Bounce Innovation Hub

September 26, 2024 - Something big is on the horizon! Announcing the 2024 Burton D. Morgan Foundation Startup Showcase on September 26 at Bounce Innovation Hub. This is a special celebration showcasing Bounce, our outstanding entrepreneurs, and the combined impact we are making on Northeast Ohio. Join fellow entrepreneurs and innovation leaders for the opportunity to see and connect with some of our incredible startups. Tickets go on sale in early August. Follow our social media event page for more information on the event. The Burton D. Morgan Foundation Startup Showcase is presented by Akron Energy Systems and PNC Bank. Sponsorship opportunities are still available.

Bounce Innovation Hub will be closed to the public in honor of Independence Day tomorrow, July 4. Generator members will continue to have 24-hour access to the main entrance via their valid key card. No day passes will be available for tomorrow.

We at Bounce are extremely excited to share that Greater Akron’s Polymer Industry Cluster has been named the recipient of a $51 million federal investment as part of the EDA Tech Hubs Phase 2 awards. This is tremendous news for Greater Akron and will help foster innovation, jobs, and investment in our region.

Bounce Innovation Hub Appoints Elyse Ball as New Vice President of Programming Akron, Ohio, June 27, 2024 — Bounce Innovation Hub, a non-profit organization in Akron serving northeast Ohio entrepreneurs, startups, and small businesses, is pleased to announce that Elyse Ball will join its team as its new Vice President of Programming starting July 1, 2024. As the former Executive Director of the University of Akron Research Foundation, Elyse brings a wealth of strategic leadership experience spanning over a decade guiding entrepreneurs and startups through the intricate challenges of launching, growing, and funding new commercial enterprises. Under her leadership, the National Science Foundation I-Corps program at The University of Akron has guided over 1,000 faculty, students, and area entrepreneurs on technology commercialization and lean launchpad methods for launching new startups. “We are beyond thrilled for Elyse to join our team at Bounce,” explained Jessica Sublett, CEO of Bounce. “She is passionate about helping founders turn their innovations into successful businesses. Her experience in designing programming, helping companies raise capital, negotiating license agreements, plus success in supporting polymer science and biomedical startups fit in perfectly with our overall goals and vision for Bounce.” As Vice President of Programming at Bounce, she will lead entrepreneurial programming for the organization, including scaling existing offerings and developing new initiatives designed to help startups reach critical growth milestones. She will also lead the programming team, including the full-time staff and contracted service providers, in ensuring that Bounce operates highly effective business support programs grounded in industry best practices. Additionally, she will foster and build relationships with collaborators and partners to ensure Bounce clients have access to the region’s assets. Elyse will also help lead educational and community-building opportunities for entrepreneurs and explore other programming ideas, such as a speaker series, workshops, and conferences that help bring entrepreneurs, customers, and investors together. Elyse holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Ohio University and a law degree from Boston University. Bounce Innovation Hub was founded in January 2018 and serves northeast Ohio entrepreneurs, startups, and small businesses. Located in downtown Akron, the nonprofit organization comprises over 300,000 square feet and nine stories in one of the former Goodrich buildings.

The Bounce Innovation Hub 2023 Annual Report is now available online for viewing and downloading. https://lnkd.in/gZ36ewwb At Bounce, we embrace change because change brings new opportunities. Like the startups we serve, we harness the power of change to invigorate our work and steer us forward. We invite you to view our annual report and learn more about the high-quality economic impact we have made on our clients and our community. We also hope you will take a few minutes to watch this video, which highlights many of our clients from 2023.

Currently requesting qualifications and pricing from professional service providers to provide contracted legal, accounting, marketing, and human resource consulting services to small business owners as a part of the Small Business Initiative (SBI), in partnership with the City of Akron, Akron Urban League, and Western Reserve Community Fund. The Small Business Initiative was launched in 2024, when Bounce, Akron Urban League, and Western Reserve Community Fund partnered to amplify existing support measures for small businesses, with particular emphasis on the needs of Black entrepreneurs, made possible with a contribution from the City of Akron. The deadline to submit applications is July 12, 2024, at 5:00 pm EST. For complete details and to download the RFQ packet, visit the website below. https://lnkd.in/gNCnG8Pt

When Green Photograph founder Christiana Cacciato set out to completely reinvent her business after moving from Seattle to Akron, Bounce Innovation Hub offered the tools and support she needed to succeed and grow. “I knew I couldn’t just start [my business] and immediately start getting folks; I knew I needed to be connected to a program.” Christiana discovered Bounce Innovation Hub while researching programs available to women entrepreneurs in the Northeast Ohio region. Though Christiana already had an established business, she immediately found opportunities to network and grow her business as a participant in the MORTAR program. “Because I knew I wanted to work in commercial photography with other entrepreneurs and local businesses, it was a fast-forward connection for me to meet all these incredibly talented folks.” Every week, the program provided information and resources to cohort members on how to view their business. Members also built on each other’s experience and connected with their fellow entrepreneurs to find the tools for success. Christiana, a commercial photographer, could find work and clients through her fellow MORTAR cohort members. “I think the most extraordinary thing about Bounce and all its programs is that everybody knows somebody else.” Armed with the experience from MORTAR and the connections she made because of the program, Christiana acquired a photography studio inside Bounce Innovation Hub and has seen her business continue to blossom and grow. Her experience allowed her to develop and grow a clientele base aligned with her creative vision as a commercial photographer, focusing on professionals and entrepreneurs. Since moving into the studio, Christiana met her goal of 50 clients in her first year and quickly exceeded her year 2 goal of 100 clients, nearing 200 in the first half of 2024. With this accelerated growth, she could also hire a social media manager from a connection with a fellow MORTAR alumnus. When asked what advice she would give aspiring or established entrepreneurs about Bounce’s offerings, Christiana praised the wealth of opportunities available through Bounce during any stage of entrepreneurship. “I owe my business growth to Bounce!”

Today is World Productivity Day! Did you know? Those who work in a coworking space like Bounce's Generator are more productive than their work-from-home counterparts. Read more on the benefits of coworking: https://lnkd.in/dhp8SAFV

Women-owned business are booming in Akron, Cleveland, and throughout Ohio. Read more from Axios Cleveland on how Northeast Ohio is at the forefront of a nationwide upward trend in women entrepreneurs: https://lnkd.in/gghyKvRU

Bounce offers a variety of passes and memberships for our Generator co-working space to fit any remote work set-up! Whether you're an entrepreneur in need of professional meeting space and resources, or a remote worker looking to network and collaborate with other professionals, the Generator at Bounce is here to help you do your best work. Find the best membership for you at: https://lnkd.in/erpcpda