Key Highlights:
- Up to $1.25 Million in Direct Investments per Cohort: Cintrifuse Capital is investing millions directly into startups that demonstrate high potential for growth and scalability.
- Comprehensive Founder Development: Founder Development Programming, including Venture 101 Series, Venture Foundations, and the Venture Velocity Program, equips founders with the knowledge, skills, and connections to successfully raise venture capital and scale their businesses.
- Proven Success with Alumni: The success of Cintrifuse’s first cohort is already clear, with Lyceum AI raising $650K in a mix of venture capital and non-dilutive funding just six months post-program and Airtrek robotics gaining traction at SXSW and through customer pilots.
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Cintrifuse is deepening its support for Cincinnati’s high-potential startups by investing up to $1.25 million per cohort through its Venture Velocity Program (VVP) and investment arm, Cintrifuse Capital. This investment provides funding at a critical time for early-stage founders to secure the additional capital needed to scale and thrive, backed by comprehensive programming aimed at refining business strategies and preparing startups for venture capital success.
"Many startups fail due to limited access to capital and lack of preparation," said J.B. Kropp, CEO of Cintrifuse and Managing Director of Cintrifuse Capital. "By offering targeted mentorship, funding, and a tailored curriculum, we’re empowering founders to build scalable, venture-backed businesses that thrive on the national stage. This programming and investment is part of our larger strategy to cultivate an ecosystem that nurtures high-growth companies from the very beginning."
Cintrifuse’s suite of Founder Development Programming helps entrepreneurs master the venture capital process. It includes:
- Venture 101 Series: A quarterly series for entrepreneurs focused on the basic tools and knowledge needed to understand the world of venture capital. For entrepreneurs curious about venture capital and what is needed to pursue it.
- Venture Foundations: A hands-on workshop series for idea-stage founders, offering essential knowledge, skills, and resources to confidently take the first steps toward raising venture capital and positioning their business for success. For founders ready to start their venture journey but not yet prepared for funding.
- Venture Velocity Program: Our eight-week flagship cohort-based program designed for early-stage startups that provides the tools, funding, and connections needed to scale and secure venture capital shortly after completion. For founders with business traction and an MVP ready to raise their first round of institutional capital.
The Venture Velocity Program includes intensive mentorship, pitch coaching, and direct access to a network of investors actively looking to fund high-growth startups. In addition, the program covers critical areas like customer discovery, fundraising strategy, and brand construction to ensure that participants are not just ready to raise capital but also ready to scale successfully.
“By preparing founders for venture capital funding and connecting them with key industry players, Cintrifuse is creating a robust pipeline of high-potential startups ready to take on national competitors and attract later-stage funding” said Kropp.
Meet the Founders: The Second Cohort of Venture Velocity
The second cohort of Cintrifuse’s Venture Velocity Program represents a diverse range of industries and innovative ideas, all united by a common purpose: to raise the venture capital that will propel them to the next level. Here are the participants in this exciting new cohort:
- LiverRight (HealthTech): Led by Brandon Tudor, LiverRight is leveraging AI and virtual care to revolutionize liver disease management. Tudor’s 20 years in healthcare operations positions him to scale innovative healthcare systems.
- Mimbbo (Digital Marketplace): Founded by Camille Awator and Roland Nyamoga, Mimbbo connects independent providers with beauty clients in new ways. Camille’s 15 years of experience in beauty services enables her to create new opportunities for professionals in the industry.
- Noshable (B2B2C): Co-founded by Connor Paton, Noshable aims to disrupt online grocery shopping and vacationing experiences. Paton, recognized on Forbes’ 30 Under 30, is focused on scaling the company rapidly.
- planeKrafty (B2B Sass): Nicole Dyehouse, Founder and CEO, brings 20 years of aircraft maintenance experience to revolutionize private jet records management. Her work ensures safety and efficiency in the aviation industry.
- Privaclave (Cybersecurity): Sid Dutta, CEO, has 23 years of industry experience specializing in data protection and privacy. Dutta’s extensive work in cryptography, blockchain, and tokenization enables his company to deliver cutting-edge data security solutions.
Alumni Spotlight: Lyceum AI & Airtrek Robotics
The success of the Venture Velocity Program is reflected in the remarkable milestones achieved by participating founders, highlighting their expedited growth post program. Take Lyceum AI, an enterprise EdTech platform—that closed their pre-seed round at $650K six months after completing the program. This raise was a mix of both venture capital and non-dilutive funding. Under the leadership of Co-Founder and CEO Glenn Platt, the company has rapidly gained recognition for its innovative approach to learning in an enterprise environment.
Another great success story comes from Airtrek Robotics, led by Co-Founder and CEO Chris Lee, a hardtech company making our airports safer and more efficient through autonomous robots. The company has won a slew of pitch competitions and, most notably, has been selected as a finalist to pitch at SXSW. When they aren’t winning pitch competitions, the team is overseeing the current pilot of their technology at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids, and are in active discussion with additional airports.
Lyceum’s and Airtrek’s achievements reflect the broader impact of the Venture Velocity Program and its ability to help startups build strong foundations and thrive in competitive markets. We’re proud of early successes from Cohort 1 and we’re excited to see future cohorts follow in their footsteps, leveraging the same level of hands-on support and guidance that made their success possible.
Venture Velocity Participants have access to up to $250,000 in equity investment through Cintrifuse Capital, broken into two buckets. Startups will receive the $100,000 investment in exchange for 6% equity. Furthermore, cohort members will subsequently be eligible for an additional $150,000 investment, pending outside funding and alignment on terms. This totals up to $1.25 million of investment into each cohort of 5 companies.