Cintrifuse is excited to announce the launch of its first Venture Velocity cohort, an initiative designed to equip early-stage founders with the essential skills, strategies, and insights needed for a successful venture capital fundraise. Chosen from a pool of applications from across the nation, participants in the program will receive a $100,000 investment and up to an additional $150,000 in follow-on funding.
This program offers a comprehensive range of benefits, including enhanced pitch decks, refined fundraising strategies, and sales strategy development. Additionally, startups will benefit from exposure to venture-backed founders, a vast network of investors and mentors, and Cincinnati’s rich ecosystem of entrepreneurial support and resources.
By intentionally focusing on empowering local startups and preparing them to meet the demands of venture capital – and providing them with critical early-stage investment – we aim to help them scale rapidly, attract substantial follow-on investment, and drive significant economic impact in the Greater Cincinnati region.
Ellequate drives transformative improvements in employee experience and organizational health with a data-driven platform and rigorous third-party certification for workplace equity, helping small and midsize employers attract and retain talent. Nicole Armstrong, the Founder & CEO, is a pioneering advocate for workplace equity. She established the nation’s first certification for workplace equity and developed an advanced analytics platform to help employers create inclusive workplaces.
Holm is the future of websites, offering a new way for modern entrepreneurs and creative professionals to establish their online presence through a mobile-first website-building platform. Sharod Holmes, the creator of holm.site, founded his company in 2023, aiming to simplify and reduce the cost of website creation for small business owners and creatives.
Obai enables the efficient processing of insurance claims after catastrophic storms with an innovative approach that leverages cutting-edge technology. Kameron Seabrook, a software engineer and entrepreneur, is dedicated to transforming car ownership and insurance claims processing.
Lyceum AI is an in-class AI Teaching Assistant built by teachers for teachers, designed to engage students with personalized insights and help teachers manage their class time effectively. Dr. Glenn Platt, co-founder and CEO, is a recognized leader in technology-driven education innovation. He has founded several technology programs and is known for co-creating “The Flipped Classroom.” Dr. Russ Hamer, co-founder of Lyceum AI, oversees product development with expertise in generative AI and pedagogy, and also serves as the Associate Director of Emerging Technology programs at Miami University.
Airtrek Robotics makes airport ramp operations safer using autonomous robots. Chris Lee, Co-Founder and CEO, has led the development of North America’s first fully autonomous airport tractor. He is focused on advancing airport ramp operations through continuous innovation. Huzefa Dossaji, Co-Founder and CTO, is an expert in full-stack autonomous technologies and has developed multiple autonomous robots, including a Level 4 autonomous electric vehicle showcased at CES 2023. Jon Taylor, Co-Founder and COO, brings over 10 years of experience in hardware design and program management, managing the robot hardware design and the company’s daily operations.
Comprehensive Curriculum for Startup Success
The program will cover a variety of crucial topics for early-stage startups, supported by some of our region’s top experts.
- Venture Capital 101, is an introduction to venture capital that explains what VCs are looking for and how to successfully pitch to them.
- Get Their “House” in Order by mastering strategies for setting up their company correctly from a legal, accounting, and HR perspective.
- Positioning Their Brand is also covered, providing insights into how customers and investors perceive their business and how to best represent what they do.
- The Science of Sales module will enhance their pitch and increase the odds of closing deals.
- The Strategy of Fundraising will guide them through effective fundraising practices and planning, enabling them to save time and focus on business growth.
- Investor Readiness will perfect their pitch with real investors and learn strategies for both Angel and Institutional fundraisers.
- Hypergrowth Teams will teach them to build their team like a startup veteran, structuring their company for hyper-growth.
- The Final Chapter is where they will evaluate current fundraising market conditions and connect with curated investors as they leave the program.
This curriculum is intentionally designed to cover all the topics that investors expect founders to have a deep understanding and mastery of when raising their first round, giving participants a crucial edge. Additionally, participants will gain refined pitch decks, access to a robust investor and mentor network, exposure to seasoned founders, clients, and professional services, and access to Union Hall’s dynamic coworking space.
“The launch of this program marks a pivotal moment for Cintrifuse and the Cincinnati startup ecosystem. We are excited to welcome our inaugural Venture Velocity cohort. This program marks a significant milestone, empowering founders with tools, mentorship, and capital to drive regional economic growth and technological advancement.”
J.B. Kropp, CEO of Cintrifuse and Managing Director of Cintrifuse Capital
