Ecosystem Connections Benefit Small Businesses

MORTAR at Bounce is a 15-week small business accelerator that helps established entrepreneurs take a deeper dive into the nuances of business ownership. It focuses on serving minority- and women-owned businesses. An entrepreneurial ecosystem is invaluable to anyone starting a business. Between various partners, including many right here in Greater Akron, entrepreneurs can find inspiration, […]

CEO Doug Weintraub to retire; COO Jessica Sublett named successor

Akron, Ohio (May 4, 2022): Bounce Innovation Hub has announced that Douglas Weintraub, chief executive officer, will retire at the end of 2022. The board of directors has appointed Jessica Sublett, chief operating officer, to succeed Weintraub as CEO on Jan. 1, 2023. “On behalf of the board of directors and the Bounce team, clients […]

Member Spotlight: Barbara Parker, Owner, BF Empowerment Center

Bounce-Barbara Parker-BF Empowerment Center

This month, we sat down with Barbara Parker, owner of BF Empowerment Center to discuss her business and what working at Bounce means to her. Barbara rents office space for her company on the first floor in the Generator. BF Empowerment Center is focused on creating systemic change and serves all 88 counties in Ohio […]

GROW Spotlight: Peter James, Owner, Rubber City Gardens

The GROW program at Bounce supports both aspiring and experienced entrepreneurs as they bring their ideas to life. The program focuses on minorities and women.  Keeping a community garden running requires effort, time and reliable volunteers. After Peter James failed to organize his own, he was inspired to start Rubber City Gardens, an urban-focused and community-driven agricultural cooperative. Its […]

20 Business Terms Entrepreneurs Should Know

20 Business Terms Entrepreneurs Should Know

Ready to take the leap into entrepreneurship? Running your own business is tough enough but trying to understand the lingo is an added headache. Knowing some key business terms can make it easier to navigate the business world. Not only that but it can you speak confidently with investors, lenders and others to build strong […]

Tech Spotlight: orthobrain

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Ohio-based startup sees opportunity to positively affect dental patient care and accessibility; achieves $9 million in latest funding round   Dr. Dan German, founder, CEO and chief orthodontist at orthobrain, a Bounce remote incubator company, knows a thing or two about smiles. With more than 30 years as an orthodontist, his smile lights up a room […]

Kurvology Owner Shares Advice For Black Women Entrepreneurs

The GROW program at Bounce supports both aspiring and experienced entrepreneurs as they bring their ideas to life. The program focuses on minorities and women.  Monique Clark wears many hats. In addition to her full-time community health worker position at Minority Behavioral Health Center, she owns her own clothing boutique Kurvology, which focuses on serving curvier women. She’s […]

Five Pieces of Advice for Aspiring Black Entrepreneurs

Bounce-Five-Pieces-of-Advice for Aspiring Black Entrepreneurs

It should not be a surprise to anyone that Black citizens in the United States have faced barriers to success for generations. As a Black business owner, who has also worked more than 20 years in the local nonprofit sector advising and helping other Black business owners, I know about having to overcome systemic racism […]

MORTAR winners talk success, challenges

Five women entrepreneurs share their successes and challenges

In celebration of Black History Month, we spoke with five of our MORTAR at Bounce “Life’s a Pitch” competition winners – who also happen to all be Black women. We learned what motivates them and if they have any advice for others trying to start their own business. Jacqueline Achadu, owner of Hunny Bunny’s Confections, […]

2021 Year in Review – Technology

Bounce-Orthobrain

(Featured above: orthobrain founder Dr. Dan German presents at our third-annual Startup Showcase.) It was a very busy year for our technology startup programs. Our team worked to expand connections for founders, continue mentorship and create strong bonds for our entrepreneurs. Many of our clients are still navigating restrictions created by the pandemic, but several […]