StartupCincy

Signing off from an unforgettable StartupCincy Week! A huge thank-you to every founder, partner, and community member who showed up, shared their story, and made last week what it was: bold, inspiring, and full of momentum. We’re so grateful for all the kind words, shared reflections, and genuine appreciation that poured in throughout the week. This community keeps getting stronger because of you. We already can’t wait to do it all again next year (Oct 5-8). ❤️

Calling all Youngstown Small Business Owners! Lightship Bootcamp, powered by Lightship Foundation and JobsOhio, is coming to Youngstown, OH, October 20–22. This FREE 2.5-day program offers founders hands-on mentorship, expert-led curriculum, and opportunities to strengthen your network while building lasting connections. At #LightshipBootcamp you’ll: 💡 Refine your business strategy 📊 Reevaluate your product, sales, and marketing approaches 💸 Strengthen your financial foundation 🎤 Prepare and deliver a polished investor pitch with guidance from the Lightship investment team Don’t miss this chance to accelerate your growth and connect with leaders across Ohio’s startup ecosystem. Learn more and apply today: https://lnkd.in/gWSq_6CY

StartupCincy Community, What an incredible week! StartupCincy Week was a true reflection of the energy, creativity, and grit that make our region so special. None of it would have been possible without the founders, investors, partners, mentors, volunteers, and friends who showed up, leaned in, and helped us shine. Your passion for innovation and collaboration is what fuels this community. The conversations, connections, and ideas sparked this week will continue to ripple forward, strengthening our startups, attracting new opportunities, and showcasing Cincinnati as a place where bold ideas don’t just start, they scale. From the inspiring panels to the packed networking events, the enthusiasm was palpable. Thank you for bringing your best, for supporting one another, and for proving once again that Cincinnati is a vibrant, thriving entrepreneurial community. We’re deeply grateful to every person who played a role in making this week such a success. Because of you, the future of StartupCincy burns brighter than ever. Let’s keep building, keep connecting, and keep proving what’s possible when this community comes together. Here’s to the next big idea and to the people right here in Cincinnati who make it happen. With gratitude, J.B. Kropp

What a week. ❤️ This community shows up for each other, learns from each other, and continues to prove that Cincinnati is where startups grow and thrive. Mark your calendars—StartupCincy Week returns October 5–8, 2026. Let’s keep building together. 🚀

Day 2 was such a success—and Day 3 is in full swing! A huge thank you to everyone who braved the rain and showed up for an incredible day of programming, including the Cintrifuse Annual Meeting and the first-ever StartupCincy Week Pitch Competition. The energy, ideas, and support from this community never fail to inspire us. 🙌✨ We’re so excited to see you all today and can’t wait to welcome you back tomorrow for our big finale at Washington Park!

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the first day of StartupCincy Week! You showed up ready to learn, connect, and grow—and together, we’re showing the world why Cincinnati is a region worth investing in. A special thank you to Mayor Aftab Pureval for joining us and championing our city. This is what happens when bold ideas meet a community that believes in them. Let’s keep building. https://lnkd.in/g5JbdyX9

StartupCincy Week kicks off TOMORROW! We’re so excited to welcome founders, funders, students, and community members from across the region for four incredible days of connection and growth. We can’t wait to see you there! It’s not too late to join us: https://lnkd.in/g5JbdyX9

Just 2 days until StartupCincy Week 2025! The energy is building as founders, funders, students, and community members from across the Midwest get ready to gather in Cincinnati for four days of bold ideas, real connections, and game-changing conversations. This year, we’re expanding our footprint and community reach like never before—bringing together innovators from across cities and sectors to spark new collaborations and accelerate growth. 🎟️ Tickets are almost gone, don’t miss your chance to be in the room: https://lnkd.in/g5JbdyX9

StartupCincy Week kicks off in just 3 days! We’re bringing bold ideas and big energy to Cincinnati next week, and we’re thrilled to introduce one of this year’s most exciting additions: the first-ever StartupCincy Week Pitch Competition, powered by Connetic Ventures. Join us in congratulating our finalists: ✨ Sunflower Fuels – Gabrielle Blocher 🌲 TimberSync – Ace H. 🚗 Obai – Kameron Seabrook 🏡 PropIQ AI – Jeremy Hill 🤖 🍽 LunchTable – Joshua Reid These founders represent the talent and momentum that make StartupCincy so special, and we can’t wait to see them pitch next week. Don’t miss it → Grab Your Ticket: https://lnkd.in/g5JbdyX9

StartupCincy Week is just around the corner and we are SO excited to have our CEO, Gabrielle Blocher presenting Sunflower Fuels in the Pitch Competition! Not only will she be pitching, but also a panelist for "Culture, Not Checklist"! Make sure you stop by and lend an ear next week on Tuesday @3:30pm for our company pitch, and Thursday @10:30am for a meaningful panel discussion with Gabrielle Blocher, Alison Connor, MHA, Andrew Bliss, Kémo A'akhutera, and Tracy Vroom moderating! We hope to see you there!