Cincy Inno: OhioXcelerate returns: Ohio startup groups unite to bring back program in 2024

Cincy Inno
By Liz Engel
January 18, 2024

Two of the state’s top startup support groups are teaming up again to bring back a program that pairs founders with experienced mentors.

OhioXcelerate, a collaboration between OhioX, a Columbus-based tech-focused nonprofit membership group, and Alloy Growth Lab, a Norwood incubator, will return in 2024 with a pitch competition that promises its winner thousands in cash and prizes.

The program debuted last year, and organizers then pledged to make it a reoccurring event.

This year, OhioXcelerate will take place from March until May. It builds upon the success of 2023, leaders from OhioX and Alloy said in a news release. OhioXcelerate last year received an Excellence in Innovation Award from the Ohio Economic Development Association for its “pivotal role in driving innovation and economic growth across the state.”

Applications for mentors and participants are open through Jan. 31. The winner receives a prize package valued at more than $7,000.

"We're eager to bring even more opportunities to Ohio's thriving startup ecosystem," Antony Seppi, vice president of Alloy Growth Lab, said in the release. "Our commitment remains strong in harnessing the collective expertise of mentors to propel startups to new heights and bolster the state's economy."

OhioXcelerate provides a platform for entrepreneurs to connect with mentors specializing in key business growth areas such as fundraising, sales, marketing and customer discovery. Seppi has billed it as a “game-changing” opportunity for startups in Ohio. The idea is if those companies are given access to the right expertise, they are better equipped to achieve their full potential.

The 2024 program will accept four total participants – last year, three startups from across Ohio were selected for the program. Beltways, a Cincinnati startup building high-capacity, last-mile pedestrian walkways for airport customers and more, took home the top prize following the pitch competition.

This year, finalist selection will take place in February, and selected startups will begin their virtual mentoring and pitch prep work in March.

The 2024 program will culminate Thursday, May 16, at the Ohio Tech Summit in Columbus, OhioX’s flagship event of the year. There, the founders will showcase their innovations and business acumen in front of a larger audience, including potential investors and industry leaders.

Entrepreneurs looking to join OhioXcelerate should submit an application via www.OhioXcelerate.com. The program is geared toward tech-enabled and innovation-driven startups with a focus on venture-fundable and scalable enterprises.

“The program is an amazing way for Ohio startups to meet mentors and gain exposure across the entire state,” Chris Berry, president and CEO of OhioX, said in the release. “We encourage all Ohio entrepreneurs to join us and showcase their work across Ohio.”

OhioXcelerate valued the prize package for the winner at $7,000, including $1,000 in cash. The top company also receives legal services from Cincinnati-based Dinsmore & Shohl; one-on-one sessions with Big Kitty Labs, a Columbus software development consultancy; memberships to Alloy Growth Lab and OhioX; and more. For the finalists, the prize package has a total value of more than $2,500.

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