Akron Is For Entrepreneurs!

AKRON IS FOR ENTREPRENEURS! A RESOURCE GUIDE FOR ENTREPRENEURS

How to Use This Guide: Whether you are a high tech startup, a growing small business or anything in between, there are a wealth of resources to help you in Greater Akron. With this guide, locating that help is a simple three-step process.

Just match the icons to the categories in this guide, look to the left and you’ll find a support organization waiting to help you. This guide even shows you which organizations work with tech companies, which work with non-tech companies and which support both.

STEP 1: Choose Your Stage

STEP 2: Choose the Help You Need

ENTREPRENEUR STAGES

IDEATION

Funding

Imagining the commercial opportunity by validating market need

Mentoring & Technical Assistance

INCUBATION Incubating to define commercial potential by preparing a business plan and developing a prototype

DEMONSTRATION Demonstrating products & processes in commercial context by generating data on market acceptance of the product, pricing, and distribution channels

Workspace & Physical Assets Networking Training & Education Entrepreneur In Residence Org, HR, & Talent

MARKET ENTRY

Lawyers, Accounting & Insurance

Market entry to prove commercial viability with ongoing production and revenue generation

Sales & Marketing

GROWTH

Growth to generate financial returns by acting on opportunities for sales growth and moving toward profitability

ALL STAGES

STEP 3: Identify the Organizations That Can Help You and Make Contact!

ORGANIZATION & CONTACT INFORMATION Akron Global Business Accelerator akronaccelerator.com Anthony Margida ajmargida@akronaccelerator.com 330-375-2173

DESCRIPTION

Tech

Non-Tech

Funding

Technology business incubator

Akron Regional Change Angels (ARCHAngels) uakron.edu/archangels Gordon Schorr; Barry Rosenbaum schorr@uakron.edu; barry@uakron.edu

Resource to connect businesses with funding

Akron SCORE akron.score.org Pauline Persons akronscore81@aol.com 330-379-3163

Business planning and development assistance and mentoring

Small Business Development Center (SBDC) akronsbdc.org Mary Ann Jasionowski, Director Jim Griggy, CertiďŹ ed Business Advisor maj@akronsbdc.org; jgriggy@akronsbdc.org 330-375-2111

Business assistance; professional business counseling; education

Microbusiness Center David Jennings djennings@akronlibrary.org 330-643-9000

Entrepreneurial educational resources

ENTREPRENEUR STAGES: Imagining the commercial opportunity by validating market need IDEATION

INCUBATION

Incubating to deďŹ ne commercial potential by preparing a business plan and developing a prototype DEMONSTRATION

Demonstrating products & processes in commercial context by generating data on market acceptance of the product, pricing, and distribution channels

ENTREPRENEUR NEEDS ASSISTANCE WITH: Mentoring & Technical Assistance

MARKET ENTRY

Research & Product Development

Workspace & Physical Assets

Market entry to prove commercial viability with ongoing production and revenue generation

Networking

GROWTH

Training & Education

Entrepreneur In Residence

Growth to generate financial returns by acting on opportunities for sales growth and moving toward profitability

Org, HR, & Talent

Lawyers, Accounting, & Insurance

All stages ALL STAGES

Sales & Marketing

ORGANIZATION & CONTACT INFORMATION

DESCRIPTION

Tech

Partnership for the Minority Business Accelerator pmba1.org Kim Lee klee@akronurbanleague.org

Business accelerator program for minority/women business owners

Icehouse akronurbanleague.org/ice-house-program Aa'Rron Epps aepps@akronurbanleague.org 234-542-4178

10-week program for would-be entrepreneurs

Minority Business Assistance Center (MBAC) Kim Lee klee@akronurbanleague.org

Technical assistance, professional consulting, access to capital guidance, and assistance obtaining contract opportunities for minorities

Austen BioInnovation Institute in Akron (ABIA) info@abiakron.org 330-572-7544

Resources to evaluate ideas and bring concepts for human health and medical uses to prototype. Product development through access to specialized expertise, assets and equipment.

Bad Girl Ventures Réka Barabás, Director reka@badgirlventures.com 216-759-4575

An educational and micro-finance, non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring and supporting female entrepreneurs

Non-Tech

Funding

ENTREPRENEUR STAGES: Imagining the commercial opportunity by validating market need IDEATION

INCUBATION

Incubating to define commercial potential by preparing a business plan and developing a prototype DEMONSTRATION

Demonstrating products & processes in commercial context by generating data on market acceptance of the product, pricing, and distribution channels

ENTREPRENEUR NEEDS ASSISTANCE WITH: Mentoring & Technical Assistance

MARKET ENTRY

Research & Product Development

Workspace & Physical Assets

Market entry to prove commercial viability with ongoing production and revenue generation

Networking

GROWTH

Training & Education

Entrepreneur In Residence

Growth to generate financial returns by acting on opportunities for sales growth and moving toward profitability

Org, HR, & Talent

Lawyers, Accounting, & Insurance

All stages ALL STAGES

Sales & Marketing

ORGANIZATION & CONTACT INFORMATION

DESCRIPTION

Tech

BioEnterprise bioenterprise.com 216-658-3999

Incubator to grow healthcare companies and commercialize bioscience technologies

Code Akron facebook.com/codeakron Kevin Lockett lockettmedia@gmail.com

Trains urban high school students coding and different skills necessary to start a scalable business

Akron: Mayor’s Office of Economic Development akronusa.com akronohio.gov sdeshazior@akronohio.gov 330-375-2133

Liaison for the City of Akron with businesses

Department of Community & Economic Development Bob Genet, Deputy Director bgenet@summitoh.net 330-643-6679

Business assistance/counseling; Site selection; microenterprise loan fund

OhioMeansJobs summitomj.org Ralph Sinistro, Job Center Manager sinisr@odjfs.state.oh.us 330-633-1050

Workforce/talent resources

Non-Tech

Funding

ENTREPRENEUR STAGES: Imagining the commercial opportunity by validating market need IDEATION

INCUBATION

Incubating to define commercial potential by preparing a business plan and developing a prototype DEMONSTRATION

Demonstrating products & processes in commercial context by generating data on market acceptance of the product, pricing, and distribution channels

ENTREPRENEUR NEEDS ASSISTANCE WITH: Mentoring & Technical Assistance

MARKET ENTRY

Research & Product Development

Workspace & Physical Assets

Market entry to prove commercial viability with ongoing production and revenue generation

Networking

GROWTH

Training & Education

Entrepreneur In Residence

Growth to generate financial returns by acting on opportunities for sales growth and moving toward profitability

Org, HR, & Talent

Lawyers, Accounting, & Insurance

All stages ALL STAGES

Sales & Marketing

ORGANIZATION & CONTACT INFORMATION

DESCRIPTION

Tech

Downtown Akron Partnership downtownakron.com/business/business-services Kimberly Beckett, Director of Business Relations kbeckett@downtownakron.com 330-374-7676

Non-profit agency focused on retaining and attracting business to Downtown Akron

Economic Commuity Development Instutite (ECDI) www.ecdi.org Chris Faircloth, Akron Lending Manager cfaircloth@ecdi.org 330-888-3119

Business financing

Goodwill Akron goodwillakron.org Jack Friend, Business Relations Manager jfriend@goodwillakron.org 800-989-8428 ext 214

Non-Tech

Funding

Helps businesses find qualified employees

Greater Akron Chamber greaterakronchamber.org Rick Rebadow, Executive Vice President rebadow@greaterakronchamber.org 330-376-5550

Business assistance/counseling

Great Lakes Innovation and Development Enterprise (GLIDE) glideit.org innovate@glideit.org 440-366-4310

Innovation center, resource hub, and business incubator that supports all facets of the start-up, development, and growth of tech start-ups

ENTREPRENEUR STAGES: Imagining the commercial opportunity by validating market need IDEATION

INCUBATION

Incubating to define commercial potential by preparing a business plan and developing a prototype DEMONSTRATION

Demonstrating products & processes in commercial context by generating data on market acceptance of the product, pricing, and distribution channels

ENTREPRENEUR NEEDS ASSISTANCE WITH: Mentoring & Technical Assistance

MARKET ENTRY

Research & Product Development

Workspace & Physical Assets

Market entry to prove commercial viability with ongoing production and revenue generation

Networking

GROWTH

Training & Education

Entrepreneur In Residence

Growth to generate financial returns by acting on opportunities for sales growth and moving toward profitability

Org, HR, & Talent

Lawyers, Accounting, & Insurance

All stages ALL STAGES

Sales & Marketing

ORGANIZATION & CONTACT INFORMATION

DESCRIPTION

Tech

International Institute of Akron iiakron.org/what-we-do/employment Tiffany Stacy, Regional Manager Employment Services tiffany.stacy@iiakron.org 330-376-5106 ext. 115

Job placement, job training and entrepreneurial resources and referrals for immigrants

JumpStart jumpstartinc.org Tobin Buckner tobin.buckner@jumpstartinc.org 1-855-572-5766

Provides direct and indirect access to capital, access to customers, mentoring, and talent services for startups and scaleups

Blackstone Launchpad kent.edu/blackstonelaunchpad Julie Messing jmessing@kent.edu 330-672-6781

Serves entrepreneurs by assisting with opportunity recognition, feasibility assessment, and strategy for starting and growing companies/non-profits

Center for Corporate and Professional Development kent.edu/yourtrainingpartner Amy Lane alane@kent.edu 330-672-5828

An organization that partners with employers to enhance their employee and organizational performance through paid customized talent development programs and consulting

Center for Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation kent.edu/cebi Dr. Sergey Anokhin sanokhin@kent.edu 330-672-9430

Active learning environment for students and entrepreneurs to meet with faculty, mentors, and connect with industry partners; Start-up and family business consulting; Seed funding opportunities

Non-Tech

Funding

ENTREPRENEUR STAGES: Imagining the commercial opportunity by validating market need IDEATION

INCUBATION

Incubating to define commercial potential by preparing a business plan and developing a prototype DEMONSTRATION

Demonstrating products & processes in commercial context by generating data on market acceptance of the product, pricing, and distribution channels

ENTREPRENEUR NEEDS ASSISTANCE WITH: Mentoring & Technical Assistance

MARKET ENTRY

Research & Product Development

Workspace & Physical Assets

Market entry to prove commercial viability with ongoing production and revenue generation

Networking

GROWTH

Training & Education

Entrepreneur In Residence

Growth to generate financial returns by acting on opportunities for sales growth and moving toward profitability

Org, HR, & Talent

Lawyers, Accounting, & Insurance

All stages ALL STAGES

Sales & Marketing

ORGANIZATION & CONTACT INFORMATION

DESCRIPTION

Tech

Department of Marketing and Entrepreneurship Dr. Pam Grimm, Coordinator pgrimm@kent.edu 330- 672-1262

Provides paid contract services for marketing research projects, segmentation studies, and marketing plans for businesses

Glyphix kent.edu/glyphix Larrie King lking@ideabasekent.com 330-672-7300

Provides paid contract services by student-staffed design studio within the School of Visual Communication Design. Student designers develop creative solutions for real-world design projects

IdeaBase ideabasekent.com Kristin Dowling kdowling@ideabasekent.com 330-672-7300

Provides paid contract services by KSU students. Visual communication design, PR, advertising, computer info systems, user experience design, digital sciences, marketing and communication

The Ohio Employee Ownership Center (OEOC) oeockent.org Roy Messing rmessin2@kent.edu 330-672-3028

The Ohio Small Business Development Center at Kent State University Manufacturing & Technology Specialists Tom Southards, Director wsouthar@kent.edu 330-672-0793

Non-Tech

Funding

Non-profit center that provides outreach, information, and preliminary technical assistance to Ohio employees and business owners interested in exploring employee ownership

Consultation to small manufacturers and tech businesses. Lean practices, innovation research, alternative financing, tech transfer, org. development, sales and marketing

ENTREPRENEUR STAGES: Imagining the commercial opportunity by validating market need IDEATION

INCUBATION

Incubating to define commercial potential by preparing a business plan and developing a prototype DEMONSTRATION

Demonstrating products & processes in commercial context by generating data on market acceptance of the product, pricing, and distribution channels

ENTREPRENEUR NEEDS ASSISTANCE WITH: Mentoring & Technical Assistance

MARKET ENTRY

Research & Product Development

Workspace & Physical Assets

Market entry to prove commercial viability with ongoing production and revenue generation

Networking

GROWTH

Training & Education

Entrepreneur In Residence

Growth to generate financial returns by acting on opportunities for sales growth and moving toward profitability

Org, HR, & Talent

Lawyers, Accounting, & Insurance

All stages ALL STAGES

Sales & Marketing

ORGANIZATION & CONTACT INFORMATION

DESCRIPTION

Tech

Launch League launchleague.org Rick Stockburger rickstockburger@gmail.com 330-221-3144

Scalable startup community

MAGNET manufacturingsuccess.org info@magnetwork.org 216-391-7002

MAGNET’s subject matter experts, engineers, and consultants help improve and grow small to mid-sized manufacturers in NEO with a focus on products, processes, and workforce.

Northeast Ohio Trade and Economic Consortium (NEOTEC) neotec.org Ron DeBarr, President and CEO rdebarr@neotec.org 330-672-4080

Regional economic development partnership with goal of attracting capital investment & jobs to NEO through administration of Foreign-Trade Zones 40 & 181.

Provides international trade assistance to promote international commerce

Northeast Ohio Student Venture Fund neosvf.weebly.com neosvffund@gmail.com Dan Hampu dhampu@uakron.edu

Direct access to capital for high-growth potential startups

OSC Tech Lab osctechlab.com Nick Petroski nick@osctechlab.com

Private office & co-working space for tech companies

Non-Tech

Funding

ENTREPRENEUR STAGES: Imagining the commercial opportunity by validating market need IDEATION

INCUBATION

Incubating to define commercial potential by preparing a business plan and developing a prototype DEMONSTRATION

Demonstrating products & processes in commercial context by generating data on market acceptance of the product, pricing, and distribution channels

ENTREPRENEUR NEEDS ASSISTANCE WITH: Mentoring & Technical Assistance

MARKET ENTRY

Research & Product Development

Workspace & Physical Assets

Market entry to prove commercial viability with ongoing production and revenue generation

Networking

GROWTH

Training & Education

Entrepreneur In Residence

Growth to generate financial returns by acting on opportunities for sales growth and moving toward profitability

Org, HR, & Talent

Lawyers, Accounting, & Insurance

All stages ALL STAGES

Sales & Marketing

ORGANIZATION & CONTACT INFORMATION

DESCRIPTION

Tech

Procurement Technical Assistance Center Rich Delisio delisior@ohio.edu ohioptac@development.ohio.gov 614-644-1637

Assistance for businesses seeking to compete for federal, state, and local government contracts

Stark County Small Business Development Center cantonsbdc.org Victor C. Pavona info@cantonsbdc.org 330-244-3290

Business assistance. Professional business counseling, education

Startups and Coworking Space - The SAC aarronepps.com Krista Jordan, Manager info@selfadvancementcenter.com 330-615-7789

Co-working space

The Artist as an Entrepreneur Institute summitartspace.org/education/aei-2 aei@akronareaarts.orgÂ

Business training program for visual, performing, literary, media and design artists

TechPint twitter.com/techpintnews Paul McAvinchey paul@yaboya.com

Entrepreneurial meet-ups at local bars

Non-Tech

Funding

ENTREPRENEUR STAGES: Imagining the commercial opportunity by validating market need IDEATION

INCUBATION

Incubating to deďŹ ne commercial potential by preparing a business plan and developing a prototype DEMONSTRATION

Demonstrating products & processes in commercial context by generating data on market acceptance of the product, pricing, and distribution channels

ENTREPRENEUR NEEDS ASSISTANCE WITH: Mentoring & Technical Assistance

MARKET ENTRY

Research & Product Development

Workspace & Physical Assets

Market entry to prove commercial viability with ongoing production and revenue generation

Networking

GROWTH

Training & Education

Entrepreneur In Residence

Growth to generate financial returns by acting on opportunities for sales growth and moving toward profitability

Org, HR, & Talent

Lawyers, Accounting, & Insurance

All stages ALL STAGES

Sales & Marketing

ORGANIZATION & CONTACT INFORMATION The Bit Factory thebitfactory.com Annal Vyas, Program Director

DESCRIPTION

Tech

Non-Tech

Funding

software developers market new apps

330-972-6789

Entrepreneurial Internship Program (EIP) noche.org/neointern Brenda Davis Smith bdavissmith@noche.org 216-302-3242

Connecting Northeast Ohio employers with area college students seeking internship opportunities

The EXL Center for Entrepreneurship & Civic Engagement Ian P Schwarber, Resource Director ianp@uakron.edu 330-388-7985

Provides aspiring students, committed student-entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs in the community with an access point for all things internship, mentorship and partnership

I-Corps uakron.edu/icorps NSFICorpsSites@uakron.edu Elyse Ball eball@uakron.edu

Grant and mentoring program to help faculty and students look for commercialization opportuities for their technologies

Innovation Practice Center uakron.edu/innovation Patrick H. Gaughan, Executive Director, Innovation Practice Center pgaughan@uakron.edu 330-972-7564

innovative ideas and promising research into successful entrepreneurial ventures

ENTREPRENEUR STAGES: Imagining the commercial opportunity by validating market need IDEATION

20

INCUBATION

potential by preparing a business plan and developing a prototype DEMONSTRATION

Demonstrating products & processes in commercial context by generating data on market acceptance of the product, pricing, and distribution channels

ENTREPRENEUR NEEDS ASSISTANCE WITH: Mentoring & Technical Assistance

MARKET ENTRY

Research & Product Development

Workspace & Physical Assets

Market entry to prove commercial viability with ongoing production and revenue generation

Networking

GROWTH

Training & Education

Entrepreneur In Residence

Growth to generate financial returns by acting on opportunities for sales growth and moving toward profitability

Org, HR, & Talent

Lawyers, Accounting, & Insurance

All stages ALL STAGES

Sales & Marketing

ORGANIZATION & CONTACT INFORMATION University of Akron Research Foundation Barry Rosenbaum barry@uakron.edu 330-972-7565

Small Entrepreneur and Economnic Development Legal Clinic uakron.edu/law/clinical/seed Gary Spring, Director gspring@uakron.edu 330-972-2358

DESCRIPTION

Tech

Non-Tech

Funding

Business planning and development

Low cost legal assistance to emerging businesses in Northeastern Ohio

Trademark Clinic www.uakron.edu/law/clinical/trademark-clinic.dot Bruce Wilson brucewilsonesq@aol.com 330-253-8300

Trademark assistance

Women In Tech meetup.com/akron-women-in-tech Stephanie Baker info@akronwit.org

Community of women and friends who are interested in learning to code websites and mobile applications

EMPOWER! Women's Entrepreneurship Mastery Program womensnetworkneohio.com wninfo@womensnetworkneohio.com 330-814-6119

Entrepreneurial education workshops

ENTREPRENEUR STAGES: Imagining the commercial opportunity by validating market need IDEATION

INCUBATION

Incubating to deďŹ ne commercial potential by preparing a business plan and developing a prototype DEMONSTRATION

Demonstrating products & processes in commercial context by generating data on market acceptance of the product, pricing, and distribution channels

ENTREPRENEUR NEEDS ASSISTANCE WITH: Mentoring & Technical Assistance

MARKET ENTRY

Research & Product Development

Workspace & Physical Assets

Market entry to prove commercial viability with ongoing production and revenue generation

Networking

GROWTH

Training & Education

Entrepreneur In Residence

Growth to generate financial returns by acting on opportunities for sales growth and moving toward profitability

Org, HR, & Talent

Lawyers, Accounting, & Insurance

All stages ALL STAGES

Sales & Marketing

CONTACT US: PHONE WEB EMAIL

Photo Š Paul Duda, www.PaulDudaGallery.com

(855) 572-5766 www.jumpstartinc.org/apply askakron@jumpstartinc.org