Release Date: May 17,2021
Bounce Innovation Hub Celebrates Success with Impact Report and Announces Its New Mortar Cohort 4
AKRON, OHIO (May 17, 2021) — Bounce Innovation Hub is thrilled to celebrate the success of its programs with new data included in the organization’s first community and economic impact report.
In the community impact section of the report, data showed Bounce served a community of nearly 500 members and hosted more than 20,000 visitors in 2018-2020. At the end of 2020, Bounce client companies accounted for 364 jobs (with 221 created during that time) and 45 coworkers in its co-working space.
The economic side of the report shows that from 2018 to 2020, Bounce program participants generated over $110 million in revenue, raised over $23 million in investments, and paid over $50 million in payroll. Its GROW programs (including MORTAR at Bounce) had more than 150 participants. See the full report here.
MORTAR at Bounce, which serves entrepreneurs and small businesses with a focus on minorities and women, is a 15-week business accelerator that helps existing and emerging entrepreneurs learn the nuances of business ownership and build a comprehensive business canvas.
The program, focusing on minorities and women, is open to any entrepreneur or small business owner.
Announced today, its MORTAR Cohort 4 class includes 12 business owners:
- Jacqueline Achadu, Hunny Bunnys Confections
- Alisha Anderson, 3 Eleven Productions
- Delone Carter, GetGritFit
- Kiana Davis, All4U Alkaline Healing LLC
- Savannah Griggs, Sweet and Savvy LLC
- Grace Irvin-Dillard, Touched by Grace Body Care
- Peter James, Rubber City Gardens
- Micah Jefferson, Mells Million-Dollar Mindset
- Denise Jenkins, Rubber City Sweet Shop
- Lori Julien, Marigold Sol
- Sharon Shepherd-Harvey, Simpli Skyn
- Rachel Spiteri, Kaleidoscopology
“Our team and Board of Directors are thrilled with the outcomes from our first economic and community impact report,” states Doug Weintraub, CEO of Akron's Bounce Innovation Hub. “This report gives us the quantitative data to reflect what we know to be true about the impact our Bounce community is having on the larger Northeast Ohio community—and we’re only just beginning. To our visitors, tenants, supporters and friends, thank you for continuing to believe in our mission and supporting our collaborative entrepreneurs.”
As this class begins, applications for MORTAR Cohort 5 have opened, and community members can apply for classes that begin on Aug. 24, 2021, by visiting bouncehub.org/mortar.
MORTAR at Bounce is funded and presented in partnership with GAR Foundation, Burton D. Morgan Foundation, the City of Akron and Rubber City Match, and the Greater Akron Chamber.