CincyTech USA

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

10/06/2025

StartupCincy Week is finally here, and the energy in Cincinnati is unstoppable!

As proud sponsors, we’re thrilled to support the innovators, dreamers, and doers shaping the region’s future. Whether you’re a founder, investor, or supporter, this week is all about collaboration, big ideas, and moving our community forward. Let’s make it unforgettable...see you at the events!

10/01/2025

Exciting News at CincyTech!

We’re thrilled to welcome two accomplished leaders as our newest Entrepreneurs-in-Residence (EIRs): Zeenia Kaul, PhD MBA and Andrew Ellerhorst.

✨ Zeenia is a biomedical scientist and biotech executive with deep expertise in oncology, aging, and longevity. She co-founded and served as CEO and Chief Scientific Officer of ReHeva Biosciences, Inc., where she led the development of novel plant-derived therapeutics. Earlier in her career, she was a Postdoctoral Fellow at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and a Postdoctoral Researcher at Nationwide Children's Hospital.

Her leadership and research have earned her multiple awards, including the Ohio State University Board of Trustees Award and recognition as a 40 Under 40 Columbus honoree. Born in India, raised in Japan, and educated in Australia, Zeenia brings a truly global perspective to her work.

✨ Andrew most recently served as President and CEO of JDXpert, a leading SaaS platform for job information management that helps organizations optimize job data for smarter hiring, equitable pay, and stronger workforce performance. He also founded KeelBoat Capital LLC and previously held leadership roles at GE and GE Lighting, a Savant company, where he was responsible for corporate auditing, consulting, and led, managed and scaled cross-functional teams.

Andrew earned his MBA in Entrepreneurship and Marketing from Carnegie Mellon University - Tepper School of Business, building on a career dedicated to growth, innovation, and operational excellence.

➡️ At CincyTech, our EIRs play a critical role in shaping and accelerating the next wave of high-growth startups. Zeenia and Andrew bring extraordinary expertise, vision, and energy to the Ohio innovation ecosystem, and we couldn’t be more excited to have them on board.

Please join us in giving them a warm welcome!

09/26/2025

🚀💡🖥️ Happy !

Ohio’s tech ecosystem is creating breakthroughs across healthcare, life sciences, software, advanced manufacturing, and beyond. The impact isn’t just in the companies being built, it’s in the opportunities created for students to see themselves as the next generation of innovators.

Through internships, fellowships, mentorship, and engagement in the startup community, students gain firsthand experience in building technologies that will shape our future.

At CincyTech, we’re proud to play a role in this growth, backing founders, mentoring students, and helping build a stronger, more connected tech ecosystem for Ohio.

09/26/2025

The Cincinnati Business Courier's 40 Under 40 celebration showcases the exceptional leadership and innovation driving growth across Greater Cincinnati.

We’re thrilled that our President & CEO, Emma Scharfenberger Off, was honored alongside so many talented professionals. Since joining CincyTech, Emma has shaped strategy, operations, fundraising, and investment decisions, always building bridges across institutions.

She credits her success to “surrounding myself with great people, be it my partner, mentors, colleagues, friends, or associates,” a principle she embodies every day. Her leadership brings people together, invests in the next generation, and advances Cincinnati’s life sciences and technology ecosystem.

Last week, Emma and the Class of 2025 celebrated an inspiring group of leaders, and we’re excited to continue collaborating with them as Cincinnati continues to grow.

Congratulations, Emma!

📸 A few highlights from the celebration, including a photo courtesy of the Cincinnati Business Courier



https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/c/2025-forty-under-40-winners-secrets-to-success/37951/forty-under-40-2025-emma-off.html

09/26/2025

🚀 Ready to raise your next round?

Join Max Dworin, Brett Bohl, Christy Johnson, and Sean Kwiat for How to Get Funded: Secrets for Raising Venture Capital.

Learn how to pitch, position, and run your raise so investors want in. This session will unpack what really makes investors say yes. Don’t miss your chance to sharpen your fundraising strategy—register today: https://startupcincyweek.com/

CincyTech USA, Cintrifuse

09/22/2025

We were thrilled to be on-site this morning for the grand opening of SparkHaus! This incredible $16M entrepreneurial hub in Covington, Kentucky, has officially opened its doors. The turnout was nothing short of inspiring — 300+ founders, funders, and community builders came together to celebrate a new home for innovation.

As Dave Knox put it, SparkHaus was created to “drive collisions,” and today was a perfect example of that vision coming to life.

We can’t wait to see the energy, connections, and companies that will grow here. Welcome, SparkHaus, to the StartupCincy family!

09/16/2025

We’re on site at Ohio VC Fest! 🚀

Stop by the CincyTech booth to connect us, learn more about our work with founders, and explore how we’re building the future of venture in Ohio.