HandyHats will donate an ALDI giftcard for every hat purchased this week

Handy Hats, a Dayton-original & one of the Dayton Business Journal’s “Start-ups to Watch in 2020,” is teaming-up with ALDI grocery stores to donate to the Kettering Backpack Program.

Handy Hats are custom-designed patent-published hats that come with built-in flexible pockets to hold everyday items such as: credit cards, cash, keys, IDs, lip balm, & even face masks.

For every Handy Hat sold on myhandyhats.com during the week of Dec. 7 – 11, Handy Hats will donate a winter hat with an ALDI gift card in the hat pocket to the children served by the Kettering Backpack Program.

“I am very excited to be teaming-up with ALDI’s,” Dani said. “I am very inspired by the ALDI’s Smart Kids program, which provides support to help end childhood hunger, and am thankful that Sarah Brown & the local division of ALDI’s was willing to team-up with Handy Hats to give back in the Dayton area.”

The Kettering Backpack Program is a nonprofit organization with one goal: to fight childhood hunger in 19 elementary/middle schools in Kettering each week.

“As someone who grew up in Dayton & went to school in Kettering, it is extremely important to me to give back to my community and try to make the biggest impact I can with the resources I have been blessed with,” Dani said.

Downtown Dayton Dollars, a new, e-gift card program designed to keep local dollars with our downtown businesses, is LIVE!

Downtown Dollars is a digital gift card platform, redeemable at dozens of downtown Dayton participating businesses, including restaurants, pubs, retailers and services. Downtown Dollars will go on sale on Monday, Dec. 7, at www.downtowndayton.org/dollars.

Buy Downtown Dollars for your own everyday purchases, or as a gift for a friend, family member or colleague. Downtown Dollars gives access to the best shopping, dining and entertainment in Downtown Dayton with one card, conveniently stored on a phone or other mobile device. Downtown Dollars directly support the network of small, independent businesses in the heart of Dayton.

A full list of participating businesses in downtown Dayton, plus information on how the cards can be purchased and redeemed, can be found at www.downtowndayton.org/dollars.

“We wanted to create a program that was a simple way for our community to load money into one account but spend at a network of their favorite small businesses in our downtown,” said Sandra K. Gudorf, president of the Downtown Dayton Partnership. “Every time Downtown Dollars are used, we’ll know that money is directly impacting our small businesses in downtown Dayton, and they need our support now more than ever.”

When you purchase Downtown Dollars for yourself, or to give to others as a gift, the e-gift card is delivered via email or text message. Benefits of the Downtown Dollars e-gift cards include:

Starting on Monday, Dec. 7, customers can go to the Downtown Dollars webpage to purchase the e-gift cards for themselves or to send as a gift. Choose the amount, and it will be delivered by email or text message. Every time a Downtown Dollars card is used at a participating business, it puts money directly in the pockets of those local, independent businesses that need support the most.

For organizations interested in making a bulk purchase ($500 or more) of Downtown Dollars, contact Val Beerbower at [email protected] to discuss reduced eDelivery fees for paying by check, ACH or wire transfer.

As Daytonians look to buy gifts this holiday season, order meals or drinks for their families and households, or make everyday purchases at local businesses, Downtown Dollars can be a new option of payment that will directly support Dayton businesses.

For a complete list of downtown’s events, a dining guide, parking maps and more, visit www.downtowndayton.org, and follow the DDP on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram to keep up with downtown events and news.

Apply today to be one of the first 25 mentors

The Launch Dayton Mentor Network is a new program to provide existing entrepreneurs in the Dayton Region access to a network of skilled mentors who provide professional guidance to help entrepreneurs meet specific business milestones.

“The goal of the program is to foster a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem where business owners of all stages, industries and demographics experience success, become sustainable, and scale their companies,” said Parallax Advanced Research Program Manager KeAnna Daniels. “Our startup founders have proven themselves resilient, and we can’t wait to help them grow further.”

The Launch Dayton Mentor Network will be managed by Parallax Advanced Research on behalf of Launch Dayton, a collaborative effort of entrepreneurial resource provider organizations across the region to support and promote all Daytonians building businesses. Launch Dayton partners believe everyone, regardless of their background, should have the opportunity to determine their own economic prosperity. The Launch Dayton Mentor Network is made possible through Ohio Third Frontier funding via The Entrepreneurs Center.

“It has long been a goal to offer a robust mentor network to connect innovative startup founders to the wealth of expertise available through our region’s top business leaders,” said The Entrepreneurs Center President Scott Koorndyk. “Mentorship has been shown to make a difference in the success of startups; we’re thrilled to offer this benefit to Dayton entrepreneurs with the Launch Dayton Mentor Network.”

“Being a Launch Dayton partner is important to the overall work we’re doing at Parallax Advanced Research in support of innovation and creativity. Our Launch Dayton team is our local arm that supports the innovation ecosystem, and we are excited to be a part of a new project to embolden innovative entrepreneurs and help make their ideas successful,” said Parallax Advanced Research CEO Dennis Andersh.

Launch Dayton Mentor Network managers are currently recruiting both mentors and mentees for the new program, which will kick off in early 2021.

Become a Mentor. The Launch Dayton Mentor Network seeks altruistic individuals who are willing to volunteer their time and expertise and are passionate about mentoring early-stage and existing entrepreneurs on their entrepreneurial journey. Mentors will advise and guide, accelerate mentee business growth, and provide an ongoing educational relationship.

There are only 25 mentor spots open for the pilot run of the program. Interviews with applicants will begin in January 2021.

Want one-on-one support to help your business grow & scale? The Launch Dayton Mentor Network is also recruiting small business owners and startup founders to be mentees in the new program.

Become a Mentee. The Launch Dayton Mentor Network is designed for entrepreneurs seeking mentorship for their business; individuals committed to improving as a business owner/operator; founders willing to put in the work that comes from their mentoring sessions; business owners who are coachable and open to feedback.

Early Risers Academy is a free, 10-week, pre-accelerator program designed to take participants from business idea to business launch.

• Anikka Masey, founder of New Season Wellness, an alternative online health store providing convenience, ease and affordability of a one stop shop for all things CBD;

• Rachel Blanks, founder of Simply Savory by Rachel, a premier line of complete seasoning blends designed to separate a boring dish from a memorable one;

• Rachel Roebuck-Howard, founder of Live Arts Transformation, offering events from stage plays to concerts, children’s competitions to mental health workshops, all dedicated to bringing a ray of hope to those who need it.

• Sierra Leone, founder of Acacia Health and Wellness, an energy clearing and cleaning sage spray and hand-blended essentials oils businessintended to support holistic health, healing, and wellness through the use of our specially formulated and curated sprays and oils.

• Courtney Wilbur, founder of Just Cakin It Mobile Cakery + Dessert Lab, providing custom gourmet treats with a twist of chemistry to create a fun experience at the convenience of your front door.

Early Risers Academy is designed for aspiring founders in any industry. We’re particularly excited to work with more women and minority founders.

Participants complete Kauffman FastTrac coursework from the nationally-renowned Kauffman Foundation, receive pitch coaching and hands-on mentoring, weekly discussions with successful entrepreneurs and experts, & access to Dayton’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

These workshops can also be valuable for founders early in their small business journey, or who jumped right into their business without formally developing the plans behind it and are now discovering they need some of that paperwork in place to grow.

Cornerstone Research Group, Inc. (CRG), a privately held aerospace and defense firm that has been “Doing Defense Differently” since 1997, announced today its Venture Studio has launched an electric aviation (eAviation) technology company. Lectratek LLC is focused on powering eAviation technologies for an industry poised for dramatic growth in the coming years.

Lectratek leverages a number of core proprietary technologies developed over the years by CRG. Initial offerings will include engineering services and aircraft components related to electric propulsion, advanced affordable composites, and safe energy storage. Growth over time is anticipated to eventually touch virtually all aspects of electric aviation powertrains and some structural components. The company is already off to a strong start, leveraging over $25 million of prior DoD/NASA investment at CRG, including three new Agility Prime contracts.

“Nothing could be more appropriate to the Dayton region’s inventive roots than growing a company to be a leader in the next wave of aviation,” said CRG CEO Patrick Hood. “Electric aviation is rapidly moving from something people dream about to something people will use every day, and Lectratek is positioned to be a leader in the field.”

Lectratek is the first new company coming out of CRG’s recently formed Venture Studio to gain critical mass, according to Andrew Cothrel, CRG’s Chief Venture Officer.

“We are really pleased with how quickly customer demand is becoming tangible for Lectratek, particularly for our highly unique propulsion solutions,” Cothrel said. “While it is still early days in eAviation, this is a market forecasted to be worth $178B by 2040, and we think Lectratek has something to offer that can lead to enduring success.”

CRG’s Chief Revenue Officer, Chris Hemmelgarn, is acting as the interim leader for the new venture. “With my own roots as an aero engineer, I could not be more excited about how Lectratek is going to impact growth and capabilities in eAviation,” said Hemmelgarn. “It’s great to be part of aviation innovation in Dayton, where it all began.”

A self-described “bad kid” turned digital marketing guru wants to pay it forward with a program to funnel at-risk students into digital marketing careers.

T. Osinubi is the founder of STEM Whisperers, a martech-focused college and career readiness STEM program that seeks to reduce the school-to-prison pipeline by diverting at-risk youth in urban schools into training programs to fill the martech gap in STEM fields.

It’s a program designed for students whose educational journey resembles how own, he said.

“I was a pain in the teacher’s class,” he recalled. “I barely graduated high school.”

But he went on to graduate salutatorian of his class at Full Sail University before landing marketing gigs at national companies like ACCO Brands and Proctor & Gamble.

“I’m not focused on novelties,” T. explained. “I’m focused on solving problems.”

The first step in growing his startup is getting STEM Whisperers into schools. He is working with Dr. Amy Magnus to finalize a 12-week curriculum for schools by January 2021. A mobile app for the STEM Whisperers curriculum is also in development T. hopes to see the program added to curriculums as young as fourth grade.

T. was the winner of the spring 2020 Early Risers Academy cohort pitch competition. Early Risers Academy is a free 10-week business bootcamp managed by Launch Dayton partner Parallax Advanced Research, that went virtual when COVID hit in March.

“There are a lot of entry points to the entrepreneurial ecosystem, this needs to be put front & center as the first stop. This needs to be where people start, this is where they’ll get the most value, this is where they’ll get excited,” T. said of the bootcamp.

“If nothing else, do it so you can get a few one-on-ones with someone like Gail, who, if you had to pay her, you probably couldn’t afford her because she’s really high quality,” he added. “To have access to someone like that who’s genuinely interested in making sure that you succeed, that alone would be worth doing it. If you’re new, if you’re not new, there’s something for everyone.”

CB Cakes & More isn’t just a business for founder Catrina Conley-Brookover — it’s the realization of a dream she shared with her late mother.

Catrina and her mom bonded over their love of baking. The pair took cake decorating classes together and planned to start a bakery. When Catrina’s mother developed cancer and passed away in 2006, the dream seemed farther away.

“I lost interest for a while, but it was always in there,” she said. “Then one day, I woke up and I decided it’s time to start the bakery.”

CB Cakes & More strives to provide high quality, creative, and affordable products for parties, festivals, weddings, and other events. They collaborate with event planners, florists, and party planners to provide multiple options for budget-friendly sweets. Their primary focus is to serve weddings and events involving families with small children.

“We give you great products, at a great price, to save our customers time to enjoy the event,” Catrina said.

“I was the kid with the lemonade and rock-painting stand,” she recalled. “It’s hard not to lose yourself when you’re an entrepreneur, but building something for yourself is a very rewarding experience. When you’re building your own, it has more meaning and more purpose.”

Early Risers Academy, a free, 10-week business-building bootcamp managed by Launch Dayton partner Parallax Advanced Research, was key to Catrina’s entrepreneurship journey. In early 2020, the program helped Catrina make the crucial business decisions necessary for her success, she said. She also enjoyed the collaborative nature of her cohort — despite being strangers, everyone was supportive and wanted to help each other grow.

“There was camaraderie as well as competition, and we’ve continued to support each other since the program ended,” Catrina said.

She also plugs Techstars Startup Week Dayton as a valuable resource for new and aspiring entrepreneurs.

“Those types of events are offered for free and offer a lot of great information,” she said. “That’s where you should start every time so you can get genuine resources that are easy to get your hands on.”

45+ businesses to be featured across Launch Dayton partner platforms

Make the greatest impact with your dollars this holiday season by shopping local and shopping small.

Launch Dayton’s partner organizations are collaborating to run the online #LaunchIntoTheHolidays campaign to promote Dayton-region small businesses this holiday season.

Beginning Cyber Monday, Nov. 30, 2020, and running through Friday, Dec. 18, tune in every weekday at noon to the Launch Dayton Facebook pages to connect live with local businesses offering consumer goods perfect for your holiday gift list. The lineup will feature a range of products including baked goods, baking mixes, clothes, jewelry, beauty and skincare products, toys, kitchen and housewares, fair trade goods, handcrafted items, restaurant and fitness studio giftcards, local spirits, seasoning mixes, CBD products + more.

You can use this lineup as your go-to resource for your local Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday shopping this holiday season, too!

Launch Dayton is a collaborative effort of entrepreneurial resource provider organizations across the region to support and promote all Daytonians building businesses. Launch Dayton partners believe everyone, regardless of their background, should have the opportunity to determine their own economic prosperity. Several Launch Dayton partner organizations including Aviatra Accelerators — Dayton, Downtown Dayton Partnership, Miami Valley Small Business Development Center, PARALLAX Advanced Research, and The Entrepreneurs Center will also be sharing the #LaunchIntoTheHolidays live videos.

“Our small business community has been hit especially hard this year in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Parallax Program Manager John Owen said. “Though we are disappointed not to be able to gather in person for our annual Holiday Startup Market, we hope the #LaunchIntoTheHolidays campaign will enable us to support and promote even more businesses this holiday season.”

Baba Love Organics founder Vaniti Byrd will again host her annual “Soul Made” Market on Sunday, Nov. 29 from 2-5 pm at the White House Event Center, located at 101 E 2nd St, Dayton.

“‘Soul Made’ Sunday is our take on Small Business Saturday,” Vaniti explained. “The market brings together local makers for a family-friendly shop small event + amazing food, all under one roof.”

As well as local, handmade goods, services and food, the free event will feature raffles, a DJ, and a photo booth.

Temperature checks and a stop at the sanitation station will be required upon arrival. Face masks are also required to shop the event. A 6-foot social distancing rule will be enforced.

Perks of shopping the Soul Made Market? Beat the Black Friday rush; purchase local, handmade goods & services; and save on shipping costs, Vaniti said.

Apply now to get in on this free business bootcamp program

The Early Risers Academy pre-accelerator program, designed to take participants from business idea to launch within 10 weeks, will kick back off in February 2021.

The FREE Early Risers Academy program is designed to take aspiring entrepreneurs from idea to launch, or to help newer small business owners plan & train to successfully scale. Entrepreneurs of all genders, colors & creeds are welcome.

“This needs to be where people start, this is where they’ll get the most value, this is where they’ll get excited,” said T. Osinubi, founder of STEM Whispers and a spring 2020 Early Risers Academy graduate. “There are a lot of entry points to the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Start here first.”

The program went virtual in April to help business owners work on their business, even if they couldn’t work in their business as usual due to COVID. The first 2021 cohorts are also slated to run virtually. There will be four cohorts total in 2021. Three cohorts will be industry-agnostic, one cohort will be tailored for tech-based companies. The dates are as follows:

Participants will spend those 10 weeks moving from idea to founding a business through coursework from the Kauffman Foundation, the country’s preeminent entrepreneurship-building organization. Aspiring founders will receive pitch coaching and hands-on mentoring, weekly discussions with successful entrepreneurs and experts, access to Dayton’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, & alumni support after graduating the academy.

The tech cohort will be run by reps from Converge Technologies, an engineering and business advisory firm that helps companies with development and commercialization of novel technologies. This focused cohort will offer additional experts on topics such as prototype development and how to design to appeal to end users and for large-scale manufacturing.

Applicants should be able to commit at least 4-6 hours per week to coursework for the duration of the academy.

Each program will conclude with a pitch event in which one graduate from each cohort will win $1,000 to infuse into their business. Pitch events will be organized with Launch Dayton, a collaborative effort to connect entrepreneurs to peers, resources, and supporters, and to tell the stories of our region’s thriving startup community.

“We are intentionally carving out space for minority founders and business owners to access resources that help build solid foundations and provide hands-on support in order to create successful businesses,” program manager KeAnna Daniels said. “We are committed to reaching non-tech and historically under-represented founders who haven’t always felt seen in Dayton’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.”

This pre-accelerator is supported by The Entrepreneurs Center & Parallax Advanced Research, collaborators on the region’s Entrepreneurial Services Provider (ESP) grant which is funded by Ohio Third Frontier.

Apply today to be one of the first 25 mentors

45+ businesses to be featured across Launch Dayton partner platforms

Apply now to get in on this free business bootcamp program

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