along with the content. The end result is a complete, professional presentation.
“We’re just trying to hold their hand throughout the creation of the presentation,” says Alexander. “We’ve tried to make it so it’s really simple.”
Quick2Launch partners with Reality Premedia Services, which provides access to 150 graphic designers. The company is about a month away from launching its business-to-business platform.
Alexander says they hope to hire a sales team and in-house designers soon. “The goal is to completely build our own entity,” he says. “We really want to be the all-in-one stop for presentations.”
Source: Phil Alexander
Writer: Karin Connelly
JumpStart recently invested $250,000 in Guided Interventions, a startup company that has developed technology to assess coronary artery blockages. The company was formed two years ago and has been mainly focused on developing its intellectual property and proof of concepts, says Guided Interventions CEO Matthew Pollman.
“The concept is revolutionary,” Pollman says. “It uses a pressurized guideline to measure fractional flow reserve (FFR). It facilitates assessing blockages in the coronary artery and determines whether to perform an intervention.”
Pollman cites a clinical study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, that showed using technologies like Guided Interventions’ FFR product instead of traditional angiogram indicate that 37 percent of the time the blockage should be left alone. “Sometimes leaving it alone is actually the best thing for patients,” he says.
Pollman plans to use the JumpStart investment to build out operations at GLIDE and the SMART Commercialization Center for Microsystems at Lorain County Community College.
The money will also allow the company to hire as many as six employees in the next two years, in particular engineers, and then triple or even quadruple the number of employees in the next three to five years. Currently, Pollman and his partner, Reinhard Warnking, are the only two employees.
Pollman, who is in the process of moving to Northeast Ohio from California, says he is looking forward to moving to a region that is so supportive of startup biotechnology companies and research.
Source: Matthew Pollman
Writer: Karin Connelly
“The concept is revolutionary,” Pollman says. “It uses a pressurized guideline to measure fractional flow reserve (FFR). It facilitates assessing blockages in the coronary artery and determines whether to perform an intervention.”
Pollman cites a clinical study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, that showed using technologies like Guided Interventions’ FFR product instead of traditional angiogram indicate that 37 percent of the time the blockage should be left alone. “Sometimes leaving it alone is actually the best thing for patients,” he says.
Pollman plans to use the JumpStart investment to build out operations at GLIDE and the SMART Commercialization Center for Microsystems at Lorain County Community College.
The money will also allow the company to hire as many as six employees in the next two years, in particular engineers, and then triple or even quadruple the number of employees in the next three to five years. Currently, Pollman and his partner, Reinhard Warnking, are the only two employees.
Pollman, who is in the process of moving to Northeast Ohio from California, says he is looking forward to moving to a region that is so supportive of startup biotechnology companies and research.
Source: Matthew Pollman
Writer: Karin Connelly
Five student entrepreneurial teams will compete in the semifinals at the Ohio Clean Energy Challenge in Columbus on January 29, presenting their business plans and technologies to a panel of judges for the chance to win $10,000 and an opportunity to go on to the Midwest regional competition in Chicago.
The event is hosted by the University Clean Energy Alliance of Ohio (UCEAO) and NorTech as part of the Department of Energy’s National Clean Energy Business Plan Competition. This is the second year the competition has been held in Ohio.
“We’ve expanded quite a bit this year,” explains Ashley Sparks, senior project coordinator at NorTech. “Each team was paired up with an industry mentor who could really help the teams build on their ideas and get feedback.”
The businesses represent various ideas in clean energy solutions. “It’s paramount for this region to have students really interested in commercialization,” says Byron Clayton, NorTech vice president. “These are students who are involved in bringing jobs here and it addresses the brain drain issue in that these businesses they create keep them here.”
The top team in the Ohio competition will go on to compete for $100,000 in Chicago at the Midwest regional competition. In addition to the five Cleveland teams, there are seven other teams from around the state.
“This challenge helps raise awareness of these startup companies in the state and the region,” says Clayton. “This challenge brings new innovations to the area, provides funding, creates mentoring opportunities and access to venture capital.”
Source: Ashley Sparks, Byron Clayton
Writer: Karin Connelly
The event is hosted by the University Clean Energy Alliance of Ohio (UCEAO) and NorTech as part of the Department of Energy’s National Clean Energy Business Plan Competition. This is the second year the competition has been held in Ohio.
“We’ve expanded quite a bit this year,” explains Ashley Sparks, senior project coordinator at NorTech. “Each team was paired up with an industry mentor who could really help the teams build on their ideas and get feedback.”
The businesses represent various ideas in clean energy solutions. “It’s paramount for this region to have students really interested in commercialization,” says Byron Clayton, NorTech vice president. “These are students who are involved in bringing jobs here and it addresses the brain drain issue in that these businesses they create keep them here.”
The top team in the Ohio competition will go on to compete for $100,000 in Chicago at the Midwest regional competition. In addition to the five Cleveland teams, there are seven other teams from around the state.
“This challenge helps raise awareness of these startup companies in the state and the region,” says Clayton. “This challenge brings new innovations to the area, provides funding, creates mentoring opportunities and access to venture capital.”
Source: Ashley Sparks, Byron Clayton
Writer: Karin Connelly
Great Lakes NeuroTechnologies (GLNT), which creates biomedical technologies, received Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approval to market its Kinesia technology in Australia. The technology is used to assess and find treatments for Parkinson’s disease.
“The Kinesia system is used for quantitative assessment of Parkinson’s motor systems, which include tremors, bradykinesia, or slow motor movements, and rigidity,” explains Joe Giuffrida, president and principal investigator at GLNT. Furthermore, Parkinson’s medications can cause side effects, including involuntary movements.
Kinesia hooks patients up to motion sensors that are in turn hooked into a computer. It has applications for both the doctor’s office and at home. Doctors can then monitor symptoms of the disease and patients’ responses to different medications and doses. The technology has multiple uses. “For patient care, doctors can assess the symptoms,” says Giuffrida. “Pharmaceutical companies developing new drugs can measure efficacy. And it can be used for deep brain stimulation.”
GLNT received FDA clearance to market in 2006, and permission to market in Europe a couple of years ago, says Giuffrida. “This continues our international growth,” he says. One in 350 Australians has Parkinson’s. Kinesia features a system for home users, which will help patients in the country’s remote locations. “Australia is an important place for us to come next.”
GLNT grew from 15 to 23 employees last year, and is hiring three additional people now.
Source: Joe Giuffrida
Writer: Karin Connelly
“The Kinesia system is used for quantitative assessment of Parkinson’s motor systems, which include tremors, bradykinesia, or slow motor movements, and rigidity,” explains Joe Giuffrida, president and principal investigator at GLNT. Furthermore, Parkinson’s medications can cause side effects, including involuntary movements.
Kinesia hooks patients up to motion sensors that are in turn hooked into a computer. It has applications for both the doctor’s office and at home. Doctors can then monitor symptoms of the disease and patients’ responses to different medications and doses. The technology has multiple uses. “For patient care, doctors can assess the symptoms,” says Giuffrida. “Pharmaceutical companies developing new drugs can measure efficacy. And it can be used for deep brain stimulation.”
GLNT received FDA clearance to market in 2006, and permission to market in Europe a couple of years ago, says Giuffrida. “This continues our international growth,” he says. One in 350 Australians has Parkinson’s. Kinesia features a system for home users, which will help patients in the country’s remote locations. “Australia is an important place for us to come next.”
GLNT grew from 15 to 23 employees last year, and is hiring three additional people now.
Source: Joe Giuffrida
Writer: Karin Connelly
When Dave Lazor founded Lazorpoint nearly 16 years ago, he had a vision of building a full-service IT firm that would allow clients to focus on what they do best and not worry about whether their information services capabilities were the right match.
“We think, build and run informational systems that instill confidence,” explains Lazor. “Entrepreneurs or mid-market CEOs are focused on running their businesses and servicing their customers. They know they need information services, but they don’t know anything about it. They need a point man.”
And a point man is exactly what Lazorpoint provides. Each client is assigned a point man, who makes sure every need is met. “They have a vision: the point man can provide the leadership,” says Lazor. “When there are problems, or opportunities, we provide the leadership to make things happen.”
Lazor makes sure all of his 22 employees are dedicated to their clients’ needs. “The people we hire are very passionate about serving our clients,” he says. “We are relentless in whatever mission we’re on. We go beyond just the technology. We look at the people process.”
An example of the point man philosophy at work is demonstrated in an instance where a client had a warehouse fire.
“The client called his point man at 11 p.m. on a Saturday night and asked if we could help,” recalls Lazor. “At 8 a.m. Sunday we were on site. They were back in business Monday morning, with emails getting through. No one knew they had this problem.”
The point man approach has proved successful for Lazorpoint. The company has been named to the Weatherhead 100 as one of the fastest growing companies in Northeast Ohio eight times. Lazorpoint hired two additional people last year, and recently brought in a co-op student for a second year. The company currently has one open position, plans on hiring two interns this summer and creating another full-time position later this year.
Source: Dave Lazor
Writer: Karin Connelly
“We think, build and run informational systems that instill confidence,” explains Lazor. “Entrepreneurs or mid-market CEOs are focused on running their businesses and servicing their customers. They know they need information services, but they don’t know anything about it. They need a point man.”
And a point man is exactly what Lazorpoint provides. Each client is assigned a point man, who makes sure every need is met. “They have a vision: the point man can provide the leadership,” says Lazor. “When there are problems, or opportunities, we provide the leadership to make things happen.”
Lazor makes sure all of his 22 employees are dedicated to their clients’ needs. “The people we hire are very passionate about serving our clients,” he says. “We are relentless in whatever mission we’re on. We go beyond just the technology. We look at the people process.”
An example of the point man philosophy at work is demonstrated in an instance where a client had a warehouse fire.
“The client called his point man at 11 p.m. on a Saturday night and asked if we could help,” recalls Lazor. “At 8 a.m. Sunday we were on site. They were back in business Monday morning, with emails getting through. No one knew they had this problem.”
The point man approach has proved successful for Lazorpoint. The company has been named to the Weatherhead 100 as one of the fastest growing companies in Northeast Ohio eight times. Lazorpoint hired two additional people last year, and recently brought in a co-op student for a second year. The company currently has one open position, plans on hiring two interns this summer and creating another full-time position later this year.
Source: Dave Lazor
Writer: Karin Connelly
Genna Petrolla is working in Cleveland’s economic development department, improving the city’s website and blog, as well as helping to increase exposure to the city’s loan and grant program. She is one of three people at city hall in a two-year fellowship through the Strong Cities, Strong Communities (SC2) fellowship program.
Launched in September by the German Marshall Fund of the United States, Cleveland State University and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, SC2 is a pilot initiative that is designed to strengthen cities by developing their economic visions. It is funded by a grant from the Rockefeller Foundation and overseen by the department of Housing and Urban Development.
“This federal program placing individuals in city governments is innovative,” says Kathryn Hexter, director of CSU’s Center for Community Planning. “It’s a new way for the federal government to help cities. Three mid-career fellows for two years work on priority items for the city.”
While the cities get skilled help with priority projects, the fellows get valuable insight into city programs. “The fellows get experience and leadership and public management training,” says Hexter. “The idea is they would stay on with the cities if it works out, but it’s not a requirement.”
All three of the fellows worked in Cleveland before getting involved in the SC2 program, and each has an average of 10 years of work experience. Petrolla, who has a background in marketing and community development, applied for the fellowship on a whim and says she is enjoying the experience. “I’m learning so much from it, I love it,” she says. “It’s been really cool watching this initiative play out here.”
The other two fellows are working in the building and housing department and the Cuyahoga County Land Bank.
Sources: Genna Petrolla, Kathryn Hexter
Writer: Karin Connelly
Launched in September by the German Marshall Fund of the United States, Cleveland State University and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, SC2 is a pilot initiative that is designed to strengthen cities by developing their economic visions. It is funded by a grant from the Rockefeller Foundation and overseen by the department of Housing and Urban Development.
“This federal program placing individuals in city governments is innovative,” says Kathryn Hexter, director of CSU’s Center for Community Planning. “It’s a new way for the federal government to help cities. Three mid-career fellows for two years work on priority items for the city.”
While the cities get skilled help with priority projects, the fellows get valuable insight into city programs. “The fellows get experience and leadership and public management training,” says Hexter. “The idea is they would stay on with the cities if it works out, but it’s not a requirement.”
All three of the fellows worked in Cleveland before getting involved in the SC2 program, and each has an average of 10 years of work experience. Petrolla, who has a background in marketing and community development, applied for the fellowship on a whim and says she is enjoying the experience. “I’m learning so much from it, I love it,” she says. “It’s been really cool watching this initiative play out here.”
The other two fellows are working in the building and housing department and the Cuyahoga County Land Bank.
Sources: Genna Petrolla, Kathryn Hexter
Writer: Karin Connelly
About 15 years ago Nick Stevovich was experiencing the familiar burn in his legs from bike racing. He thought to himself, there has to be a better way to pedal a bicycle.
“I thought how do I overcome leg fatigue and still get the same performance,” he says. “About the same time I was rollerblading.” With that the idea for Motion Resolution was born.
Stevovich is developing an improved bike pedal that uses some of the concepts of rollerblading. “It changes the stroke cycle, has greater efficiencies and uses different muscles for greater speed,” he says. “It distributes the work of your legs a little more evenly, and the pedals stride in and out in a skating motion.”
Stevovich plans to market the pedal to tri-athletes and racing cyclists. “The pedals fit on any bike -- if you saw them you probably couldn’t tell the difference,” he says. “I’m hoping it changes the way people look at bike pedals.”
Working out of the Incubator at MAGNET, Stevovich recently received $25,000 from the Lorain County Community College Foundation Innovation Fund. He plans to use the money to develop additional prototypes and show proof of concept.
For now, Stevovich’s wife is working on marketing and a Kent State graduate student is writing her thesis on the bike pedal concept. He plans to show his product at a bike show in Las Vegas in September, and hopes to bring the pedals to market by 2014.
Source: Nick Stevovich
Writer: Karin Connelly
“I thought how do I overcome leg fatigue and still get the same performance,” he says. “About the same time I was rollerblading.” With that the idea for Motion Resolution was born.
Stevovich is developing an improved bike pedal that uses some of the concepts of rollerblading. “It changes the stroke cycle, has greater efficiencies and uses different muscles for greater speed,” he says. “It distributes the work of your legs a little more evenly, and the pedals stride in and out in a skating motion.”
Stevovich plans to market the pedal to tri-athletes and racing cyclists. “The pedals fit on any bike -- if you saw them you probably couldn’t tell the difference,” he says. “I’m hoping it changes the way people look at bike pedals.”
Working out of the Incubator at MAGNET, Stevovich recently received $25,000 from the Lorain County Community College Foundation Innovation Fund. He plans to use the money to develop additional prototypes and show proof of concept.
For now, Stevovich’s wife is working on marketing and a Kent State graduate student is writing her thesis on the bike pedal concept. He plans to show his product at a bike show in Las Vegas in September, and hopes to bring the pedals to market by 2014.
Source: Nick Stevovich
Writer: Karin Connelly