BUSINESS

First Batch’s $50K award to boost Cincinnati maker movement

Bowdeya Tweh
btweh@enquirer.com

Cincinnati-based startup accelerator First Batch has obtained a $50,000 grant through a U.S. Small Business Administration competition.

The award through the Small Business Administration Growth Accelerator Fund Competition was announced Tuesday as part of the inaugural White House Demo Day. More than 400 applications and presentations were submitted for the competition.

First Batch supports physical product startups and regional manufacturing and is part of Cincinnati Made, a growing nonprofit organization that is working to promote the design and manufacture of physical products. First Batch operates at the Losantiville design collective at 111 W. McMicken Ave. in Over-the-Rhine.

Matthew Anthony, a graduate of the University of Cincinnati’s College of Design, Art, Architecture and Planning, is co-founder of Launch Werks and one of the organizers of Cincinnati Made. Anthony also received the 2015 Young Urbanist Award from UC’s Community Design Center.

“We are grateful to the Department of Commerce, and Small Business Administration for this important award,” Anthony said. “Ohio ranks third in the nation in manufacturing and the Cincinnati metro area leads the state. Small firms create the majority of new jobs and innovative ideas. We are pleased to be recognized among the nation’s leaders in supporting creation and manufacture of physical products.”

Earlier this year, First Batch obtained $75,000 from the Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr./U.S. Bank Foundation, which is the nonprofit organization’s original benefactor. Last month, it obtained a $50,000 matching grant from TechSolve to bolster competitiveness of Southwest Ohio manufacturers. West Chester Township-based manufacturer TSS Technologies is also a First Batch sponsor.

The grants are helping First Batch expand the number of startups it can mentor. Entrepreneurs selected for the accelerator program receive guidance on bringing prototypes to a first manufacturing run. Now, First Batch also helps companies in a pre-prototype phase and post-manufacturing stages get products to market faster.

Companies selected for the accelerator’s third class are Mortar Ski Co., Ava, Paper Acorn and Beluga Shave Co. Mark Branham and Ron Gerdes, of Mortar Ski, are working on a ski design that can function well in less-than-ideal terrains. Laura Koven, of Ava, is developing yoga body wear. Jessica Wolf, of Paper Acorn, is working to make decorative paper products and packaging for weddings and parties, home decor and crafting. Zac Wertz, of Beluga Shave, wants to launch a luxury stainless steel single-edge razor with a pivoting head.

Cincinnati Made has also assembled a high-powered team of advisers to help chart its future. Richard Kiley, a former Procter & Gamble executive and influential member of Greater Cincinnati’s venture capital community, is chair of Cincinnati Made’s advisory board.

The board also includes: Bruce Brown, former P&G head of research and development; Gary Conley, president of TechSolve; Jerry Kathman, founder of LPK; Ed Rigaud, a former P&G manufacturing executive and EnovaPremier CEO, and Craig Vogel, associate dean at UC’s DAAP program.