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April 24, 2020
Jake Loosararian bets on himself — and Gecko Robotics
By Jayne Gest
Jake Loosararian turned down an offer for Gecko Robotics in 2015 and stuck with the principles of why he started the company. He shares how that decision has paid off.
February 6, 2020
CitySide Ventures’ David Weaver: When Your Plan Doesn’t Work, Be Ready To Pivot To Something New
Longtime dealmaker put more than three decades of diversified management experience to use to help early-stage companies connect with the resources they need to grow their businesses.
January 9, 2020
DHL Supply Chain gets proactive with the digital disruption
About three years ago, DHL Supply Chain changed how it considered digitalization, moving from defense to offense and working directly with startups. Sally Miller, CIO North America, shared how the company set up and runs this innovation funnel.
December 19, 2019
Ovid’s Matt Geiger: Focus On Finding Ways To Get The Deal Done
Matt Geiger has experience as both an entrepreneur and an investor. When he’s an entrepreneur, he’s learned the value of letting the investor be the smartest one in the room.
December 17, 2019
Jessica Gibson on raising capital from inside a health-tech startup
Pittsburgh’s efforts to grow its regional health-tech and life science startup sector haven’t paid off as much or as quickly as city and business leaders would like. But Ariel Precision Medicine CEO and co-founder Jessica Gibson believes there’s still a path forward with more collaboration.
December 12, 2019
Pre Brands’ Jason Pinter: Build An Investment Thesis That Works For You
Feedback is important as you’re building a business. But you’ve got to do what you think is best, says Pre Brands’ Jason Pinter.
December 9, 2019
Innovation Fund NEO Awards $275K To Five Startup Companies
Founded by the Lorain County Community College Foundation, Innovation Fund awards technology-based startups up to $100,000 so they can validate their technologies and business concepts.
November 21, 2019
Pitt Ohio spinoff Idelic iterates quickly, including during fundraising
Hayden Cardiff approaches raising capital the same way he approaches building a product — with a lean startup methodology of build, measure and learn. The Idelic CEO discusses the company's growth and how he's applying what he's learned.
November 7, 2019
MedPilot Co-Founders Bring A Methodical Approach To Scaling Their Business
Matt Buder Shapiro and Nathan Spoden have taken a humble yet confident approach to building MedPilot.
October 24, 2019
Denise Devine’s tips and traps for capital-raising entrepreneurs
RTM Vital Signs' co-founder Denise Devine explores the stages of capital raising and what entrepreneurs should look for, and look out for, at each.
October 22, 2019
Fifth Season expands its vertical farming, stays focused on capital efficiency
Vertical farming is capital intensive, which is why Fifth Season co-founder and CEO Austin Webb relies on his financial analyst and investment banking background to help manage the funding for the startup, which has raised over $35 million to date.
October 10, 2019
These sisters roll up their sleeves for the nitty gritty hard work of growing The W Nail Bar
Manda Mason and Lauren Hunter share the story behind their rapidly growing nail salon business, which includes a unique store-within-a-store partnership deal with DSW.
October 2, 2019
Angel Investing: The Power Of Group Intelligence
Former American Eagle President Don Morrison, who now mentors entrepreneurs as chairman of deal flow for BlueTree Allied Angels, talks about angel investing, scaling startups and what entrepreneurs should be looking for when it comes to investors.
September 27, 2019
Studio B’s Bonnie Smith: Think Before You Bootstrap
Brand agency founder Bonnie Smith talks about the key questions you need to ask before you try to bootstrap your business and her role as a pioneer for other African-American female entrepreneurs.
September 19, 2019
As Gus Gear grows, Sarah Palya eyes taking on investors
Sarah Palya had limited business experience when she started Gus Gear. She’s had to learn as she goes, and now she feels her medical device startup is ready to jump to the next level, including possibly taking on investors.
September 13, 2019
Ikove Takes High Risks For Big Returns In Tech Commercialization
Ikove Capital Partners keeps a low profile, investing at the founder level in companies that commercialize technologies in partnership with Midwest research institutions like Ohio State. By the end of next year, it expects to have 20-plus companies in a portfolio that already includes Nikola Labs, ParaGen Technologies and Cognovi Labs.
September 12, 2019
TPA Stream's Jacob Sheridan: Find A Problem, Then Start A Business
Don’t try to start a business, advises TPA Stream CEO Jacob Sheridan. Try to find a big problem and come up with a creative way to solve it. That's your business.
August 21, 2019
Pitt's Big Idea Center guides first-time entrepreneurs
Babs Carryer, director of Pitt's Big Idea Center talks about Pittsburgh’s startup ecosystem, raising capital and the Big Idea Center.
August 16, 2019
VentureOhio’s Tabs Top 50 Startups To Watch
Columbus’ startup culture is bustling, with 24 Central Ohio companies called out by VentureOhio in its 2019 list of Ohio’s top 50 most promising startups. Northeast Ohio has 10 startups on the list.
August 16, 2019
Investors Seek Startup CEOs Who Are Willing To Take Risks
Early-stage entrepreneurs who are willing to put it all on the line to build a business are held in high regard by investors — even if they ultimately fail, says StartInCLE founder Ed Buchholz.
August 15, 2019
GhostWave's Dean Zody pinpoints route to commercialization
GhostWave founder Dean Zody discusses his company, which grew out of research at The Ohio State University, and its progress toward scale and commercialization.
August 7, 2019
Mobility Startups Ride Wave Of Momentum
Ann Arbor SPARK’s Komal Doshi is working to create more mobility deal opportunities for companies like May Mobility, which has raised more than $33 million for its autonomous shuttles.
August 1, 2019
COHatch's Matt Davis Seeks To Connect Startups To Investors
The founder of COhatch discusses how it fits — or doesn’t — into the coworking space, and how he hopes to leverage the business to strengthen startup communities.
July 26, 2019
Collaboration Drives Momentum In Cleveland’s Startup Community
JumpStart CEO Ray Leach has been focused on urgency of late in his assessment of Northeast Ohio’s startup community.
July 23, 2019
Mark DeSantis steers RoadBotics through rapid growth
RoadBotics CEO Mark DeSantis shares his experience building RoadBotics from the ground up, including rapid two-year growth since it got its first customers.
July 10, 2019
Rachel Angel Preps Peerro For Growth
Founder Rachel Angel discusses how she wants to grow Peerro by helping create stronger employment connections between companies and young adults.
July 8, 2019
Find Investors Who Fit Your Startup's Business Model
It often takes some time for early-stage entrepreneurs to learn the value of authenticity in their pitches to investors. That has certainly been the case for Laura Adiletta and Cullen Naumoff, co-founders of Farm Fare.
June 20, 2019
UPMC Enterprises invests in its own disruption
Officially created five years ago to create health care innovations that improve the lives of patients in meaningful ways, UPMC Enterprises encompasses the $130 million a year that UPMC lays out for corporate venture investments and R&D.
