The Northeast Ohio Incubator Collaborative (NEOinc) provides coordinated services to entrepreneurs desiring to start technology-oriented businesses in the 21 counties of NE Ohio.  It was formed by several of the Edison funded incubators and technology centers in NE Ohio; namely The Akron Global Business Accelerator, Braintree Partners in Mansfield, the Great Lakes Incubator for Developing Enterprises (GLIDE) in Lorain County, the Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network (MAGNET) Incubator in Cuyahoga County, and the Youngstown Business Incubator. 

How can we help?

Individually each NEOinc member provides high quality managerial and facility services to entrepreneurs including business concept assessment and coaching, links to appropriate sources of funding, links to business specialist resources such as attorneys, HR specialists and accountants, low cost office, lab, and manufacturing space, shared offices facilities and equipment, and flexible lease terms.  Collectively, through NEOinc they provide a front door “entry point” into the entrepreneurial support network which exists in varying degrees across the region.  Through a recognized point of contact with one of the NEOinc incubators, entrepreneurs of all types throughout the entire NE Ohio region will either be served directly or referred to the most appropriate other support entities in such areas as: 

• Chambers of Commerce, real estate landlords, universities, SBDCs, industrial parks, county and city economic development agencies, or other incubators that might better serve the fledgling business

• The most appropriate source of funding such as angels, angel funds, pre-seed funds, seed funds, venture capital, and the SBA for their business concept given its stage and potential

• “Entrepreneurially friendly” attorneys, accountants, insurance agents, HR specialists, minority business specialists, etc. that can assist the business in a cost effective, efficient manner

In addition, the technology-focused clients of NEOinc will have access to all programs, services, resources, expertise, and facilities of all of the other NEOinc incubators.  For example, clients from Braintree can use MAGNET incubator conference rooms; GLIDE clients can use the Youngstown IT facilities.  All NEOinc clients can attend all events at other incubators, and clients can take advantage of the minority expertise at GLIDE, HR expertise at Akron, manufacturing expertise at MAGNET, and so on.

Our results speak for themselves

NEOinc is proud to work with companies with the potential to deliver a large, sustainable impact on the economy of Northeast Ohio.  Over the past three years, NEOinc clients have generated 681 jobs and $231M in sales revenue, attracted $80M in investment capital and sustained an employee payroll of $90M.  Compared to the funding we receive from the State of Ohio Edison program, this translates into an 102:1 leverage on those monies ($102 of sales and investments for every $1 of Edison funding).

How do I take advantage of NEOinc’s resources?

If this is your first start at commercializing an idea, take our Entrepreneur’s Test to see if you’re ready.  It takes a lot more than a great idea to become a profitable, sustainable company, and our questionnaire will give you a good of what is considered to be “the basics”.   If after taking the test, you still want to start a company and need help, give us a call.  

If you are an established start-up or serial entrepreneur and need a space for your business, expert business assistance, linkage to regional support resources or help securing investment, visit our Contact Us page to find the NEOinc location that is most appropriate to you.