Entrepreneur Magazine predicts Queen City's startup scene 'about to hit'
University of Cincinnati and 1819 Innovation Hub cited as reasons Cincinnati is poised to become 'the premier Midwestern startup city'
After spending two years traveling the country and investigating startup ecosystems in search of which city's would "next," Entrepreneur Magazine contributor Jeff Barrett has concluded that Cincinnati's startup scene is "about to hit."
"The 1819 Innovation Hub, which opened this year at the University of Cincinnati, is the hub for where large companies fill their talent pipelines and mentor future startups," Barrett wrote in a recent piece for Entrepreneur.com. "UC President Neville Pinto's vision is to make the university a leading competitor in creating immediate opportunities for its students. The program is attracting many large companies."
The 1819 Innovation Hub and the university's Innovation Agenda are key components of UC's strategic direction, Next Lives Here.
The recently announced partnership between UC and Worldpay plays prominently in the Entrepreneur piece, creating "an instant fintech hub" that gives students the opportunity to gain industry experience.
Entrepreneur names CincyTech, one of the largest and most active seed funds in Southwest Ohio, as another key reason for the Queen City's emergence as the Midwest's premier startup city. CincyTech now calls the 1819 Innovation Hub home. Furthermore, the article lists CincyTech CEO Mike Venerable as one of the top three guides to Cincinnati's startup ecosystem. "He's a tremendous asset for the region and surprisingly approachable for someone with a busy schedule," Barrett wrote.
Innovation Lives Here
The University of Cincinnati is classified as a Research 1 institution by the Carnegie Commission, is ranked in the National Science Foundation's Top-35 public research universities and secured a spot on Reuter’s World’s Most Innovative Universities list. UC's students and faculty investigate problems and innovate solutions with real-world impact. Next Lives Here.
Related Stories
A jolly good trip: Bearcats take on London for fragrance company
May 15, 2026
Six NEXT Innovation Scholars at the University of Cincinnati traveled to London to transform field research into actionable recommendations for British luxury bath, body and fragrance brand Molton Brown.
Driven by curiosity, guided by care
May 14, 2026
Max Wilson, a University of Cincinnati College of Allied Health Sciences health sciences major on the pre-physician assistant track, found his path expanding beyond the classroom and into hands-on research focused on human performance and patient care.
UC Blue Ash celebrates top students and recognizes Honor Student of the Year
May 14, 2026
The University of Cincinnati Blue Ash College recently hosted a special event that celebrated students for exceptional achievements during the 2025-26 academic year. The honorees included academic award winners, student engagement award winners, Latin Honors graduates, and the 2026 UC Blue Ash College Honor Student of the Year.