Release Date: September 29,2026
Bounce Innovation Hub Awarded Nasdaq Foundation Grant
Funding expands founder support programs that move entrepreneurs from early-stage ideas to investment readiness across Northeast Ohio
AKRON, OH — September 29, 2026 — Bounce Innovation Hub has received a grant from the Nasdaq Foundation’s 2026 Economic Opportunity Grant Program to expand entrepreneurial programming across Northeast Ohio.
The grant will help Bounce expand the founder support systems that move entrepreneurs from early-stage ideas to investment readiness. As a hub for the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, Bounce helps entrepreneurs navigate a coordinated network of resources across Northeast Ohio. Through sector-focused programs in healthcare, advanced materials, and software, entrepreneurs receive one-on-one coaching, technical assistance, and educational workshops. They also gain connections to professional service providers, customers, and capital.
“This grant will play a pivotal role in our work to bolster the economic prosperity across Northeast Ohio and throughout the state,” said Jessica Sublett, Bounce Innovation Hub President and CEO. “We are honored to be recognized by a transformational institution like the Nasdaq Foundation.”
The Nasdaq Foundation’s strategic grants expand access to capital, business ownership, and financial education in communities experiencing chronic underinvestment. More information on the work of the Foundation can be found here.
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About the Nasdaq Foundation
The Nasdaq Foundation works to support under-resourced communities by reimagining investor engagement and equipping communities with the financial knowledge needed to share in the wealth that markets create. Through strategic partnerships and grantmaking, the Foundation supports innovative solutions that empower under-resourced communities and foster long-term economic resilience.
About Bounce Innovation Hub
Bounce Innovation Hub is Northeast Ohio’s center for innovation, entrepreneurship, and business growth. Located in downtown Akron, Bounce operates a 300,000-square-foot facility that includes coworking, office, lab, and light manufacturing space, as well as event and meeting venues. As a nonprofit, Bounce supports a diverse community of startups, small businesses, and entrepreneurs through high-impact programs, mentorship, and partnerships. Bounce specializes in accelerating high-growth potential innovations, particularly in software, healthcare, and advanced materials, by providing hands-on support, customized resources, and access to capital and customers. With more than 450 people and 50 organizations housed in the building, Bounce fosters collaboration, creativity, and inclusive economic development across the region.