Rev1 Ventures

Inclusive Access to Innovation-based Entrepreneurship expands inclusive entrepreneurial services to scalable startups in Franklin County, Ohio, the most populous and diverse county in the Columbus metropolitan region. This project aims to serve more than 120 women and people of color seeking to commercialize technologies and launch new scalable businesses and place an additional 71 interns and fellows into startup experiences. The combination serves those with immediate needs while building a pipeline of diverse entrepreneurial talent in the region.

This effort focuses on overcoming challenges identified by women and entrepreneurs of color: inadequate access to culturally competent mentors, peer supports, and appropriate resource-based networks. Building on Rev1 Ventures’ proven startup services and its inclusive entrepreneurship approach, this project will a) expand mentor diversity and availability to provide one-to-one assistance in tandem with existing core services, b) enhance access to peer groups and resource networks through targeted activities for women and entrepreneurs of color, c) work with colleges and universities, especially those traditionally serving minority populations, to establish internships for students to work in startup environments, and d) match and place fellows/post-doctoral graduates (post-docs) in companies to help commercialize highly-scalable technologies. These activities will not just provide services, they will expand regional partnerships to build ongoing capacity and continue this work past the grant timeframe.

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