Startup Services Overview

 Welcome

to the TEAM!
We’re here to take Startups like yours to the next level.

Whether you’re starting out or scaling up, Cintrifuse helps Startups connect with the right people at the right times to help your business grow.

Together, We Thrive

Connect with fellow founders, industry experts, and potential investors across our rapidly growing Startup network.

Help At Any Stage

Programs, Products, & Resources for Every Stage of Your Startup Journey

Most startups experience common challenges at similar stages in their journey. Knowing where you are in yours can help you manage time and resources more efficiently. And Cintrifuse is here to help guide you along the way.

Meet the Founders that Make Cincy Shine.

At Cintrifuse, we have the privilege of working with am amazing community on founders, innovators, and creators. Get to know some of our members below!

Your Success is Our Top Priority

Cincinnati's startup ecosystem is home to dozens of accelerators, incubators, and angel investors that are actively looking for startups just like yours. Cintrifuse's network of subject matter experts, strategic partner agencies, and ecosystem stakeholders are excited to work with you as your ideas continue to grow.

Your Next Teammate

Cincinnati is creating 67,505 jobs.

Let’s find you that talent.

Cincinnati is the place to grow! According to our friends at the Cincinnati Chamber, our region is projected to produce more new jobs in the next 10 years than it did in the previous decade. Talk about the right time to grow your startup. With your Cintrifuse membership, post your openings on our exclusive Job Board.

Design

Development

Marketing

Sales

Operations

Business Development

Explore Jobs >

| Membership Services

Member Services Tailored to Tech-Based Startups

For tech-driven entrepreneurs, there are a myriad of unknowns to consider. Getting expert advice along the way can significantly improve your chances of success. Join our membership for $200/year and gain access to consulting services that could prove invaluable.

Ready to learn more about Cintrifuse membership?

Explore Next Steps

“Having a unique offering poses unique opportunities and challenges. We’ve been excited to have an active partner in Cintrifuse who understands our business and the problems we are trying to solve for to get us to the next phase of scale.”

Mike ZelkindCEO, 80 Acres Farms

“I can’t say enough positive things about Union Hall and the ecosystem as a whole. It’s so rare that you can actually start at an organization like Cintrifuse then go to an accelerator and then be connected with an investment firm all in the same building. I hope people in the ecosystem take advantage of that.”

Brian PenickSoundstr, Co-Founder

“To put it simply, no matter how little you understand what it takes to turn any idea into a business, if you spend time in the world these amazing people have created, you will find a path forward. The energy is inspiring, and opportunities to connect, learn and grow from experts enables truly impactful companies to evolve with a strong foundation.”

Michael SchmidtMeta Matter, Inc., Founder

“A hub of innovation in America. Multiple services and community for growth entrepreneurs.”

Michael SchmidtMeta Matter, Inc., Founder

“I am grateful to have joined Cintrifuse and was impressed by how much interest and involvement Brian and the team showed in my journey from the first meeting till date. I am completely satisfied with my experience so far.”

Chika Okere, PhD.Koinage, Founder

“Great environment for start-ups and collaborative opportunities. The Cintrifuse team was organized and professional with a laid back easy going but focused attitude.”

CJ MeurellMotion Intelligence, Chief Revenue Officer

Getting Started

Activate the Cintrifuse Network

1. Visit Union Hall

Cowork with fellow startups.

Drop in and see us. Event space, offices, and co-working are all available in Union Hall.

2. Join an Event:

We’ve got a lot going on between Cintrifuse and StartupCincy, Union Hall, FinTech Frontier, and our community partners. Check out our calendar and RSVP for an event––we can’t wait to see you there!

3.
See if Cintrifuse Fits You

Cowork with fellow startups.

Drop in and see us. Event space, offices, and co-working are all available in Union Hall.

Mark Wood

Director of Startup Services

Get in touch

Got a question or just want to chat? Reach out, and we’ll be happy to help in any way we can. We look forward to hearing from you!

Funds / Angel Groups

An angel investor is an affluent individual who provides capital for a business start-up, usually in exchange for ownership equity. In this case, these angels organize themselves into angel groups to share research and pool their investment capital, as well as to provide advice to their portfolio companies.

Allos Ventures – Invests in early-stage companies, augmenting the capital provided by angel investors who have helped the companies reach a stage at which they are ready for their first institutional financing round.

CCHMC Tomorrow Fund – Biomedical innovation coming out of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center is getting another boost with a new $3-million grant from Ohio’s Third Frontier technology-based economic development initiative.

CincyTech – CincyTech is a public-private seed-stage investor whose mission is to strengthen the regional economy by driving talent and capital into scalable technology-based companies in Southwest Ohio.

Connetic Ventures – The core investment strategy is to see more deals so we can do more deals and create a diversified portfolio. We believe diversity amongst industry, platforms, geography and founders is a good thing. At Connetic™ we believe time matters: finding great ideas who’s time has come with great teams we believe can execute quickly is what we are all about.

H Venture Partners – Venture capital for consumer brands. We are a next generation venture fund that gives accredited investors access to brands they love. We are investing in brands that are disrupting billion-dollar categories and changing the way we live our lives.

Lightship Capital – At Lightship Capital, they believe social impact and profit are simultaneously achievable. They find, fund, and educate remarkable underrepresented innovators and regions typically excluded from meaningful access to mentorship & venture capital. Lightship Capital invests in early stage companies led by BIPOC, LBGTQ+, women & people with disabilities who operate in the CPG, E-Commerce, Sustainability, Artificial Intelligence, and Healthcare spaces.

Main Street Ventures – Supports emerging businesses that show potential to create jobs and other opportunities in the Cincinnati area. They also support organizations that are strengthening the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. These can include entrepreneur support organizations that foster collaboration and development of STEM talent in the region. For all initiatives that Main Street Ventures supports, there is a particular focus on women and minority entrepreneurs that have been historically under-represented as founders.

Queen City Angels – a group of experienced entrepreneurs, CEOs, and investors committed to helping the region’s entrepreneur ecosystem.

River Cities Capital Funds – River Cities Capital Funds provides growth equity and business acumen to high-potential healthcare and IT companies.

Wunderfund – Wunderfund helps founders raise up to $1M in capital using equity crowdfunding. It’s really hard to raise money in private rooms limited to wealthy angel investors. Why not cast a wider net that allows you to publicly raise capital where both angels and friends & family can invest together? Wunderfund brings alternative financing to startups in StartupCincy, making it easier for companies to raise capital.

Associations /
Other Stakeholders

Guidance and skills training can be found through a variety of groups in and around the city.
ArtWorks CO.STARTERS – ArtWorks CO.STARTERS (formerly SpringBoard) is a nine-week business development program that helps aspiring and seasoned entrepreneurs examine assumptions and turn business ideas into action.

ArtsWave – ArtsWave, the planner, promoter and fundraiser of the region’s arts, offers a weekend event each October, following Startup Week. ArtsWave Arts x Tech is a groundbreaking collaboration between the arts, startup and innovation communities. During these two days, ArtsWave brings together strategists, developers, artists, marketers and many more to solve key challenges within Cincinnati’s arts sector.

Cintrifuse – Cintrifuse is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) partnership that exists to build a sustainable tech-based economy for the Greater Cincinnati region. Our purpose is to advocate for entrepreneurs leading high-growth tech startups– attracting, inspiring, and supporting them on their journey. Through the construction and maintenance of an Active Network of BigCos, universities, investors and startups, we are turning Cincinnati into the premier destination for startups and innovation in the Midwest.

The Circuit – The Circuit provides education, networking opportunities, an online sales channel, advocacy to government, and access to early-stage capital for its members and the entire IT community in our region.

Economic & Community Development Institute – Financing: small business loans, small business solutions, veterans loans, construction loans.

Flywheel – Social Enterprise Hub – Flywheel: Social Enterprise Hub works alongside nonprofits to design sustainable enterprises and community leaders to create an ecosystem where they will thrive. Resources include the social accelerator Elevator.

GCVA – The Greater Cincinnati Venture Association was founded in 1985 to connect entrepreneurs and investors through monthly meetings.

Innov8 for Health – Innov8 for Health is a community-based innovation program that identifies, incentivizes, and supports the creation and acceleration of innovative health solutions.

SBDC – Cincinnati – The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Urban League in Cincinnati provides comprehensive business management and education services. Free, confidential, in-depth, one-on-one counseling and low- or no-cost training.

SBDC – @NKU for NKY – The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in Northern Kentucky at Northern Kentucky University provides one-on-one consultations at no cost to existing and potential entrepreneurs in Northern Kentucky.

SCORE – It’s free! It’s unlimited! SCORE provides you with expertise that will start you on the right path towards your business goals.

Square1 – SQUARE1 is an entrepreneur education and business accelerator services company that provides resources to a broad range of individuals interested in turning ideas and research into business startups.

The Women’s Business Center of Greater Cincinnati – Business technical assistance: small business development, one-on-one business counseling, notary services, access to small loans through ECDI.

Minority Resources

African American Chamber – Mission is to establish, cultivate, and strengthen consumer and business relationships; provide access to major corporate and government markets for our members to help increase business opportunities; aid in the professional development of our members; assist in developing strategic partnerships and alliances for the purpose of strengthening and growing the African American business community.

Aviatra Accelerators – Founded in 2010 as an educational and micro-finance non-profit organization, Aviatra Accelerators (formerly Bad Girl Ventures), is dedicated to inspiring and supporting female entrepreneurs in key areas of their business. Aviatra enables bold women to start and sustain well-managed and profitable businesses through our business education classes, guidance from mentors and coaches, and access to debt capital. Aviatra currently has offices in Cincinnati and Cleveland, OH.

Black Data Processing Associates – BDPA is an international organization with a diverse membership of professionals and students at all levels in the fields of information technology, computer science and related S.T.E.M fields. “We are a service organization that advances STEM and digital technology professionals’, entrepreneurs’ and students’ careers from the classroom to the boardroom through education, mentoring and business networking that enhance innovation, technical skills, business savvy and personal growth.”

Cincinnati Minority Business Collaborative – This joint initiative, started in 2010, is comprised of eight separate nonprofit organizations serving the regional entrepreneurial community: the African American Chamber of Commerce (AACC), Cincinnati USA Hispanic Chamber, the Urban League’s Business and Entrepreneurship Program, Greater Cincinnati Micro-Enterprise Initiative (GCMI), Minority Business Accelerator (MBA), The Ohio Minority Supplier Development Council (OMSDC), SCORE and HCDC’s Business Center. Our level of collaboration is rare and unprecedented in the United States. We strive to maximize our collective capabilities to positively impact the growth, development, and success of minority companies in Cincinnati USA.

Economic & Community Development Institute (ECDI) – Financing: small business loans, small business solutions, veterans loans, construction loans.

Elementz – Where street art meets street smart, Elementz is an urban oasis of hope and a catalyst of change for Cincinnati’s inner-city youth. What began as a way to get kids off the streets in 2001 has transformed into a thriving Urban Arts Center that fosters talent, ignites potential and inspires possibilities. Elementz helps build dreams, and brighter futures. Our Vision for Cincinnati’s inner-city youth is “to be a catalyst of transformation for children in the urban core, enabling them to find their artistic voice, engage in community, learn to give back, and carve a path for a successful future”.

Generation Now Cincinnati Network – We strive to provide the Young Professionals who live, work, and play in the region with a variety of opportunities in which they can enrich their lives in Professional Development, Business Development, & Socially Engaging Events. Our goal is to build a sustainable model for a mentoring and leadership organization that will help develop, engage, and empower young diverse professionals to grow and thrive in the Cincy Area. We strive to retain our local talent here!

Girl Develop It – Girl Develop It is a nonprofit organization that exists to provide affordable and judgment-free opportunities for women interested in learning web and software development. Through in-person classes and community support, Girl Develop It helps women of diverse backgrounds achieve their technology goals and build confidence in their careers and their everyday lives.

Greater Cincinnati Microenterprise Initiative – GCMI is an unprecedented partnership of human service agencies, local banks and businesses working together to provide economic empowerment opportunities to individuals and communities through job creation and self-employment opportunities by stimulating and supporting entrepreneurship. Our mission is to promote individual self sufficiency and community economic development by stimulating and supporting entrepreneurship among low and moderate income people.

Greater Cincinnati Urban League – African American Business Development Program – The mission of the African American Business Development Program is to identify, prepare, involve, empower and sustain African Americans who are committed and positioned to address community challenges in Greater Cincinnati. The goal of AABDP is to create an environment where experienced owners are challenged to explore new leadership concepts and opportunities that will create sustainable companies that benefit the community through economic growth and job creation. AABDP is a comprehensive 6-month program designed for African American business owners who want to build sustainable companies that help to create employment opportunities for the community. The highly selective program is limited to 15 participants per class/session.

Lightship – Lightship is a Cincinnati-based accelerator that supports companies led by underrepresented (African American, Latino, Women, etc.) founders. The 16 week accelerator program admits up to ten companies during its summer cohort. Programming includes educational sessions led by seasoned entrepreneurs who have experience growing, scaling, and exiting companies.

Minority Business Accelerator – The Minority Business Accelerator (MBA) was established in 2003 as the result of the recommendations of the Cincinnati Community Action Now Commission. The program is focused on reducing disparity in the region’s business community by driving economic activity for African-American and Hispanic-owned companies and increasing employment in underemployed segments of the region. The MBA’s mission is to help accelerate the development of sizable minority business enterprises (MBEs) and to strengthen and expand the regional minority entrepreneurial community. 30 firms are currently in the MBA portfolio. Business Model: Chamber, Corporate Connections, Funding

MORTAR – MORTAR’s mission is to enable under-served entrepreneurs and businesses to succeed; creating opportunities to build communities through entrepreneurship. By targeting underserved and redeveloping communities, we’re offering these non-traditional entrepreneurs the opportunity to use their inherent talents to not just make a dollar, but to positively participate in the rise of Cincinnati. Mortar also offers Brick, a pop-up shop for entrepreneurs on Vine Street.

Ohio Minority Supplier Development Council – The mission of the Ohio Minority Supplier Development Council (OMSDC) is to create and foster an environment for the development of mutually beneficial relationships and opportunities between Certified Minority Business Enterprises and Member organizations. Our desire to fulfill our mission is embedded in the mission of the NMSDC, which is to expand opportunities for minority-owned companies; to encourage mutually beneficial economic links between minority suppliers and the public and private sectors; and to help build a stronger, more equitable society by supporting and promoting minority business development. OMSDC is an advocate and stresses the importance of supplier diversity. To become a Corporate Member of OMSDC the corporation must have a diversity program in place, or be willing to implement one.

Project Include – Project Include is an open community working toward providing meaningful diversity and inclusion solutions for tech companies. They have crafted a set of customizable recommendations for you, as CEOs, leaders, and managers, to accelerate diversity and inclusion within your startups.

University of Cincinnati Office of Diversity & Inclusion – Staffed by the Office of the Chief Diversity Officer, the President’s Diversity Council serves as the university-level governance committee charged with building institution-wide capacity to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse campus that embraces diversity as one of our core values, infusing every aspect of campus life and purpose, and every measure of success. The Council is charged with maintaining the Diversity Plan as a living document, holding responsible parties accountable and reporting on at least an annual basis to the President and community at large. The Council is empowered to set its own annual agenda aligned with the Diversity Plan and Academic Master Plan as well as identify short and long term goals. The Council may establish committees and the chair may invite other members of the university community to contribute to this area. Initiatives from the Council are forwarded to the President’s Executive Committee or President’s Cabinet for consideration.

BACK

Startup Services Overview

Together, We Thrive

Startup Resources

Networking

Connect

Coworking: Union Hall

Help At Any Stage

Planning & Research

Commitment & Demonstration

Viability & Traction

Refinement & Growth

Meet the Founders that Make Cincy Shine.

Your Success is Our Top Priority

Your Next Teammate

Member Services Tailored to Tech-Based Startups

Funding Stage Connects

Funding Stage Subsidized
Professional Services

Market Strategy

Brand Development