Register now for Launch Dayton Startup Week

Tickets available for Dayton’s premier entrepreneurship conference

Registration is now live for Launch Dayton Startup Week, the Dayton region's premiere opportunity for entrepreneurs to connect and network with both resource providers and fellow founders.

This free, annual, week-long, community-focused conference brings together the region’s thinkers, dreamers, doers, makers, entrepreneurs, and small business owners.

“Speakers and workshops have been curated to celebrate the diversity of our startup community and to spur tangible progress for local businesses,” said Launch Dayton Startup Week Organizer, Audrey Ingram. “At Launch Dayton, we believe everyone should have the opportunity to determine their own economic prosperity. We hope Startup Week serves as a launching point for these young companies that will drive the economic future of the region.”

All experiences are welcome — whether a seasoned entrepreneur or new to the community, there is space to jump in. Register here: https://bit.ly/LaunchDaytonStartupWeek2021

This year’s conference is made possible thanks to generous support from title sponsors Canary Consulting, Parallax Advanced Research, Fifth Third Bank, and the Entrepreneurs’ Center.

Who: Dayton’s startup founders, entrepreneurs, innovators, small business owners, business leaders, entrepreneurial resource providers, business-building experts, and more

What: Launch Dayton Startup Week, the Dayton region’s premier entrepreneurship conference

When: Sept. 13-16, 2021

Where: All sessions will be held in the historic Dayton Arcade, from the main stage, startup market, and pitch competition in the Rotunda, to business workshops in The Hub, to industry-specific tracks in The Tank and an artists + creative entrepreneurs track in The Contemporary Dayton’s gallery space. We'll also be live-streaming sessions for those who prefer to attend virtually.

Why: To celebrate the diversity of Dayton’s entrepreneur community and to spur tangible growth for local businesses

Be Inspired:

Monday, Sept. 13

We'll kick off at 8:30 a.m. with inspirational stories and how-to talks from founders offering advice that applies across industry lines, all told from our main stage in the historic Rotunda. Shop local businesses throughout the day at the Launch Dayton Startup Week Startup Market, hosted in partnership with Tae Winston, founder of The Entrepreneurs' Marketplace, Shoppe & Connection.

Stick around after the final keynote for a social hour, followed by the Launch Dayton Startup Week Early Risers Pitch Competition, where 10 local startups will compete for cash + prizes, starting at 6 p.m.

Want to pitch & win up to $5,000 in cash + prizes? Apply here by Aug. 13: https://bit.ly/PitchLaunchDaytonStartupWeek2021

Hear & network with:

Mile Two founders Jeff Graley and Jorge Sanchez talk about growing from a four-man shop during the first Startup Week to landing a $15 million government contract
Maximize the Money You Have — Financial guru Emerald Sparks & Arcani Coil Care founder Jerricha Hoskins will talk about getting out of the mindset that someone else will give you money to launch your business
A panel of business owners will discuss Doing Business in 2020 — we’ll talk about the challenges of the pandemic and rising hate crimes, as well as opportunities stemming from the recent push for racial justice
Marketing experts will debunk the most common marketing myths they hear from clients looking to launch or grow their business on a budget
Neurosurgeon turned entrepreneur & investor Dave Kirschman will share his story, from his entrepreneurial start in a college dorm room to his $90M X-spine Systems exit. His current company, Aerobiotix, produces an air filtration system for operating rooms.
Nickole Ross, cofounder of the only minority-owned and Black woman-operated processing facility in Ohio’s burgeoning cannabis industry, will sit down with What’s The Biz founder Te’Jal Cartwright to talk about breaking into an industry that has disproportionately harmed her community.

Work on Your Business:

From Tuesday through Thursday, dig deeper into your business with industry-specific tracks and get hands-on with various workshop opportunities. We'll kick off after lunch and go until 8:00 p.m. to create more opportunities for aspiring founders to attend. Partners have curated a series of offerings for founders innovating in the areas of:

Tuesday, Sept. 14

MedTech, curated by BioOhio
SaaS, curated by Technology First
Business 101 classes, curated by Parallax’s Early Risers Academy
Marketing workshops, curated by LMG
Elevator pitch practice — in an actual elevator

Wednesday, Sept. 15

Food/Bev/Retail/Consumer Products, curated by Downtown Dayton Partnership and the Arcade Kitchen Incubator
Artists + Creative Entrepreneurs, curated by CultureWorks & hosted by The Contemporary Dayton
Scaleup workshops on value prop, financials and investment models, curated by the Entrepreneurs’ Center
A million-dollar women founders panel, curated by Aviatra Accelerators — Dayton

Thursday, Sept. 16

Defense, curated by Parallax Advanced Research and sponsored by Infinite Management Solutions & Treble One Aerospace
Future Tech, curated by OhioX
Marketing workshops, curated by LMG

Join us in-person by entering the Dayton Arcade via The Hub Powered by PNC, at 31. S. Main Street, downtown Dayton. Park at the Reibold Garage on Fifth Street, or park at meters available around the building.

Prefer to attend virtually? Register now, and as the conference gets closer, we'll send you a link to download the official Launch Dayton Startup Week app. The app, available on iOS, Android, and the web, will allow you to personalize your schedule, attend sessions, connect with attendees, find resources, and win prizes.

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About Launch Dayton Startup Week

Launch Dayton Startup Week is the Dayton region’s premiere entrepreneurship conference. This free, annual, week-long, community-focused conference brings together the region’s thinkers, dreamers, doers, makers, entrepreneurs, and small business owners. Talks and workshops are curated by community partners to celebrate the Dayton region’s diverse startup community and spur tangible progress for area businesses. Conference attendance grew to nearly 1K in 2019 and drew nearly 600 in 2020 when we pivoted fully virtual.

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.

About Parallax Advanced Research

Parallax is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that tackles global challenges by accelerating innovation and developing technology and solutions through strategic partnerships with government, industry and academia across Ohio and the Nation. 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 CANARY

CANARY Consulting is a lean insurance product development firm focused on bringing new insurance products to market. CANARY helps insurance startups and innovation centers by attracting and retaining top-quality talent and sustaining a dedicated and diverse workforce. By leveraging an inclusive, employee-focused business strategy, CANARY is constructing a new future for the insurance industry.

About Entrepreneurs’ Center

The Entrepreneurs Center (EC) in Dayton, Ohio is dedicated to supporting all Miami Valley entrepreneurs by assisting small businesses, scalable high-tech startups, and research institutes ready to commercialize. Mentorship, strategic connections, business planning, professional services, and technology commercialization programs are available to local entrepreneurs at no cost. They manage multiple properties offering affordable, flexible solutions such as co-working, shared space, and private offices. The EC drives innovation, diversifies the region's economy, and fuels prosperity in the region as the anchor tenant at The Arcade revitalization project downtown.

Fifth Third Bank

At Fifth Third Bank, we are always listening to new ideas so that we can strengthen our commitment to you and the communities we serve.