Entrepreneurship : Featured Stories

Small town entrepreneurs prove success not hinged on city lights

Dave Malaska Thursday, July 01, 2010

Big business doesn't always have to mean life in the big city. Some of Ohio's fastest-growing companies are proving that, becoming leaders in high-tech and service fields far from the outer-belts of Ohio's urban centers. And they plan on staying there.

Advanced and Alternative Energy, Advanced Materials, Appalachia/Southeast Ohio, Cleveland/Northeast Ohio, Columbus/Central Ohio, Entrepreneurship, Higher Education, Information Technology, Instruments - Controls - Electronics

Q&A: David Beck helps us sift through CIFT

Gene Monteith Thursday, June 17, 2010

Since 1995, the Center for Innovative Food Technology (CIFT) has helped companies involved in some of Ohio's largest and most economically significant industries: food production, processing, packaging. But the center's work reaches all across Ohio's agribusiness universe and it seems no part is left untouched, from research, to local food initiatives to advanced energy. David Beck, CIFT's president and CEO, spoke to us about some of the work CIFT is doing.

Advanced and Alternative Energy, Entrepreneurship, Kent State University, Ohio State University, Sustainability, Tech Transfer - Research, Toledo/Northwest Ohio

Toledo

Immigrants emerge as growing economic force across Ohio

Dave Malaska Thursday, May 06, 2010

In the wake of the Arizona immigration law rancor and anti-immigration rhetoric, Cleveland civic activist and author Richard Herman finds himself shaking his head a lot these days. "Contrary to common perception, immigrants aren't a drain on the economy. They're what fuels growth."

Cincinnati/Southwest Ohio, Cleveland/Northeast Ohio, Columbus/Central Ohio, Entrepreneurship, Talent

Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus

Hackerspaces give tinkerers room to work out 'next big thing'

Feoshia Henderson Thursday, April 22, 2010

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates once said his biggest competitive fear was "someone in a garage who is devising something completely new." Now, across Ohio, collective tinkering is taking place in hackerspaces -- for all practical purposes, modern, uber-garages where trained engineers, tech enthusiasts retirees and casual DIYers, work on what could be the "Next Big Thing."

Cincinnati/Southwest Ohio, Cleveland/Northeast Ohio, Columbus/Central Ohio, Entrepreneurship, Ohio State University

Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati

Q&A: Cool Cleveland's brain trust tells how it all happened

Douglas Trattner Thursday, April 22, 2010

Every Wednesday, tens of thousands of inquisitive folks open up their email inboxes to find the latest e-blast from Cool Cleveland. Started in 2002 by Thomas Mulready, the newsletter has become a trusted guide to Cleveland-specific events and activities. A lot has changed in the past eight years, and Thomas Mulready's Cool Cleveland has been one of the few constants throughout that time.

Cleveland/Northeast Ohio, Entrepreneurship

Cleveland

For these serial entrepreneurs, it's lather, rinse, repeat

Colin McEwen Thursday, April 08, 2010

The risk of starting a new business is great, the rewards uncertain. But some people enjoy the process. These "serial entrepreneurs" do it over and over again. Lather, rinse and repeat.

Advanced and Alternative Energy, Biomedical, Cincinnati/Southwest Ohio, Cleveland/Northeast Ohio, Dayton/West Central Ohio, Entrepreneurship, Information Technology, Venture Capital

Cincinnati, Dayton, Cleveland

Laid off? This entrepreneur says, "start a business"

Colin McEwen Thursday, March 11, 2010

Are you laid off from work in the middle of the worst economic meltdown since the Great Depression? Start a business.That's some of the advice given by entrepreneur Mike Hooven, who in 1994 at the age of 38, took $22,000 in stock options from his comfortable position at Ethicon to start his first company.

Biomedical, Cincinnati/Southwest Ohio, Entrepreneurship

Cincinnati

Akron partnership banks on building biomedical corridor, jobs

Douglas Trattner Thursday, February 25, 2010

"I came to Akron because I was quite impressed with the vision of what the BioInnovation Institute could become," says Dr. Frank Douglas. "There is a tremendous desire here to do something that improves the health of the economy in this region � and that's why this will succeed."

Biomedical, Cleveland/Northeast Ohio, Entrepreneurship, Higher Education, Tech Transfer, University of Akron

Akron

Q&A: Baiju Shah reveals the secrets of BioEnterprise's success

Colin McEwen Thursday, February 25, 2010

President and CEO of BioEnterprise Baiju Shah never stops moving. And neither does BioEnterprise. Shah's organization has been a part of a growing campaign that -- in the last eight years -- has developed 120 biomedical companies, attracted $925 million in funding and created more than 2,100 jobs (and counting) in northeastern Ohio. hiVelocity recently caught up with Shah to get the inside scoop on how BioEnterprise is helping to define an industry and a region.

Biomedical, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland/Northeast Ohio, Entrepreneurship, Venture Capital

Cleveland, Akron

Ohio's young entrepreneurs prove age no barrier

Douglas Trattner Thursday, January 28, 2010

These days, some of the biggest ideas are coming from the youngest of minds. College students and recent graduates across Ohio are combining bold ideas with bold action, fueling the state's transformation one job at a time. hiVelocity caught up with a few of the young entrepreneurs who are making a mark on Ohio.

Entrepreneurship, Miami University of Ohio, Ohio State University, University of Cincinnati, University of Toledo

Serial entrepreneur's roller coaster life on way back up with new microwave design

Douglas Trattner Thursday, December 03, 2009

"Sometimes in life we run into buzz saws," says entrepreneur Phil Davis. "Kirk Wright was mine." Davis is referring to former hedge fund manager Kirk Wright, who in 2008 was found guilty of numerous counts of fraud after swindling investors out of more than $150 million. Days after his conviction, Wright committed suicide in jail. But it wasn't cash that Wright stole from Davis � it was his reputation.

Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship, Toledo/Northwest Ohio

Cleveland

Homebrewer's unique suds make way from garage to groceries

Douglas Trattner Thursday, November 19, 2009

Most decent home brewers, it seems, are buoyed by an entourage of encouraging friends who think they've actually got a shot. The brutal truth? Almost none ever manage to turn a passion for home brewing into a viable enterprise. Matt Chappel appears to have bucked those odds.

Cleveland/Northeast Ohio, Entrepreneurship

Cleveland

Welcome to hiVelocity!

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Ohio is at the forefront of a new economy, creating new ideas, innovative businesses and new jobs needed for the 21st century. It's an important story. Now, hiVelocity is here to tell it.

Advanced and Alternative Energy, Advanced Materials, Advanced Propulsion, Biomedical, Cincinnati/Southwest Ohio, Cleveland/Northeast Ohio, Columbus/Central Ohio, Dayton/West Central Ohio, Entrepreneurship, High Tech, Higher Education, Instruments - Controls - Electronics, Manufacturing Innovation, Sustainability, Tech Transfer - Research, Toledo/Northwest Ohio, Venture Capital, Workforce Transition

Akron, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Lima, Toledo, Youngstown