Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, a startup accelerator for early and mid-stage social enterprise ventures, is pleased to announce its latest SustainableCincy accelerator cohort. All companies selected are developing products or services that will contribute to a more sustainable community.

Flywheel is investing $40,000 in the selected companies with the help of its Philanthropreneur® donor/investors and other supporters, plus investing another $50,000 of in-kind programming, coaching and business services.

Four of the companies are led by underrepresented founders. The following Companies have been selected to the cohort:

Intersect Agriculture

Unique process that creates protein rich animal feed from Black Soldier Fly larvae. The process also generates other byproducts that have market value in agriculture.

Uplift-5p

An enterprise software platform and services that enables companies leverage curated ESG insights to simplify, manage and scale the ESG value creation process. Aligning and empowering both internal and external value chain stakeholders.

Cleanup Collective

A community litter cleanup empowerment initiative, beginning with a stocked and specifically outfitted portable cart designed to bring neighborhoods together for safe and efficient litter pick up.

Armbruster Impact Management

Taking proven success in developing a major corporate social responsibility initiative to the next level with a repeatable process delivered in a scalable consultancy model.

SustainableCincy is a nine week entrepreneurial training program featuring weekly sessions covering business topics important to startup success. Each company is matched to a coaching team for additional support including connections to potential customers, business partners and capital. The program ends with a Demo Day presentation on November 16, 2022 at MadTree Brewing where each company pitches to investors, potential partners, and future supporters.

“This year’s cohort is truly amazing. Each founder is wicked smart, nimble, creative, and has a great product or service,” said Laura Randall-Tepe, Executive Director of Flywheel. “It’s an honor to be working with them to refine their business plans and help them get the pilots and relationships they need to attract new customers and capital.”

“When we support Flywheel, our investment rolls forward and gains momentum by leveraging more innovation in sustainability. It’s a compelling value proposition that we are proud to support,” said Kevin Kushman, CEO of Electrada, a program sponsor.

CEO and President of Michelmen, Dr. Rick Michelman said, “This is an incredibly impressive cohort replete with great minds, creativity, and ideas. We’re thrilled to offer our support and help each of them innovate their own vision of a sustainable future.”

“We are thrilled to be a sponsor of Flywheel’s efforts to identify and elevate the next best business ideas that promote both sustainability and local economic growth,” said Andrew Ritch of Donovan Energy.

“Supporting Green business development and Flywheel’s extensive work in this space creates stronger talent pathways for our students to secure higher paying jobs and benefit from one of the fastest growing sectors in today’s economy,” said Kate Harmon, Executive Director of the University of Cincinnati’s Center for Entrepreneurship.

Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub Invests in Five Sustainable Startups