Published on
Nov 3, 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  Nov. 3, 2020  

Small biz owners: Sign up to participate by Wednesday, Nov. 18 

DAYTON, Ohio - Launch Dayton's partner organizations are collaborating to run the online #LaunchIntoTheHolidays campaign to promote Dayton region small businesses this holiday season. 

Beginning Cyber Monday, Nov. 30, 2020, and running through Friday, Dec. 18, Launch Dayton partner organizations, including Aviatra Accelerators — DaytonDowntown Dayton PartnershipMiami Valley Small Business Development CenterParallax Advanced Research and The Entrepreneurs Center, will share Facebook Live videos every weekday at noon from local businesses offering consumer goods across their platforms. The goal is to connect the region’s small businesses with new customers seeking to shop local and maximize the impact of their dollars this holiday season. By sharing participating businesses’ Facebook Live videos, Launch Dayton partner organizations can amplify the businesses’ reach to the partners’ more than 20K combined followers. 

“Our small business community has been hit especially hard this year in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Parallax Program Manager John Owen said. “Though we are disappointed not to be able to gather in person for our annual Holiday Startup Market, we hope the #LaunchIntoTheHolidays campaign will enable us to support and promote even more businesses this holiday season.” 

“There are so many wonderful small businesses in the Dayton region; some have managed to thrive, and others have been greatly impacted. Despite the pandemic, Dayton entrepreneurs have been determined to remain viable,” Aviatra Accelerators — Dayton Director Pam Cone said. “Aviatra — Dayton is honored to have been able to support new and existing women-owned businesses in the area this year, and we are pleased to be part of this collaborative effort to promote local businesses this holiday season.” 

Launch Dayton is a collaborative effort of regional entrepreneurial support organizations to connect and support Dayton’s entrepreneur and startup community. Launch Dayton partners are seeking up to 60 businesses to participate in the #LaunchIntoTheHolidays campaign. Businesses in the retail, health/beauty/wellness products or services, food and beverage products or services, and art and creative industries are encouraged to sign up by Nov. 18. 

Participating businesses will: 

  • Commit to do a 15-minute Facebook Live video at an assigned date and time. 

  • Promote their top three products that make great holiday gifts. 

  • Share the #LaunchIntoTheHolidays campaign and shout out fellow participating businesses, because Launch Dayton partners believe a rising tide lifts all boats. 

  • Save the live video on their feeds when finished so Launch Dayton partners can continue to share and promote them through the holiday season and beyond.  

Businesses who sign up should: 

  • Be physically located in the greater Dayton region (think Troy to Springboro, Eaton to Springfield). 

  • Have at least one product/service/gift card that costs $25 or less. 

Business owners must sign up by Wednesday, Nov. 18. Participants will be assigned their Facebook Live time slots by Friday, Nov. 20.  

LeKeisha Grant, entrepreneur and business counselor at the Miami Valley Small Business Development Center, will offer an optional workshop for participants on Monday, Nov. 23 to maximize the impact of their Facebook Live. She’ll share how to prepare to go Live, where to do the Live video, how to pick top products to feature, etc. 

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About Parallax Advanced Research 

Parallax Advanced Research is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. Parallax tackles challenges by accelerating innovation; developing technology and solutions through strategic partnerships with government, industry and academia across the State of Ohio and the Nation. By building intelligent teams—composed of humans, artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, and other complex entities—Parallax is where everything comes together. Together with academia, Parallax accelerates innovation that leads to new breakthroughs. Together with government, Parallax tackles critical global challenges and delivers new solutions. Together with industry, Parallax develops groundbreaking ideas and speeds them to market.   

About Launch Dayton  

Launch Dayton is a collaborative effort of regional entrepreneurial support organizations to connect and support Dayton’s entrepreneur and startup community. Launch Dayton partners believe everyone, regardless of their background, should have the opportunity to determine their own economic prosperity. The Launch Dayton community exists to support and inspire all Daytonians who are building businesses. Launch Dayton partners collaborate to build an easily accessible environment, run high-caliber programming and connect a network of champions, mentors and resource providers.