Featured Stories
Joe Baur
Thursday, June 14, 2012
A few years ago, Cincinnati's Over-the-Rhine neighborhood was considered to be endangered by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Today, it is a redevelopment success story. That's partially due to startups that are not only fueling the state's economy, but also aiding the redevelopment of urban neighborhoods. ONE Fund accelerators have ignited demand for rehabilitated office space in Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland, bringing a new, exciting energy to their cities.
Douglas Trattner
Thursday, May 31, 2012
One of the most widely read Fresh Water Cleveland features was a story on Ohio's burgeoning craft distillery trend. But it wasn't all good news: As it stood at the time of publication, only one permit was allowed in each of Cuyahoga, Franklin and Hamilton counties. What's more, those few permit holders could distill but not sell their wares on-site. A new law eliminates the restrictions on the number of permits while enabling holders to sell their products directly to consumers.
Lee Chilcote
Thursday, May 31, 2012
A not-so-quiet revolution is taking place at the Entrepreneurship Innovation Center at Lorain County Community College. The organizations and companies located here are helping to propel Ohio's innovation economy forward. Now its newest tenant, the National Association of Seed and Venture Funds, is launching educational programs and a national conference to build on the momentum.
Lee Chilcote
Thursday, May 17, 2012
How does an incorrect soda price at a retailer lead to an emerging tech company? Just ask Case student Mark Lorkowski, who came up with the idea for an electronic shelf display system while shopping for a case of Mountain Dew. With Lorktech, he hopes to drink up a portion of the $250 billion flexible electronics market.
Douglas J. Guth
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Like most of the country, Northeast Ohio was slammed hard by the tidal wave of the most recent recession. But thanks to an increasingly diversified economic strategy -- one that saw a transition from traditional manufacturing (steel, tires) to modern forms of manufacturing (healthcare equipment, polymers) -- the region is emerging from those damaging waters stronger than it has in the past, say area advocates.
Catherine Podojil
Thursday, May 17, 2012
New biomedical companies are a source of growth in Ohio's high tech economy, yet currently, only a fraction of them are helmed by African-American and Latino entrepreneurs. The first ever Minority Biomedical Entrepreneurship Conference aims to connect minorities in Ohio to greater opportunities while also growing the state's biomedical workforce.
Becky Johnson
Thursday, May 03, 2012
Terry Chan arrived in Cincinnati by way of Hong Kong and Carnegie Mellon University. His bold, forward-thinking plans for the Short Vine Innovation District reflect an international perspective on successful urban development. With the help of both new and long-term investors, Chan is now helping to create a technological hub of vibrant, early-stage businesses that's built to last.
Emily Cole
Thursday, May 03, 2012
The Northeast Ohio Council on Higher Education is leading the region's efforts to increase college attainment levels. Their efforts, called The Northeast Ohio Talent Dividend, has three primary goals: improve college readiness of high school and adult students, increase student retention through degree completion, and increase degree attainment among adults with some college experience but no degree.
Lee Chilcote
Thursday, May 03, 2012
Equity-based crowdfunding will allow everyone the opportunity to become a venture capitalist. But is this a good thing? Remember the dot-com bubble that burst in the 1990s? Yet while crowdfunding brings a certain amount of risk, even skeptics say that it has the potential to bring an important source of new capital to Ohio. The emerging phenomenon could also empower a new class of investors.
Joe Zeis, Gary Conley and Charles Dutch
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Ohio's aerospace industry is one of the strongest in the country, yet its continued prominence is by no means assured. In the past few years, fierce global competition, rapid industry change and a fragmented business sector were real threats to our ongoing success. Yet now, the newly-created Ohio Aerospace and Aviation Council is offering a unified voice for the industry and creating a platform for continued growth.
Kitty McConnell
Thursday, April 19, 2012
From wind turbines and biofuels to the fastest electric car on earth, Ohio's universities are leaders in cutting-edge clean energy technology. A recent conference promoted the linkage between energy and economic security, and also highlighted the need for greater investment and commercialization to secure our state's future as a trailblazer in this growing field. Here's a look at what's next in this burgeoning industry.
Erin O'Brien
Thursday, April 05, 2012
Even as women continue to rise in corporate leadership positions, studies show they're still underrepresented in high tech industries. Yet across Ohio, many women are now starting technology-focused companies, and this "new girls club" is playing an important role in driving our state's innovation economy. Along the route to success, they're also learning to define it on their own terms.
Lee Chilcote
Thursday, April 05, 2012
Open innovation partnerships between universities and companies can spark new ideas and possibly inventions, says Dr. Luis Proenza of the University of Akron. Recently, hiVelocity spoke with Dr. Proenza about key changes in U.S. patent law, the role of universities in Ohio's entrepreneurial ecosystem, and the catalytic potential of university partnerships.
Douglas J. Guth
Thursday, April 05, 2012
Video games no longer are child's play. A multi-billion dollar industry, video game development seduces countless wannabes, each hoping to design the next Call of Duty. Helping to train those people is Cleveland Institute of Art, which recently launched its Game Design program. Combining classes in 3D modeling, game mapping, screenwriting and sound design, this challenging program is no child's play either.
Val Prevish
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Startup veteran and Ohio native Lisa Delp was recently appointed Ohio Third Frontier's new Executive Director. In this interview, she discusses how far we've come in creating a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem, and how Ohio Third Frontier's new focus areas will help grow our high tech economy.