The Entrepreneurs Center

What The Entrepreneurs Center does

The Entrepreneurs' Center (EC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit venture development organization founded in 1998 and headquartered in Dayton, Ohio. Operating under the tagline "Local by design, national in impact," EC serves early-stage technology startups, small businesses, corporate innovators, research institutions, and investors in the Dayton Region through a portfolio of programs including Tech Startups, Small Businesses, Corporate Innovators, Research Commercialization, and an Investor Network. Supporting services include an Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) mentorship program, SBDC (Small Business Development Center), IBROC (Invention, Business, and Research Outreach Consortium), Launch Dayton community events, and a Business Toolkit.

EC does not develop technology products; its core offering is advisory services, workspace, mentorship, business plan development, and facilitated connections to funding networks. Its revenue model is grant- and partnership-based rather than transactional: EC does not bill clients directly for services and instead operates on funding from sources including the Ohio Third Frontier Commission (TVSF grants, with $1.2 million recently channeled to six client companies and over $3.3 million secured in the prior year), a $400,000 US Department of Commerce EDA grant (2023), and a $15 million funding round (2022). Its go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, leveraging its website, newsletter, Launch Dayton events, and direct regional engagement rather than traditional sales channels. The organization is led by President Barbara Hayde.

Name

The Entrepreneurs Center

Legal name

Entrepreneurs' Center

Website

https://tecdayton.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Entrepreneurs' Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit venture development organization in Dayton, Ohio, supporting startups, small businesses, corporate innovators, and research institutions with workspace, EIR mentorship, business planning, and facilitated access to state and federal grant funding.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Business Development Services

NAICS

Management of Companies and Enterprises (551)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Entrepreneurship Foundations & Startup Basics (EDAMAHAA), Small Business & Entrepreneurship Community Education (EDAAAFAK)

Keywords

• Venture development services
• Startup mentorship programs
• Entrepreneur support services
• Small business advisory
• Business incubation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Dayton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Grant Facilitation Services: EC facilitates access to grant funding from the Ohio Third Frontier Commission for early-stage ventures. The organization secures and distributes TVSF awards to client companies, operating as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Entrepreneurs' Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit venture development organization based in Dayton, Ohio that helps entrepreneurs start, grow, and sustain businesses. It delivers programs, mentorship, workspace, and access to capital networks tailored to tech startups, small businesses, corporate innovators, and university researchers commercializing discoveries.

Product overview

The Entrepreneurs' Center is a venture development organization (not a software product company) that offers a comprehensive suite of programs and services to support entrepreneurial businesses in the Dayton Region. The core offerings include Tech Startups Program and Small Businesses Program for entrepreneurs, Corporate Innovators Program and Research Commercialization for innovation partners, and an Investor Network connecting investors with startups. Supporting services include Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) mentorship, SBDC business development support, IBROC resources, Launch Dayton community events, and a Business Toolkit. EC does not offer a software product but rather provides advisory services, workspace, mentorship, connections, and business development resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Launch Dayton: A Dayton entrepreneurial community initiative focused on events and resources for startups and entrepreneurs in the Dayton region.
• SBDC
• IBROC

Products and services

• Venture Development Programs Core program suite that helps entrepreneurs start, grow, and sustain businesses in the Dayton, Ohio region.
• Tech Startups Program Program focused on supporting technology-based startup founders through mentorship and resource access.
• Small Businesses Program Advisory and support services for established small business owners seeking to grow and sustain operations.
• Corporate Innovators Program Program for corporate teams seeking to develop internal innovation and entrepreneurship capabilities.
• Research Commercialization Program Support for university researchers commercializing discoveries, providing pathways from lab to market.
• Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) Embedded experienced entrepreneurs who mentor startups and provide operational guidance.
• Investor Network Access Facilitates connections between entrepreneurs and angel/venture investors, including access to Ohio Third Frontier funding pathways.

Quantifiable outcome

• Six client companies collectively secured $1.2 million in TVSF grant funding
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Launch DaytoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaunch Dayton is a regional entrepreneurial initiative co-developed and operated by EC to serve as the primary community platform for Dayton startup ecosystem events, resources, and connections.
• SBDC (Small Business Development Center)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEC hosts the SBDC program, providing small business development resources and support to local entrepreneurs alongside core venture development services.
• IBROCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEC partners with IBROC (Invention, Business, and Research Outreach Consortium) to provide additional resources and support for entrepreneurial development in the region.
• WBENC Certified Female-Run BusinessesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEC works with WBENC-certified female-run businesses, providing preferred partnership opportunities for clients. Referenced in client testimonials as a valued aspect of the EC ecosystem.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Rev1 Ventures: Ohio-based venture development organization and seed-stage investor operating out of Columbus. Highly comparable as a regional startup support platform providing capital, mentorship, and corporate connections to Ohio founders — directly overlapping EC's Dayton-based mission.
• JumpStart Inc. Cleveland-based venture development organization focused on Northeast Ohio entrepreneurs, providing funding, advising, and connections. Closely mirrors EC's nonprofit model of accelerating regional startups through grants and mentorship.
• Cintrifuse: Cincinnati-based startup accelerator and venture fund powering the Cincinnati startup ecosystem. Comparable as a regional venture development hub offering corporate innovation, founder support, and capital — directly competitive with EC's Dayton ecosystem role.
• The Venture Center: Arkansas-based venture development organization hosting accelerator programs and connecting founders to capital and corporate partners. Directly comparable nonprofit-style regional incubator model serving founders and corporate innovators.
• Ohio SBDC Network: Statewide Small Business Development Center network providing no-cost business advising and resources to Ohio entrepreneurs. Directly comparable service offerings (business plans, financing help, mentorship) that EC hosts through its SBDC partnership.

Broad incumbents

• gener8tor: National accelerator operator running multiple cohort programs across U.S. cities. Comparable in providing accelerator infrastructure and mentorship to early-stage startups, though operating at much larger scale than EC's regional focus.
• Techstars: Global accelerator network with mentorship-driven programs for early-stage startups. Comparable as an accelerator providing founders with capital, mentorship, and corporate connections, though at significantly larger scale and broader geography than EC.
• 1871: Chicago-based nonprofit technology hub and incubator housing hundreds of startups. Comparable as a regional venture development center providing workspace, mentorship, and corporate connections to early-stage companies.
• Plug and Play Tech Center: Global innovation platform and accelerator connecting startups with corporate partners. Comparable in facilitating startup-corporate innovation partnerships, though operates at far larger scale and global footprint than EC.

Regional players

• Bounce Innovation Hub: Akron, Ohio-based innovation hub supporting entrepreneurs and startups in Northeast Ohio. Comparable as a regional venture development organization providing workspace and business resources, though serving a different Ohio geography.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/tecdayton
• Facebookfacebook.com/315252968
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-entrepreneurs-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Entrepreneurs Center