Fitness, education, retail tech on deck for July Early Risers

• Shannon Raddin & ShadoFit, offering a platform to revolutionize home workouts;

• Christina Mendez & Avery Tie & Co., an accessory line for men of color with a social justice mission;

• & T. Osinubi & STEM Whisperers, seeking to stop the school-to-prison pipeline by diverting at-risk students into training for an in-demand career field.

Early Risers is a morning pitch series that connects entrepreneurs to the things they need most, like first customers, key employees, mentors, funding, and more. Each startup gets 10 minutes to pitch, then the audience gets 5 minutes for Q&A.

In the last three years, 90% of startups have gotten their ask granted through a connection made at Early Risers. So pop online and find a place you can plug into Dayton’s startup community!

Simply Savory by Rachel, Rachel Blanks’ spice startup, is dropping a new product on Friday — subscription spice boxes that will feature new blends unavailable anywhere else in her store.

Rachel officially launched Simply Savory last year, but her entrepreneur journey actually began several years earlier when she made her first seasoning blend to give away as her wedding favors. That recipe became the Gem City Blend, one of three spice mixes available when the business launched.

Today, the startup spice co has grown to offer more than a dozen seasoning blends & products that promise to take you from raw product to finished meal in a matter of minutes.

“I get inspirations from different flavors I try, different flavors I cook with, and things I think other people will enjoy, because I think food should be enjoyed,” Rachel said. “No one wants to eat mundane stuff, especially if you’re trying to eat healthy. Everybody deserves food to taste good, and so that’s what we give you.”

The new subscription boxes will feature three brand-new blends each month. Customers will receive one ounce of each blend, plus recipe cards. The amount of boxes available will be limited, and the new blends will not be available outside of the box. Initially, home cooks can purchase boxes one month at a time; a recurring subscription option is coming soon.

One of the new blends that will be available in the first box, available this Friday, will be Rachel’s take on an Indian curry, mixed with a Caribbean curry.

“It’s great, warm, aromatic, savory, sweet spices blended together,” she described. “Even if you’re just want to make a simple chicken stir fry, those aromatics are going to make your mouth water.”

Rachel was inspired to launch the new subscription boxes in part by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has lead to an increase in people cooking at home, she said.

“They’re cooking at home, enjoying time with family, and I love that, but for some people, cooking is new to them,” she said. “People get tired of eating the same thing over and over, so the whole point of the subscription box is to give you something new so you’re exciting the palette, you’re exciting the table all over again.”

Like many e-commerce businesses, Rachel has been impacted by shipping delays due to COVID, but Simply Savory is still growing, she said.

“We’re becoming primary sources for in the future when something else happens,” she said. “We’re fortifying our businesses. Many of us will make it out the other side.”

Rachel, who works as a teacher by day, hopes to grow her business so that she can leave it to her daughter, currently 8 years old. She is working to get Simply Savory into local restaurants and stores. Currently, you can find her spices online and on the shelves of Theze Dealz – A Thrifty Boutique in West Dayton & Grind House Coffee and Tea Company in Huber Heights. Next, she’s eyeing Dots Market in Kettering.

She’s also pinning a map as she ships orders to new customers with a goal to reach every state.

“Every culture has a gathering around food. I don’t care the color, ethnicity, religion — food brings us together,” Rachel said. “I love what I do because I’m helping you create good food, and when you create good food, you create good memories, and if that’s what I can help people do right now, I’m satisfied.”

To be eligible for these funds, you must be able to prove that the pandemic has had a negative impact on your business. These funds must be used for working capital such as utilities, rent and other fixed costs.

• not have already received any federal assistance (CARES or COVID-19, SBA loans, PPP, etc.)

• have a physical storefront (restaurant, bar, retail, barbershop, etc.) and/or be an allowable home office as reported in most recent filed tax return

Aviatra — Dayton is launching a new EXPLORE cohort specifically for woman-owned startups with a social mission.

EXPLORE — For the Greater Good will meet Thursdays at 6p, starting start Aug. 6 and running for 10 weeks. Participants must be:

• a socially-conscious company, or exploring an idea that will benefit humans, animals or the planet

The curriculum will cover business-building basics including creation of a business plan, sales strategies, social media, small business insurance, cash flow management, legal considerations, financial projections & a pitch.

The EXPLORE For the Greater Good cohort is sponsored by Robin Gentry McGee, Aviatra alum and founder and former CEO of Functional Formularies.

The Downtown Dayton Partnership (DDP), along with its small business development partners, is inviting business owners to apply to the first session of the Downtown Dayton Retail Lab, an intensive 12-week experience for business owners aiming to launch or grow their first-floor business in downtown Dayton.

The Retail Lab has two main goals: continue energizing downtown with vibrant storefronts and unique restaurants, and provide a supportive pathway into the downtown market for emerging first-floor entrepreneurs, especially women-owned and minority-owned businesses.

“The small businesses that line our streets and sidewalks provide the amenities that make downtown so attractive to residents, visitors, and employers,” said Sandra K. Gudorf, president of the DDP. “We are excited to offer the Retail Lab to support and accelerate these businesses as they emerge from the economic shutdown.”

Each round of the Downtown Dayton Retail Lab will provide a series of workshops, pitch events, and pilot opportunities that connect the participating businesses to the people, ideas, capital, and resources that will help them thrive and grow in downtown Dayton. Workshops will generally be held virtually and include facilitated instruction, work sessions with mentors, and occasional in-person activities with appropriate health precautions.

Eligible businesses include boutiques, shops, cafes, studios, and restaurants – any consumer business that adds to the vibrancy of downtown’s sidewalks. Applicants should either be located in downtown Dayton or aiming to launch downtown in the next 6 to 12 months. Interested small business owners can find more information and apply for the program here. Applications for the Downtown Dayton Retail Lab will be accepted through July 14, with the program slated to begin in August.

The Retail Lab leverages support from many business resource partners including The Entrepreneurs Center, the Miami Valley Small Business Development Center, 2nd Street Market, Wright State Applied Research Corporation, CityWide Development, and The Hub at the Dayton Arcade.

“Our community has an exceptional network of resources and mentors who are ready to help business owners succeed,” said AJ Ferguson, project manager with the DDP and coordinator of the Retail Lab program. “The Retail Lab assembles them into a course that will challenge business owners to make a substantial push to improve or launch their downtown store.”

The Retail Lab is offered at no cost for these small businesses. In addition to the support businesses receive through the workshops, each participant is eligible for up to $2,500 in professional services from creative, legal, and financial firms to advance their business.

Questions about the Retail Lab should be directed to AJ Ferguson, ferguson @ downtowndayton.org, or call (937) 681-9793.

Downtown Dayton Partnership is a proud partner of the Launch Dayton community. The Launch Dayton partners believe everyone, regardless of their background, should have the opportunity to determine their own economic prosperity. This community exists to support and inspire all Daytonians who are building businesses. Launch Dayton partners collaborate to build an easily accessible environment, run high-caliber programming, and connect a network of champions, mentors, and resource providers.

• Rachel Blanks, founder of Simply Savory By Rachel, offering a spice blend perfect for every meal;

• Deron Bell, founder of My Music Ed, an app designed to help students and teachers build vital relationships by bringing music into the classroom;

• & William Kaval & Mike Moulton of Rixa Tech, using sensor tech to develop a wearable device to help prevent drowning deaths.

In the last two years, 90% of startups have gotten their ask granted through a connection made at Early Risers. So pop online and find a place you can plug into Dayton’s startup community!

Mark your calendars for the fifth annual Techstars Startup Week Dayton, slated for Sept. 21-25, 2020!

The health and safety of our entrepreneur community are paramount, so we are planning to bring you a blended conference this year with both in-person and virtual attendance options.

On Monday & Tuesday, we’ll host a series of powerhouse speakers from the local entrepreneur community on our main stage. In-person attendance will be capped at the State of Ohio’s recommended limits. We will also stream the sessions live online so you can join from anywhere.

Wednesday through Friday, we’ll be offering industry-specific tracks that will allow attendees to dig deeper into topics specific to your type of business. Each track will include a session on industry-specific funding opportunities, as well.

This year’s industry-specific tracks are in the works for entrepreneurs in the food&beverage, medtech, defense, materials & manufacturing, health/beauty/wellness, and arts/creative industries.

These industry-specific tracks are being planned by teams of volunteer track captains including Mandy Groszko, Andy Cothrel, Eric Wagner, LeKeisha Grant, Tae Winston, Ryan Helbach, Anissa Lumpkin, Lisa Hanson, Karen Maner, Sierra Leone & Phillitia Charlton. We are so grateful to these leaders for their enthusiasm and dedication to plan, even through the uncertainty of a pandemic. If you see one of them in the next few weeks, give them an extra shout out!

Startup Week brings together the thinkers, dreamers, doers, makers, entrepreneurs around cups of coffee, pints of beer, and small stages spaced throughout local establishments. It is organized by the entrepreneur community, for the entrepreneur community.

All experiences are welcome — whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or new to the community, there is space for you to jump in.

Please stay tuned as we roll out this year’s details. The startup community is nothing if not innovative — we are working to remain flexible as we navigate the waters of a global pandemic, but know that one way or another, we will bring you Techstars Dayton Startup Week 2020.

Friday afternoon, Luis Estevez, founder of AIMM, won his Early Risers Academy tech cohort’s virtual pitch competition, taking home $1K.

Luis has 10+ years of materials science expertise that he is funneling into his startup, AIMM, which specializes in antimicrobial coatings for porous materials that activate with simple water.

At the moment, the product he is developing is a self-disinfecting N95 respirator mask, an innovative upgrade to the masks that are vital to the fight against COVID19.

“The Early Risers Academy cohort provided the expected excellent foundational education for an entrepreneur like myself with my early stage company, AIMM. What I found to be the biggest value for the program though, are the people that were involved — from the organizers, Eric and Ke, to the excellent guest speakers, and, especially, the fellow cohort members,” he said. “The contacts, connections and friendships I made through this cohort will not only be invaluable to my startup, but to me personally.”

We’ll work to keep you connected with Luis and AIMM as he strives to bring simple, yet effective solutions to the masses through advanced science.

Early Risers Academy is a free, 10-week, pre-accelerator program designed to take participants from business idea to business launch. It is run by a team from Launch Dayton partner Wright State Applied Research Corporation.

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.

• Maria Perez & EzKin Company’s Factory View Online solution, simplifying the manufacturing industry and giving a reachable option to get companies into the competitive digital world to make data driven decisions.

• Tyler Rupert & Seer, building a platform utilizing artificial intelligence to measure, communicate, and analyze operational data to inform business decisions and optimize operational efficiency. With opportunity in the $100B business productivity software market, we’re providing insights into an organization or individual’s operations, such as analyzing what activities our clients spend their time on and how much time they spend on them.

• Rise Huffman & CommTrans, a system that provides real-time medical information at the touch of a button, allowing emergency personnel and medical staff to interact with patients anywhere in the world, empowering patient freedoms and maintaining levels of patient care, wherever life happens to take them.

• Sarah Jordan & Skuld, an advanced materials company focused on developing new metal manufacturing processes. Our process innovations allow manufacturers to create new casting and additive manufacturing designs that are more cost effective and efficient.

• Greg Johnson & Delaney Center, tackling the problem of opioid addiction, which impacted 10 million people and their families in 2019 with 200 addicts dying every day, by using telepresence technology and non-narcotic medicinal treatment to break this dependence until it becomes clear that full recovery from addiction is possible for everyone.

• Gail Johnson & Pinch 2 Purchase, providing shoppable video in a pinch, designed for small screen mobile devices, providing monetization of retail transactions on a SaaS platform for digital video publishers and influencers.

“Early Risers Academy is designed for aspiring founders in any industry,” Project Manager KeAnna Daniels said. “We’re particularly excited to work with more women and minority founders.”

Thursday night, Temitayo (T.) Adeola Osinubi, founder of STEM Whisperers, and Patricia Garcia, founder of College Thrifts, won their Early Risers Academy cohort’s virtual pitch night, each taking home $1K.

STEM Whisperers is a marketing technology (martech)-focused college & career readiness STEM program specifically designed to end the School-to-Prison Pipeline by providing a culturally-relevant, evidenced-based curriculum that meets troubled students where they are and exposes them to MarTech career paths to sprout scholars from statistics to significance.

Founder T.’s personal journey included being labeled early on as a “bad kid.” Though he went on to earn his degree and manage digital marketing at companies like P&G, many of his peers did not, he said. He hopes STEM Whisperers will help change that by equipping students like he was with skills to jump into an in-demand industry.

“There are a lot of entry points to the entrepreneurial ecosystem, but Early Risers Academy needs to be put front & center as the first stop,” T. said. “They’ve been really good at bringing on subject matter experts who actually know what they’re doing, what they’re talking about. This isn’t stuff you can google.”

College Thrifts is a resale platform that seeks to create an inclusive college experience for students by providing an affordable and sustainable way for students to sport their school.

Patricia’s entrepreneurial journey was also driven by personal experience. A rising junior at Florida International University, she wanted to sport her school’s gear, but found the high prices at the campus bookstore excluded lower-income students like herself. With College Thrifts, students and alumni can purchase and sell their gently-used college gear.

Patricia found the Early Risers Academy application via a LinkedIn post. She was able to jump into the spring general cohort because the program went fully virtual, kicking off at the beginning of April as COVId19 shutdowns spread across the country.

“At first I was really concerned about jumping in, but the support I’ve felt, even hundreds of miles away, is amazing,” she said. “When I started, I had an idea and a rough version of a pitch deck. Seeing the progress in 10 weeks — being in this program has been really helpful.”

The spring 2020 general cohort was the largest yet, with 16 participants starting, and 14 completing, the program. Typically there is only one $1K prize available per cohort. the second $1K prize for this cohort was generously provided by IUE-CWA.

• Whitney Brewer & Whitney Brewer Photography, an unparalleled photography and coaching service specializing in empowering self-love, confidence and authenticity in growth-oriented individuals.

• Sarah Seagraves & 67b Bookkeeping, working to empower creative entrepreneurs to make smart business decisions by bringing clarity & understanding to their finances. Let 67b handle the books so you can handle your business.

• Tanner Elrod & Cardigan Radio, a Dayton-based podcast-production platform that is focused on making the process of creating fictional audio dramas accessible for independent artists. We strive to bring together writers, actors, directors, and producers to create stories that are both entertaining and convey an impactful message.

• Jalal Akl & UniMart, a student marketplace on which students of same university can sell/buy belongings from each other or even rent. Also they can shop online with the opportunity of receiving their purchase before whole payment.

• Anissa Lumpkin & BOSH Kids (Body•Organic•Science•Hair), unleashing creativity! Our all-natural DIY, high quality and reusable bath and body kits are focused on creating fun at-home STEM experiences for girls ages 8-14. It’s not enough to make the packaging pink and call it a girls ‘toy,” at BOSH Kids, we focus on using girls’ natural play patterns to CREATE SPARKS of JOY in learning (with a dash of pink and glitter).

• Te’jal Cartwright & What’s The Biz, a multi-faceted company that focuses on increasing black businesses’ customer bases by highlighting the stories of black business owners through a quirky web series and an intentional digital experience.

• Roe Wallace & Future Dreamers, a youth entrepreneurial program that offers hands on experience. The participants will enter with an idea, write it down , make a plan and leave with a legacy.

• Caressa Brown & Dayton Emerging Fashion Incubator (DE-FI) LLC, a volunteer-based community outreach initiative that helps launch careers in fashion.

• Alea Carter & Be Whole! Life Coaching, offering online private and group coaching sessions, courses, dream interpretation, and books to women who seek personal development, empowerment, and life fulfillment. Our “whole person” approach provides clarity, encouragement, and accountability for our customers to live happy, healthy, and whole; thus, becoming the best version of themselves.

• James Revels & Katakage Brands, although the products shift like shadows, the experience is as timeless as light.

• Catrina Conley-Brookover & CB Cakes & More, sweets specialist, creating desserts such as cookies, cakes, cupcakes, and so much more, providing specialty dessert options for all your special occasions. We use quality ingredients to satisfy your sweet tooth, with prices to satisfy your wallet.

• Crystal Averette & Beyond the Chair, a mobile salon that brings comfort and confidence to your door step. This salon on wheels will bring you privacy, safety, convenience and comfort.

“Early Risers Academy is designed for aspiring founders in any industry,” Project Manager KeAnna Daniels said. “We’re particularly excited to work with more women and minority founders.”

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

This Thursday & Friday, graduates from our latest general & tech cohorts will pitch for a $1k prize!

• STEM Whisperers, a Marketing Technology (MarTech)-focused College & Career Readiness STEM program specifically designed to end the School-to-Prison Pipeline. Our culturally-relevant, evidenced-based curriculum meets troubled students where they are, exposes them to MarTech career paths, and sprouts scholars from statistics to significance.

• CB Cakes & More, sweets specialist, creating desserts such as cookies, cakes, cupcakes, and so much more, providing specialty dessert options for all your special occasions. We use quality ingredients to satisfy your sweet tooth, with prices to satisfy your wallet.

• Whitney Brewer Photography, an unparalleled photography and coaching service specializing in empowering self-love, confidence and authenticity in growth-oriented individuals.

• College Thrifts, a resale platform that seeks to create an inclusive college experience for students by providing an affordable and sustainable way for students to sport their school.

• 67b Bookkeeping, working to empower creative entrepreneurs to make smart business decisions by bringing clarity & understanding to their finances. Let 67b handle the books so you can handle your business.

• Cardigan Radio, a Dayton-based podcast-production platform that is focused on making the process of creating fictional audio dramas accessible for independent artists. We strive to bring together writers, actors, directors, and producers to create stories that are both entertaining and convey an impactful message.

• Jalal: UniMart, a student marketplace on which students of same university can sell/buy belongings from each other or even rent. Also they can shop online with the opportunity of receiving their purchase before whole payment.

• BOSH Kids (Body•Organic•Science•Hair), unleashing creativity! Our all-natural DIY, high quality and reusable bath and body kits are focused on creating fun at-home STEM experiences for girls ages 8-14. It’s not enough to make the packaging pink and call it a girls ‘toy,” at BOSH Kids, we focus on using girls’ natural play patterns to CREATE SPARKS of JOY in learning (with a dash of pink and glitter).

• What’s The Biz, a multi-faceted company that focuses on increasing black businesses’ customer bases by highlighting the stories of black business owners through a quirky web series and an intentional digital experience.

• Roe: Future Dreamers, a youth entrepreneurial program that offers hands on experience. The participants will enter with an idea, write it down , make a plan and leave with a legacy.

• Dayton Emerging Fashion Incubator (DE-FI) LLC, a volunteer-based community outreach initiative that helps launch careers in fashion.

• Be Whole! Life Coaching, offering online private and group coaching sessions, courses, dream interpretation, and books to women who seek personal development, empowerment, and life fulfillment. Our “whole person” approach provides clarity, encouragement, and accountability for our customers to live happy, healthy, and whole; thus, becoming the best version of themselves.

• Katakage Brands, although the products shift like shadows, the experience is as timeless as light.

• AIMM, using 10+ years of materials science expertise to enable anti-microbial coatings for porous materials that activate with simple water. At AIMM we are striving to bring simple, yet effective solutions to the masses through advanced science.

• EzKin Company’s Factory View Online solution, simplifying the manufacturing industry and giving a reachable option to get companies into the competitive digital world to make data driven decisions.

• Seer, building a platform utilizing artificial intelligence to measure, communicate, and analyze operational data to inform business decisions and optimize operational efficiency. With opportunity in the $100B business productivity software market, we’re providing insights into an organization or individual’s operations, such as analyzing what activities our clients spend their time on and how much time they spend on them.

• CommTrans, a system that provides real-time medical information at the touch of a button, allowing emergency personnel and medical staff to interact with patients anywhere in the world, empowering patient freedoms and maintaining levels of patient care, wherever life happens to take them.

• Skuld, an advanced materials company focused on developing new metal manufacturing processes. Our process innovations allow manufacturers to create new casting and additive manufacturing designs that are more cost effective and efficient.

• Pinch 2 Purchase, providing shoppable video in a pinch, designed for small screen mobile devices, providing monetization of retail transactions on a SaaS platform for digital video publishers and influencers.

• Delaney Centers, tackling the problem of opioid addiction, which impacted 10 million people and their families in 2019 with 200 addicts dying every day, by using telepresence technology and non-narcotic medicinal treatment to break this dependence until it becomes clear that full recovery from addiction is possible for everyone.

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

Social justice features heavily in company missions, too

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

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