Created by Cincinnati’s business community, Cintrifuse is more than just a startup accelerator or venture capital fund. We are a startup catalyst, a public/private partnership that exists to build a sustainable tech-based economy for the Greater Cincinnati region. Our purpose is to advocate for entrepreneurs leading high-growth tech startups– attracting, inspiring, and supporting them on their journey.
Through the construction and maintenance of an Active Network of BigCos, universities, investors, and startups, we are turning Cincinnati into the premier destination for startups and innovation in the Midwest.
Our Story
To ensure Cincinnati’s future economic relevance and vitality, the Cincinnati Business Committee commissioned a McKinsey study to determine what gaps need to be filled in order for entrepreneurship to flourish in the Greater Cincinnati region. Cintrifuse was created to fill those gaps.
Companies like P&G, Kroger and Western & Southern depend on Cintrifuse to help them source innovation for their business and to grow the region’s startup ecosystem. Ultimately strengthening and bolstering Greater Cincinnati’s economy. Without the support of these and other like-minded companies, institutions, and organization, our work would be impossible.
Our Team
Sarah Anderson Director
Syndicate Fund
Jessica Boesch Project Coordinator
Cintrifuse
Maurice Coffey Executive on Loan
Procter & Gamble
Karen Deime Manager of Administration
Cintrifuse
Nick Faulkner Principal
Syndicate Fund
Ian Frampton Analyst
Syndicate Fund
Emily Geiger Vice President, BigCo Innovation
Cintrifuse
Patrick Henshaw Vice President, Growth, Startups & Technology
Cintrifuse
Laura Hughes Events & Operations Manager
Union Hall
Sam Korach Executive on Loan
EY
Kellie Kuzmuk Program Manager
Cintrifuse
Wendy Lea CEO
Cintrifuse
Nick Lepore Client Delivery Manager
Spry Labs
Naashom Marx Director of Customer Connections
Cintrifuse
Henry Molski Marketing Manager
Cintrifuse
Bjorn Simmons Community Catalyst
StartupCincy
Eric Weissmann Vice President, Communications, Community & Economic Inclusion
Cintrifuse
Kevin Willey Executive on Loan
The Kroger Company
Our Board
Valarie Sheppard, Chair Senior Vice President, Comptroller and Treasurer
Procter and Gamble
David Adams CEO, 1819 Innovation Hub and Chief Innovation Officer
University of Cincinnati
Jim Anderson CEO, Retired
Children's Hospital
Eric Baumgardner Associate Director Finance and Cintrifuse Treasurer
Procter and Gamble
Rahul Bawa CEO
PowerIT Solutions
Steve Bishop Group President, Global Health Care
Procter and Gamble
Rich Boehne President of the Board
Northern Kentucky University
David Cannady Chief Strategy Officer
Mercy Health
Karen A. Chamberlain Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer
Western & Southern Financial Grp.
John Cranley Mayor
City of Cincinnati
Jennifer Dauer Senior Vice President, Strategy and Growth
Children's Hospital
Mark Fahner Vice President Corporate Business Development
Cincinnati Bell
Kay Geiger President, Ohio and Northern Kentucky Region
PNC Financial Services Group
Bob Gilbreath Co-Founder and CEO
Ahalogy
Mark Heimbouch Chief Operating Officer
Vantiv
Gary Heiman President and CEO
Standard Textile Co., Inc.
Jim Henning President, Ohio and Kentucky
Duke Energy
Brian Hodgett Director, State Government and Community Relations
Procter and Gamble
Tarek Kamil Founder and President
Cerkl
Wendy Lea CEO
Cintrifuse
Gary Lindgren Executive Director
Cincinnati Business Committee
Julia Poston Office Managing Partner
EY
Raja Rajamannar Chief Marketing & Communications Officer and President, Healthcare Business
Mastercard
Scott Robertson Chairman
RCF Group
Jeff Rodgers CFO
Michelman
Tim Schigel Founder and President
Refinery Ventures
Tim Spence EVP, Chief Strategy Officer
Fifth Third Bank
Tony Stollings Executive Vice President and CFO
First Financial Bank
Adam Symson President and CEO
The E.W. Scripps Company
Tom Williams President and CEO
North American Properties
James Zimmerman Partner In Charge, Cincinnati
Taft
Our Success Stories
We mentor entrepreneurs and empower corporations. Here are a just a few of our successes.
Astronomer launches CVG's data into orbit
Even though the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) serves fewer passengers than airports in larger cities, it still needs to deliver an excellent customer experience to millions.
