CincyTech USA

12/03/2025

We’ve got even more exciting mid-week news to share! 📣

We are keeping the momentum going by announcing our newest additions: our 2025 Redhawk Venture Fellows: Jeff Amapps and Matthew Brady.

Both students are joining us from Miami University and Redhawk Ventures to immerse themselves in the core economics of a venture fund, tackling complex market landscape analysis and forward-looking capitalization table models.

👋Meet Jeffrey Amapps, Miami University Finance Major (Class of '27)

Jeff brings impressive experience as an incoming Investment Banking Summer Analyst at Guggenheim Partners and the founder of The Venture Canyon Newsletter. At CincyTech, Jeff will work directly with our team to update comparable company sheets, conduct deep-dive market research, and review fund metrics.

Off the clock: You can find Jeff exploring the local restaurant and nightlife scene, or on the court playing basketball and tennis.

👋 Meet Matthew Brady, Miami University Double Major in Finance and Accounting (Class of '27)

Matt joins us with a strong background in real estate and venture, including roles at Refinery Ventures and as an incoming Proptech Summer Analyst at Starwood Capital Group. Matt will be supporting our early-stage deal flow by assisting with comps work, cap table reviews, and valuation analysis.

Off the clock: Matt is an avid golfer, a fan of classic rock, and loves to travel.

We are excited to see the impact they will make on our portfolio companies and the Ohio startup ecosystem!

12/02/2025

We are incredibly proud to celebrate our Life Sciences Fellow, Issac Choi, on being named a "New Idea" award recipient by CancerFree KIDS! 🔬✨

Issac’s proposal, "Defining the role of IRAK4 signaling on LSC chromatin state," was selected for funding to support his critical research into Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML).

🧬 Simply put: He is hunting the "Queen Bee" of cancer cells.

To break down the science: Most cancer cells are like worker bees; they do damage, but chemotherapy can kill them. But Leukemic Stem Cells (LSC) are like the Queen Bee. They hide, they survive treatment, and they can restart the cancer even after a patient is in remission.

Issac is researching a specific "messenger" (IRAK4) that tells the Queen Bee’s DNA to stay active. If his research is successful, it could lead to new ways to "hang up the phone" on that messenger, stopping the cancer at its source.

Getting a thumbs-up from CancerFree KIDS is a massive validation. Their grants are reviewed by a board of top-tier faculty from across the nation.

We love seeing our team members thrive. Whether it’s an undergrad intern getting their first taste of the startup world or a PhD candidate like Issac pushing the boundaries of science, we are honored to be part of their journey. Supporting students at every stage of their "learning" - from the classroom to the lab to the venture capital table is one of the best parts of what we do.

Congratulations, Issac! 🚀

12/01/2025

Starting the week with some positive post-holiday news ✨

We’re proud to share that our President & CEO, Emma Scharfenberger Off, has been named to Cincinnati Magazine’s Cincinnati 300 in the Manufacturing & Tech segment. This recognition reflects Emma’s vision, leadership, and dedication to advancing innovation and economic growth in our region.

At CincyTech, Emma leads our mission to fuel high-potential founders, strengthen the tech ecosystem, and help shape a more vibrant future for Cincinnati. Her inclusion in the Cincinnati 300 highlights the impact that strong leadership can have on the broader community.

11/25/2025

What an incredible evening! 🎉

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our annual holiday party last Thursday. We know it was a busy night across Cincinnati, and it means the world that you chose to celebrate with us.

Your support, partnership, and dedication to our community have been the driving force behind everything we've accomplished this year. As we look ahead to 2026, we're energized by the possibilities and grateful to have you alongside us as we continue building Cincinnati's innovation ecosystem.

Here's to the connections we've made, the progress we've shared, and the exciting opportunities ahead.

Thank you for being part of the CincyTech family.

11/11/2025

Today, we honor the courage, dedication, and sacrifice of all who have served in our armed forces.

We're continually grateful for the veterans who have defended our freedoms and continue to contribute to our communities in countless ways. Your service has shaped the world we live in, and your leadership strengthens the innovation ecosystem we're privileged to support.

To all veterans: Thank you for your service.

11/06/2025

🎉 Proud portfolio milestone! Invirsa, Inc has secured $18M to advance Phase 3 clinical trials for their innovative eye drop treatment targeting diabetic dry eye—a condition affecting 54% of people with diabetes.

This funding marks a critical inflection point for the Columbus-based biotech as they work toward FDA approval, with results expected by the end of 2028. Co-founder and CEO Dr. Robert Shalwitz and his team are developing a therapy that could do more than just address symptoms—it has the potential to truly improve patients' day-to-day vision.

The funding includes:
✅ $2.9M venture capital round led by Ohio investors including Rev1 Ventures Nationwide Children's Hospital, Ohio Innovation Fund, and JobsOhio Growth Capital Fund
✅ $15.2M from BARDA (Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority) under an ongoing federal contract

To date, Invirsa has raised $52 million, with $35 million from non-dilutive government funding—a testament to capital-efficient ex*****on in life sciences.

What makes this even more compelling: the eye drops were initially developed as the first treatment for chemical warfare exposure (sulfur mustard gas), demonstrating how innovative therapeutics can address multiple critical needs.

Congratulations to Dr. Robert Shalwitz, Isaiah Shalwitz and the entire Invirsa team on this milestone. This is exactly the kind of high-impact innovation Ohio's life sciences ecosystem is built for. 👏

Read more: Invirsa raises $18M for diabetic dry eye treatment trials - Columbus Business First

A Columbus biotech has landed millions toward seeking FDA approval for an eye drop to treat diabetic dry eye.

11/05/2025

What gives Southwest Ohio an edge in AI?

Hint: It's not what you'd expect.

Our Partner Doug Groh breaks down why our region is uniquely positioned to win in AI, not by competing with Silicon Valley on foundational models, but through a different strategy entirely.

Learn more about how Southwest Ohio startups are building competitive advantages that Silicon Valley can't easily copy.

Discover how local companies, including Vixiv, BrandRank.AI, Vurvey Labs, and Mined XAI, are shaping the future, plus insights on how Procter & Gamble, Kroger, GE Additive, and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base are shaping our AI ecosystem.

Read Doug's full piece in Cincinnati Business Courier to discover our region's AI advantage. ⤵️

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/inno/stories/news/2025/11/04/tech-develop-ai-vixiv-brandrank-mined-xai-vurvey.html?utm_source=st&utm_medium=en&utm_campaign=ae&utm_content=CI&j=42341341&senddate=2025-11-04&utm_term=ep10&empos=p10

Cincinnati Business Courier Cincy Inno

Southwest Ohio is unlikely to produce the next ChatGPT or Claude. But here's what matters: we don't need to.

10/21/2025

The University of Cincinnati recently highlighted how Cincinnati, along with the entire state of Ohio, is quickly emerging as a core pillar for life sciences innovation. The data paints a compelling picture of a region on the rise:

⚫53+ life sciences companies and 68 facilities now operate across Greater Cincinnati.

⚫21% sector job growth since 2020, employing more than 11,000 life science professionals.

⚫Nearly half of UC’s graduates are in STEM or medical fields — and most are choosing to stay in Ohio.

This momentum comes from strong collaboration between research institutions, investors, and clinicians, transforming scientific discoveries into meaningful outcomes at the bedside.

💡 𝐃𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰?

At CincyTech, we’ve partnered with, invested in, and commercialized 26 technologies from Ohio’s leading research institutions, including Cincinnati Children's, The Cleveland Clinic, University of Cincinnati, The Ohio State University, Nationwide Children's Hospital, and Case Western Reserve University.

➡️ These innovations are moving from lab to market to bedside, transforming patient care and improving lives.

🔗 Read the full University of Cincinnati feature on how our region’s life sciences sector is hitting its stride: https://www.uc.edu/news/articles/2025/10/the-life-science-industry-is-hitting-its-stride-in-cincinnati.html

1819 Innovation Hub | Ohio Life Sciences | JobsOhio

Life science is a rapidly growing field, and Greater Cincinnati is known as a center of the emerging industry. We’ll break down the region’s latest breakthroughs in the life science space.

10/09/2025

Welcome to the team, Issac!

We are thrilled to introduce our new Life Sciences Graduate Student Fellow, Issac Choi. A Ph.D. student from the University of Cincinnati, Issac is joining our life sciences team for a fellowship to help us dive deeper into the world of biotech.

In his role, Issac is developing pipelines and fact sheets to streamline the analysis of potential investment opportunities. He is focused on creating foundational documents that explore specific fields in biology, ask relevant questions, and identify emerging technologies.

When he's not immersed in bioscience, Issac enjoys working in coffee shops, taking photos of nature, and visiting the Cincinnati Art Museum.

Join us in giving a warm welcome to Issac!

10/07/2025

🌟 Day 2 of Week is here and we’re ready to roll!

We’re kicking things off with the Cintrifuse Annual Meeting, celebrating innovation, growth, and the power of our community.

Then, it’s a full day of venture capital programming you won’t want to miss:

💡 1:00 PM | Investors Unplugged

Join our own Emma Scharfenberger Off, Erandi De Silva, PhD with Drive Capital, and Julia Keene from CVS Health Ventures for an honest, behind-the-scenes conversation about VC life at Union Hall (Homeroom).

🚀 1:30 PM | How to Get Funded: Secrets for Raising Venture Capital

Featuring our Investment Director Sean Kwiat, Max Dworin Cintrifuse Capital, Christy Johnson Fireroad, and Brett Bohl Bread and Butter Ventures at the Miami Center.

We look forward to seeing you!



StartupCincy

10/07/2025

10/06/2025

🔥We have a session you won't want to miss tomorrow!

Investors Unplugged at 2025.

Join us for a rare, unfiltered conversation with leading VCs who are shaping the future of innovation. Hear about the real stories, hard-won lessons, and candid insights from their biggest wins and misses.

📅 Tuesday, October 7 | 1:00 - 1:45 PM

📍 Union Hall – Homeroom

This intimate session goes beyond the typical pitch deck talk. Get direct access to the minds behind the money and ask the questions that matter.

Featuring:

• Emma Off, CEO and President of CincyTech
• Erandi De Silva, PhD, Partner at Drive Capital
• Julia Keene, Investor at CVS Health Ventures

StartupCincy Cintrifuse