Partnership Launches Pre-Accelerator to Catalyze Sustainability in the Cincinnati Region

Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub is partnering with The Kroger Co. Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation, Cintrifuse, and HCDC to launch SustainableCincy, a virtual six-week pre-accelerator program designed to help early-stage businesses advance innovative solutions in the sustainability space.

“This program was uniquely designed to foster collaboration and innovation among individuals and organizations that are just starting their journey as sustainability changemakers, said Sunny Reelhorn Parr, Executive Director of The Kroger Co. Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation. “We look forward to working with the inaugural cohort to drive change in our region and help achieve Kroger’s vision of a future with zero hunger and zero waste.”

SustainableCincy’s inaugural cohort will be selected this fall, offering up to eight startups the opportunity to receive one-on-one coaching to catalyze their business model, develop a path to scale, and identify funding strategies. The virtual program will culminate in a pitch competition for non-dilutive funding to further accelerate the participants’ solutions.

“I see sustainability as an essential theme cutting across industries and business disciplines,” said Pete Blackshaw, CEO of Cintrifuse. “Cintrifuse is excited to team up with Flywheel and HCDC to launch an inaugural sustainability accelerator to help launch startups that can make a real impact!”

Now through August 14, SustainableCincy invites innovators, with a strong preference for organizations led by people of color and women, to apply for the inaugural cohort at www.sustainablecincy.com. Applicants will be evaluated based on their potential impact and alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including zero hunger, clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, responsible consumption and production, and life below water and on land.

“This initiative will be a home run for the Greater Cincinnati region,” said Antony Seppi, Startup Community Manager at HCDC. “We will display to the world how startups can jump in and make a difference from a sustainability perspective.”