StartupCincy announced the finalists for the inaugural StartupCincy Awards, hosted by Cintrifuse, taking place April 30 at Union Hall in Cincinnati’s Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. The event will honor founders, companies, and ecosystem leaders driving innovation, economic growth, and community impact across Greater Cincinnati.
“These individuals and companies represent the very best of our region,” said J.B. Kropp, CEO of Cintrifuse and Managing Director of Cintrifuse Capital. “They are bold founders, creative leaders, and dedicated connectors who are building meaningful companies and organizations that push Cincinnati forward, and we are so grateful for the work they are doing in our region.”
The awards are presented in partnership with regional organizations committed to strengthening the innovation economy.
StartupCincy Innovator of the Year
Presented by Western & Southern Financial Group
Honors the top founder pushing boundaries with a breakthrough product, service, or technology.
Finalists
Aaron Chow — Vixiv
Aaron Chow founded Vixiv is an AI driven design and additive manufacturing platform that automatically identifies optimal engineering solutions, allowing manufacturers to speed up product development without compromising quality.
Jeff Wilson — Soundtrace
Jeff Wilson leads Soundtrace, a digital platform enabling industrial facilities to stay complaint with OSHA-mandated hearing and noise regulations.
Rafael Garcia — Kernel
Raf Garcia is the founder of Kernel, which builds open-source infrastructure enabling AI web agents to access and interact with the internet at incredible speed and scale.
Tsavo Knott — Pieces
Tsavo Knott is the CEO of Pieces, a company developing AI-driven tools that enable users to capture, organize, and reuse code knowledge more efficiently.
Yael Katz — Simbryo
Yael Katz, founder and CEO of Simbryo Technologies, is advancing fertility care through innovative biotech solutions that use organoid technology to help personalize IVF treatment and improve outcomes for families navigating infertility.
High-Growth Startup of the Year
Presented by Cintrifuse
Honors a scalable startup showing standout traction, growth, adoption, or fundraising success.
Finalists
FinOpsly — Kiran Jain
FinOpsly helps companies optimize cloud spending and financial operations through advanced analytics and automation.
Kernel — Rafael Garcia
Kernel is building an open-source infrastructure that enables AI web agents to access and interact with the internet at incredible speed and scale.
Narratize — Katie Trauth Taylor
Narratize enables teams to accelerate innovation by turning ideas into structured narratives that guide product development and decision-making.
Pantomath — Somesh Saxena
Pantomath provides automated data observability tools that help organizations detect and resolve data pipeline issues before they impact business operations.
Sprints — Eric Rose
Sprints designs bold, high-performance athletic gear with fun colors and breathable fabrics, worn by millions of athletes worldwide and proudly designed and shipped from Cincinnati.
Regional Impact Award
Presented by EcoMap
Recognizes a company or organization creating meaningful local economic impact through hiring, development, and growth.
Finalists
3CDC
3CDC is a private, nonprofit, full-service real estate development and finance corporation focused on revitalizing Cincinnati’s urban core in partnership with the City of Cincinnati.
Alloy Growth Lab
Alloy Growth Lab helps companies scale by connecting them with the tools, capital, and strategic support needed for sustainable growth.
FC Cincinnati
FC Cincinnati is a major economic and cultural force for the region through professional MLS soccer, community engagement, and stadium development.
MORTAR
Mortar supports diverse entrepreneurs through mentorship, education, and access to resources that help small businesses launch and grow.
REDI Cincinnati
REDI Cincinnati drives regional economic development by attracting companies, supporting job creation, and strengthening the business climate.
The Port
The Port works to redevelop underutilized properties and create equitable economic growth across Cincinnati neighborhoods.
Emerging Founder
Presented by the 1819 Innovation Hub at the University of Cincinnati
Celebrates an emerging entrepreneur who made a significant leap this year.
Finalists
Amelia Wares — TissuTrak
TissuTrak is a mobile health app that helps patients with connective tissue disorders track symptoms, identify patterns, and manage their health while accelerating the diagnostic process.
Ben Wolber — Illume (Previously InsightX)
Illume provides connected data and analytics solutions, helping med spas and wellness providers operate and grow more effectively.
Ethan Grob — Another Nine
Another Nine is a self-service indoor golf simulator experience where players of all skill levels can practice, compete, and play world-class courses year-round.
Lucas Gould — Spendr
Spendr is a digital payments and rewards platform that helps cannabis dispensaries offer fast, cashless transactions while increasing customer visits and spending.
Noelle Scheper & Jaden Walton — Motiv
Motiv helps school athletic departments streamline communication, scheduling, and team management so coaches can spend more time with their athletes.
Small Business Excellence
Presented by the Cincinnati Regional Chamber
Recognizes a neighborhood-rooted small business that has shown resilience, growth, and community impact.
Finalists
Blue Oven Bakery
A Cincinnati artisan bakery known for its handcrafted sourdough breads and deep community roots, growing from a backyard wood-fired oven into one of the region’s most beloved bakeries.
Homemakers Bar
Homemakers Bar is a nationally recognized cocktail bar, eatery, and bottle shop known for house-made cocktails and a community-driven atmosphere that feels like a house party.
Launch Party
Launch Party is a beauty retailer that curates and celebrates independent brands, helping customers discover feel-good self-care products from passionate founders.
Lost & Found
Lost & Found OTR is an eclectic Cincinnati cocktail bar and gathering space known for inventive drinks, vibrant culture, and a welcoming atmosphere centered on community and creativity.
Pata Roja Taqueria
Pata Roja Taqueria is a beloved Cincinnati restaurant known for its authentic flavors and community-centered mission.
Social Impact Award
Presented by REDI Cincinnati
Recognizes a mission-driven company tackling social, environmental, or economic challenges.
Finalists
Brick Gardens
Brick Gardens works to combat food insecurity by converting vacant land and buildings into urban farms and indoor vertical farm houses, providing fresh healthy produce to areas of Cincinnati considered food deserts.
Last Mile Food Rescue
Last Mile Food Rescue reduces food waste and food insecurity by redirecting surplus food to those in need.
Nehemiah Manufacturing
Nehemiah Manufacturing has created one of the nation’s most recognized second-chance employment models, providing stable careers and wraparound support, creating hundreds of jobs in Cincinnati through Fair Chance employment.
Sunflower Fuels
Sunflower Fuels is a renewable energy company cultivating high-yield Miscanthus grass on underutilized land to supply sustainable biomass for biofuels, industrial energy, and regenerative agriculture markets.
The Empower Group
The Empower Group is an innovative consulting company leading the evolution of Fair Chance employment in the United States.
Creative Culture Driver Award
Presented by Kroger
Celebrates a founder or company innovating in the arts, design, food, culture, or creative spaces.
Finalists
Allyson West — Cindependent
Cindependent champions Cincinnati’s independent film scene and supports emerging filmmakers.
Josh Heuser — AGAR
Josh Heuser leads AGAR, a creative agency known for innovative branding, design, and storytelling, and is the creative mind behind BLINK, Ghost Baby, and Prim.
Kailah Ware — SunnyBlu Art Agency
SunnyBlu Art Agency partners with mission-driven organizations to create bold storytelling, strategic campaigns, and creative media that connect with communities, amplify impact, and inspire meaningful action.
Kristen Schlotman — Film Cincinnati
Kristen Schlotman works to attract major film and television productions to Cincinnati through experience curation and economic incentives while supporting the local creative industry.
Romain Mayambi — Redbox Ctudios
Redbox Ctudios is a production studio based in Cincinnati that combines the bounds of photography, videography, art, streetwear, and exhibitions to redefine the landscape of artistic expression.
Community Builder Award
Presented by FBT Gibbons (Previously Frost Brown Todd)
Honors a connector driving collaboration, mentorship, and ecosystem growth.
Finalists
Barbara Hauser — Procter & Gamble
Barbara Hauser is a true leader within Cincinnati and is responsible for championing countless nonprofit and civic initiatives and bringing together founders, creatives, corporate leaders, and community organizations in ways that drive real progress.
Dave Knox — Blue North
Dave Knox has been in the StartupCincy ecosystem since its founding and currently leads Blue North, an organization supporting entrepreneurs in Northern Kentucky by building community and providing access to the resources they need, in addition to leading the effort behind SparkHaus, Northern Kentucky’s entrepreneurial hub.
Mark Lacker — Miami University, John W. Altman Institute for Entrepreneurship
Mark Lacker helps shape the next generation of entrepreneurs through Miami University’s nationally recognized entrepreneurship program, empowering hundreds of students to pursue entrepreneurship and found startups early in their careers.
Nate Sowder — Ecosystem Builder
Nate Sowder works at the intersection of AI, innovation, and startup growth, helping founders think more strategically about tech, talent, and decision-making, also while serving as a regional bridge between startups and institutions across Cincinnati and Dayton.
Rachel DesRochers — The Gratitude Collective
Rachel DesRochers is an advocate for emerging female founders and first-time entrepreneurs. Through The Gratitude Collective, her leadership in Power to Pursue, and partnerships with universities and community organizations, she creates programming that connects entrepreneurs to mentorship, community and hands-on learning opportunities.
The StartupCincy Awards will bring together founders, investors, ecosystem leaders, and community supporters to celebrate the people and companies shaping the future of Cincinnati.
The event takes place on April 30 at 5:30pm at Union Hall.
These materials were prepared exclusively by Cintrifuse, and the opinions expressed herein are current as of the date of publication. Information prepared from third-party sources is believed to be reliable though its accuracy is not guaranteed. Opinions expressed in this commentary reflect subjective judgments of the author based on conditions at the time of writing and are subject to change without notice. Cintrifuse is an SEC registered investment advisor. Registration does not imply any level of skill or training.