At a glance
Indexed programs
10
All currently active
Top direct funding
No direct cash prizes indexed
Equity
Mixed equity terms
Program mix
6
Incubator · Venture Fund · Entrepreneurship Center
Programs to explore
Compare funding, equity, and timing before you apply.
10 programs indexed
Pitch Competition
Incubator
Entrepreneurship Center
Startups
Post a startupBand Connect
In-home physical therapy app; UC Venture Lab graduate and Bearcat Ventures portfolio company (co-founder Abby McInturf).
ComfortCath
Medical device; $200K Ohio TVSF grant; UC tech transfer venture.
ContentCraze
Automated tool for creating and testing short-form creator scripts; 2026 UC New Venture Championship runner-up ($10K). Nick Ginex and Drew Tendler.
Encore Arena
K-pop digital card collecting, trading, and battling app; 2026 UC Startup Weekend 1st place ($3K). Natalie Harvey, Varsha Govardhanam, Vivian Comer.
Freedom Fans
Ventilation system for camper vans; 2023 inaugural UC New Venture Championship 1st place ($10K).
Gimbal Space
Spacecraft technology venture; UC Bearcat Ventures portfolio company.
Instant Quote
Automated instant-quote platform for residential contractors; 2026 UC New Venture Championship winner ($15K).
Junietta
Portable music synthesizer; 2024 UC New Venture Championship 1st place.
MadRun
Recovery cream for runners; 2023 UC New Venture Championship 2nd place ($6K).
MetaMol Theranostics
Biotech; $200K Ohio TVSF grant; UC tech transfer venture.
Meteora3D
3D-printed anatomical models; $500K+ raised; UC-affiliated venture.
Minnow
IoT device that detects and automates pool chemical needs; 2024 UC New Venture Championship 2nd place. Joe Curtsinger.
MOA
Compute-in-memory computer architecture for efficient AI; 2026 UC Startup Weekend 2nd place ($2K). Ezra Wolf.
Motiv
Communications platform for student-athletes, coaches, and parents; 2024 UC New Venture Championship 3rd place.
Range Assure
Proton therapy safety technology; UC tech transfer venture.
Rescue Ventilation Solutions
Emergency resuscitation device; $420K raised; UC-affiliated venture.
Sense Neuro Diagnostics
Noninvasive brain scanner; $17M raised; UC Bearcat Ventures portfolio company.
Tembo
Postgres developer platform; University of Cincinnati Bearcat Ventures portfolio company.
Teravus
Emergency waiting-room management software; 2023 UC New Venture Championship 3rd place ($4K).
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More about this ecosystem
University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati, founded in 1819, is a public R1 research university in Cincinnati, Ohio with approximately 47,000 students. Its entrepreneurship ecosystem is anchored by the Center for Entrepreneurship (founded 1997, top-15 ranked) and the 1819 Innovation Hub (180,000+ sq ft, opened 2020 at the center of the Cincinnati Innovation District), featuring a student-led venture fund (Bearcat Ventures, $1M+), a robust startup accelerator ($5M+ non-dilutive funding distributed), multiple pitch competitions ($40K+ combined prizes), and strong tech transfer (Top 100 US patents).
Ecosystem Overview
- Central hub: Center for Entrepreneurship — founded 1997, top-15 ranked, Executive Director Kate Harmon, 14-member advisory board
- Innovation center: 1819 Innovation Hub — 180K+ sq ft, opened 2020, home to Venture Lab, Makerspace, corporate partners (P&G, Microsoft)
- Accelerator: Venture Lab — Digital Pre-Accelerator, Accelerator (8 weeks, 3x/yr), NEXT (10-week, $10K/team), $5M+ distributed, 339 ventures graduated
- Venture fund: Bearcat Ventures — student-led, $1M+ evergreen fund, $25K SAFE investments in UC-affiliated/Midwest startups, 4+ portfolio companies
- Pitch comp: New Venture Championship — $20K-25K, spring, all UC students
- Pitch comp: Elevator Pitch Competition — $5K, fall, 60-second format
- Pitch comp: IQ E-Pitch — $10K+, 4 tracks, ~70 judges
- Pitch comp: Startup Weekend — $5K, 3-day hackathon, 120+ students
- Makerspace: Ground Floor Makerspace — 12,000 sq ft, largest in Cincinnati, free for UC
- Tech transfer: TTO — Top 100 patents, 50+ startups, $200M+ follow-on, TVSF grants
Known Startups
- Sense Neuro Diagnostics — Noninvasive brain scanner, $17M raised
- Tembo — Postgres developer platform, Bearcat Ventures portfolio
- Band Connect — In-home physical therapy app, Venture Lab grad
- Gimbal Space — Spacecraft tech, Bearcat Ventures portfolio
- Meteora3D — 3D-printed anatomical models, $500K+ raised
- Rescue Ventilation Solutions — Emergency resuscitation, $420K raised
- ComfortCath — Medical device, $200K TVSF grant
- MetaMol Theranostics — Biotech, $200K TVSF grant
- Range Assure — Proton therapy safety tech
News & articles
10 articles
University pages(10)
University of Cincinnati
1819 Innovation Hub
# 1819 Innovation Hub State-of-the-art 180,000+ sq ft innovation center opened 2020. Center of Cincinnati Innovation District. Houses Venture Lab, 12K sq ft Makerspace, corporate partners (P&G, Microsoft), startups, coworking, esports lab.
Read on University of Cincinnati
University of Cincinnati
Bearcat Ventures
# Bearcat Ventures Student-led venture capital initiative. $1M+ evergreen fund. $25K SAFE investments in UC-affiliated and Midwest startups. Founded 2021. Three pillars: Investment Fund, Venture Research Studio, VCIC team. Portfolio: Tembo, Band Connect, Gimbal Space, Sense Neuro Diagnostics.
Read on University of Cincinnati
University of Cincinnati
UC Center for Entrepreneurship
# UC Center for Entrepreneurship Central hub for entrepreneurship at UC. Founded 1997. Top-15 ranked by Princeton Review/Entrepreneur Magazine. GCEC First Place Award. Houses Venture Lab, Bearcat Ventures, pitch competitions, Launch UC. Executive Director: Kate Harmon.
Read on University of Cincinnati
University of Cincinnati
UC Elevator Pitch Competition
# UC Elevator Pitch Competition Annual fall competition. 60-second prop-less pitch. $5K prize pool. Led by Kate Harmon. 2025 winners: VHSMO ($2,500), Nila ($1,000), Serechikitty K-POP ($1,000), Cryocore ($500).
Read on University of Cincinnati
University of Cincinnati
UC IQ E-Pitch Competition
# UC IQ E-Pitch Competition Innovation Quest Elevator Pitch Competition. $10,000+ in awards. 4 tracks. Nearly 70 judges. Open to all enrolled UC students. Ideas not developed before Jan 2021.
Read on University of Cincinnati
University of Cincinnati
UC Ground Floor Makerspace
# UC Ground Floor Makerspace 12,000 sq ft makerspace in 1819 Innovation Hub. Largest in Greater Cincinnati. Free for UC students/faculty/staff. 3D printers, CNC, prototyping tools. Expert technicians. Monthly memberships for community.
Read on University of Cincinnati
University of Cincinnati
UC New Venture Championship
# UC New Venture Championship Annual spring pitch competition for all UC students. $20-25K prize pool. One-page executive summary submission. Held at 1819 Innovation Hub. Open to all colleges and levels.
Read on University of Cincinnati
University of Cincinnati
UC Startup Weekend
# UC Startup Weekend Annual 3-day startup weekend. $5,000 prize pool. 120+ students. Mentors from Main Street Ventures, Queen City Angels, Refinery Ventures. Held at 1819 Innovation Hub. 2025 winners: Send Noods ($2,500), Virasense ($1,500), Kea Tech ($500).
Read on University of Cincinnati
University of Cincinnati
UC Tech Transfer Office
# UC Tech Transfer Office UC's TTO within Office of Innovation. VP: Geoffrey Pinski. Top 100 US patent producer. 50+ startups launched. $200M+ follow-on funding. Manages TVSF grants. Notable spinouts: Sense Neuro Diagnostics ($17M), Meteora3D ($500K+).
Read on University of Cincinnati
University of Cincinnati
UC Venture Lab
# UC Venture Lab UC's primary startup accelerator within 1819 Innovation Hub. Includes Digital Pre-Accelerator, Venture Lab Accelerator (8 weeks, 3x/yr), Venture Lab NEXT (10-week student, $10K per team). $5M+ distributed since 2018. 339 ventures graduated. 85 advisors/EIRs. Ohio Third Frontier ESP partner.
Read on University of Cincinnati
Compiled from public sources; not reviewed or endorsed by the school. Request a correction or removal.