Cintrifuse is excited to announce the launch of its first Venture Velocity cohort, an initiative designed to equip early-stage founders with the essential skills, strategies, and insights needed for a successful venture capital fundraise. Chosen from a pool of applications from across the nation, participants in the program will receive a $100,000 investment and up to an additional $150,000 in follow-on funding.  This program offers a comprehensive range of benefits, including enhanced pitch decks, refined fundraising strategies, and sales strategy development. Additionally, startups w ..read more

Cintrifuse, a leading startup catalyst in the Cincinnati region, has formalized a focused strategy to support high-growth potential startups and improve the odds of those startups growing into transformational companies. To support the non-profit’s efforts, Cintrifuse’s venture arm, Cintrifuse Capital, was awarded a $10 million SSBCI matching loan from the State of Ohio, which will support the creation of a $20 million fund focused on investing in and scaling early-stage companies. “The dollars awarded to Cintrifuse are a game-changer for startups in our region,” said J.B. Kropp, Cintrifuse CE ..read more

Cintrifuse secures $10 million in Ohio’s State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) matching funds to support the creation of a $20 million venture capital fund. This fund will bolster support for high-growth startups in Southwest Ohio, enabling Cintrifuse to introduce new programs and initiatives aimed at propelling startup success, creating jobs, generating revenue, and attracting follow-on capital, with a long-term vision to establish Cincinnati as the best place in the Midwest to launch a high-growth startup. Cintrifuse, a leading startup catalyst in the Cincinnati region, has form ..read more

The inaugural Student Venture Capital Summit held on April 5, 2024, at Union Hall, brought together students from seven major universities across Southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky. Tailored to students who are interested in venture capital and entrepreneurial ecosystems, the event leveraged their passions to create connections between aspiring young talent, Cincinnati-area venture capital investors, and startup founders. Cultivating a deep understanding of Cincinnati’s innovation ecosystem among students, the Student Venture Capital Summit was designed to nurture future venture talent in ..read more

Todd, a visionary disruptor in end-of-life planning, strives to simplify and destigmatize a traditionally complex process. By strategically focusing on life’s positive moments, Todd’s approach can make end of life planning a more natural, less intimidating part of life’s journey, encouraging more people to engage in these important activities. Todd was created by a uniquely diverse trio that covers almost every aspect of the company, something that’s quite rare in founding teams. Justin Deja draws from finance, corporate development, commercial and consumer research within local corporations ..read more

Nikki Boehmker, Current Cintrifuse Controller, to Become Executive Director; Will Oversee All Operational Aspects of Non-Profit. New Leadership Structure Will Enable A More Cohesive Effort to Support Cincinnati Startups. Cincinnati, Ohio; February 23, 2024 – Cintrifuse’s Board of Directors today announced J.B. Kropp will become the OTR-based entrepreneurship hub’s Chief Executive Officer. In addition to the CEO responsibilities, Kropp will continue serving in his role as Managing Director of Cintrifuse Capital, leading the strategy and deployment of Fund III. Kropp replaces Pete Blackshaw ..read more

The NITRO! Bootcamp 2024 Cohort is here and we’re thrilled to have these entrepreneurs and small business owners at Union Hall on November 18, 2023. This groundbreaking initiative will kick off that morning with a full-day of immersive sessions and workshops that aim to bridge the gap between minority-owned businesses and cutting-edge technology solutions.  A Resilient Return Initially introduced in 2019, the NITRO! Bootcamp garnered widespread recognition for its commitment to empowering minority-owned small businesses with affordable technology solutions. The program successfully inte ..read more

Ashish Chatterjee, a seasoned leader with a background at Procter & Gamble, has recently joined the Cintrifuse team as our newest EIR. With his extensive experience in and passion for sustainability, Chatterjee is poised to provide valuable guidance to entrepreneurs and innovators looking to make a positive impact in the clean energy and sustainability sector. At Cintrifuse, he’s focused on enabling a circular economy, partnering closely with Alisa Smith, Director of Innovation. Their efforts have highlighted promising opportunities in areas such as e-waste recycling, battery recycling ..read more

The Cintrifuse Annual Meeting featured conversations on our region’s opportunity to win with focus, the transformative power of AI, and the importance of diverse and local startup investment. We were thrilled to welcome over 300 in-Person attendees representing startups, large enterprises, city leaders, venture capitalists, universities and ecosystem partners. Out-of-state partners traveled from California, New York City, Texas, Washington, Washington D.C., the UK and more. Diverse speakers ranging from top city officials and Fortune 500 CEOs to startup founders and academic leaders and a su ..read more

The world of brand building is undergoing an extraordinary disruption, propelled by the relentless march of technology. Just as it transitioned from radio to TV and witnessed the rise of eCommerce, the landscape is now being reshaped by the emergence of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI). This transformative technology, still in its nascent stage, promises to disrupt the dynamics of brand building, revolutionizing consumer understanding, content creation, targeting, and brand safety. It also opens up a world of opportunities for startups to facilitate and accelerate this shift. Opportuni ..read more