Jul 23 2025

LaunchNET News: Just Buzzing By

Busy bee and no boots with the fur
The Latest & Greatest from LaunchNET Kent State
Stood on business too long and now I have blisters.

I wish I was kidding but this summer had me running around from accelerator to accelerator and from workshop to event to presentation.

And guess what? These boots? These Dr. Martens lookalike stompers? Not made for walking.

Anyhoo, this summer has been busy yet rewarding and it's only the beginning to a wondrous year. Check out some of our summer accomplishments and nearby opportunities for you all below.

P.S. If we haven't chatted recently, what are you waiting for? We're nosy, we want to hear how your summer plans and business ventures are going. Hit us up ⬇️
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News & Announcements
Marty Erbaugh i3 Lab Summer 2025
Another one for the books! We just wrapped up our Marty Erbaugh i3 Lab Accelerator and we're so proud of the growth seen within this program and the entrepreneurs involved. We even had the opportunity to collaborate with Kent State Design Innovation's Elliot DI Faculty Fellows to expand on the workshops provided and give our entrepreneurs new campus connections.

Check out the full recap and connect with our entrepreneurs on LinkedIn!
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Events & Opportunities
Roundtables for Startups | Burton D. Morgan Foundation
Burton D. Morgan Foundation is launching a new opportunity for businesses earning under $1M to accelerate growth through peer support and shared experiences.

Morgan Foundation is partnering with Bounce Innovation Hub and Cleveland State University to launch the BASE Roundtables initiative, which will feature four distinct cohorts to ensure a relevant and valuable experience. Cohorts will launch between August and September, 2025. Visit the links below for application information.

Cohort 1:  Growth-stage entrepreneurs across industries with $250K–$1M in annual revenue and ideally 5–25 employees. (Cleveland State)  APPLY

Cohort 2:  Early-stage food businesses with $100K–$500K in revenue and at least 2 employees, including the founder.  (Cleveland State)  APPLY

Cohort 3:  Life Sciences startups raising seed/series A investment rounds.  (Bounce Innovation Hub) APPLY

Cohort 4:  Scalable startups actively planning pilots or making early sales. (Bounce Innovation Hub)  APPLY
Learn More & Apply
$10,000 Backing Small Business Grants | Main Street America
Applications are now open for the broader round of the Backing Small Businesses grant program, supported by American Express, which will award 400 grants of $10,000 to help locally significant small businesses overcome economic hardship, invest in growth, and make a meaningful impact in their communities.

Applications are open until Thursday, July 31 at 11:59 p.m. CT
Apply Now
Golden Hour - North Coast Harbor | Greyt Culture
CLEVELAND’S SUNSET CELEBRATION OF MUSIC, TECH & CULTURE. A sunset happy hour series for artists, entrepreneurs, and creative endeavoring people.

Schedule
2:00 PM – Doors Open
2:30 PM – Golden Hour TECHTALKs
5:00 PM – Food & Drink Service
5:30 PM – First Music Feature - Moises Borges
7:30 PM – Sunset Feature - GUMBO DANCE PARTY
9:30 PM – Twilight DJ Set - HAPPY ENDINGS w/ Nic Nacc & DJ ESO

⚡️USE CODE LAUNCHNET FOR 20% OFF⚡️
Check it Out
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