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Entrepreneurship : Featured Stories

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Small town entrepreneurs prove success not hinged on city lights

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.

Q&A: David Beck helps us sift through CIFT

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.

Immigrants emerge as growing economic force across Ohio

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."

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

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."

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

Akron partnership banks on building biomedical corridor, jobs

"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."

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

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.

Ohio's young entrepreneurs prove age no barrier

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.

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

"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.

Homebrewer's unique suds make way from garage to groceries

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.

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