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| Launch Dayton | |
|---|---|
| Name | Launch Dayton |
| Type | Nonprofit accelerator |
| Founded | 2016 |
| Location | Dayton, Ohio, United States |
| Focus | Technology commercialization, entrepreneurship, economic development |
| Key people | Jessica Koberstein (CEO), Ed Gorski (Board Chair) |
Launch Dayton is a nonprofit startup accelerator and entrepreneurial support organization based in Dayton, Ohio. It provides incubation, mentorship, seed funding, and programming aimed at translating research, military technologies, and local innovation into commercial ventures. Launch Dayton connects entrepreneurs with resources from academic institutions, federal laboratories, corporate investors, and regional economic-development organizations.
Launch Dayton was established in 2016 amid regional efforts to revitalize the Dayton metropolitan area following industrial restructuring and defense-contractor realignment. Early formation drew on partnerships with Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, University of Dayton Research Institute, Sinclair Community College, and the City of Dayton to leverage defense-related research and federal Small Business Innovation Research pathways. Launch Dayton built on precedents set by organizations such as TechTown Detroit, Research Triangle Park, and Cleveland Clinic Innovations to adapt technology commercialization models to the Midwest. Key milestones include the establishment of an accelerator program, the opening of a downtown coworking space, and participation in regional initiatives coordinated with Dayton Development Coalition and JobsOhio.
Launch Dayton runs accelerator cohorts, seed investment competitions, and proof-of-concept grants modeled on programs like the National Science Foundation I-Corps and Small Business Innovation Research support. Signature initiatives have included a curriculum for hardware startups adapted from Y Combinator and mentor networks featuring executives from GE Aviation, Lockheed Martin, and P&G. Educational offerings have been delivered in partnership with the Ohio Department of Development, the Midwest Energy Research Consortium, and workforce programs from Montgomery County. Launch Dayton’s commercialization services have targeted sectors including aerospace, sensors, additive manufacturing, medical devices, and clean energy — intersecting with projects from Air Force Research Laboratory and technology transfer offices at Ohio State University.
Launch Dayton operates incubator space and prototyping labs in downtown Dayton, situated near landmarks such as the Dayton Arcade and the Schuster Center. Facilities include coworking areas, maker spaces equipped with 3D printers and CNC machines supplied through collaborations with Wright State University and the University of Dayton. The organization has utilized repurposed commercial real estate in former industrial corridors similar to redevelopment projects like Innovation Square and satellite facilities linked to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base research parks. Infrastructure investments have been supported by municipal incentives from the City of Dayton and capital grants aligned with statewide revitalization programs administered by Ohio Development Services Agency.
Launch Dayton maintains formal and informal partnerships with federal, academic, and corporate entities. Notable collaborators include Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Air Force Research Laboratory, University of Dayton Research Institute, Sinclair Community College, Wright State University, JobsOhio, and major regional employers such as Premier Health and GE Aviation. It has worked with national accelerators and investors including Techstars, 500 Startups, and angel groups modeled after Band of Angels to syndicate funding. Collaborative projects have connected startups to procurement pathways at U.S. Department of Defense agencies and to technology-transfer frameworks exemplified by National Institutes of Health and NASA programs.
Launch Dayton frames its mission around regional job creation, talent retention, and commercialization of federally funded research. Measured outcomes have included company formation, follow-on investment, and participation in regional pitch competitions similar to those hosted by South by Southwest and TechCrunch Disrupt. Community engagement efforts involve entrepreneurship education with K–12 outreach partners such as Dayton Public Schools and workforce-development collaborations with Montgomery County Job and Family Services. The organization has contributed to downtown revitalization trends akin to those seen in Columbus, Ohio and Pittsburgh, influencing local business incubators, real-estate reuse, and philanthropic investment from entities like the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Community Council.
Launch Dayton is governed by a board of directors composed of civic leaders, entrepreneurs, and corporate executives, and operates as a nonprofit entity supported through a mix of philanthropic grants, public funding, program revenue, and private investment. Funding sources have included local economic-development allocations from Montgomery County, state grants from JobsOhio, federal awards connected to Small Business Administration and National Science Foundation initiatives, and sponsorships from corporations such as Roth American and KeyBank. Governance practices align with nonprofit standards observed in organizations like SBDC centers and regional development corporations, with oversight for fiscal management, program evaluation, and community accountability.
Category:Organizations based in Dayton, Ohio Category:Business incubators in the United States Category:Technology transfer