The StartupCincy Awards honor the founders, startups, small businesses, and ecosystem leaders shaping Greater Cincinnati’s entrepreneurial future. From breakthrough technology to neighborhood impact, from first-time founders to community builders, these awards reflect the full spectrum of entrepreneurship across our region.
This isn’t just about who raised the most money or moved the fastest.
It’s about who built something meaningful and moved the ecosystem forward.
Every category represents a story worth telling. Together, they honor the creativity, resilience, ambition, and collaboration that define Cincinnati’s startup community.
StartupCincy Innovator of the Year
Honor’s the top founder pushing boundaries with a breakthrough product, service, or technology. Presented by Western & Southern Financial Group
Aaron Chow founded Vixiv is an AI driven design and additive manufacturing platform that automatically identifies optimal engineering solutions, allowing manufacturers to speed up product development without compromising quality.
Jeff Wilson leads Soundtrace, a digital platform enabling industrial facilities to stay complaint with OSHA-mandated hearing and noise regulations.
Raf Garcia is the founder of Kernel, which builds open-source infrastructure enabling AI web agents to access and interact with the internet at incredible speed and scale.
Tsavo Knott is the CEO of Pieces, a company developing AI-driven tools that enable users to capture, organize, and reuse code knowledge more efficiently.
Yael Katz, founder and CEO of Simbryo Technologies, is advancing fertility care through innovative biotech solutions that use organoid technology to help personalize IVF treatment and improve outcomes for families navigating infertility.
Small Business Excellence
Recognizes a neighborhood-rooted small business that has shown resilience, growth, and community impact. Presented by the Cincinnati Regional Chamber
A Cincinnati artisan bakery known for its handcrafted sourdough breads and deep community roots, growing from a backyard wood-fired oven into one of the region’s most beloved bakeries.
Homemakers Bar is a nationally recognized cocktail bar, eatery, and bottle shop known for house-made cocktails and a community-driven atmosphere that feels like a house party.
Launch Party is a beauty retailer that curates and celebrates independent brands, helping customers discover feel-good self-care products from passionate founders.
Lost & Found OTR is an eclectic Cincinnati cocktail bar and gathering space known for inventive drinks, vibrant culture, and a welcoming atmosphere centered on community and creativity.
Pata Roja Taqueria is a beloved Cincinnati restaurant known for its authentic flavors and community-centered mission.
Emerging Founder
Celebrates an emerging entrepreneur (tech, creative, retail, service, or otherwise) who made a significant leap this year. Presented by the 1819 Innovation Hub at the University of Cincinnati
TissuTrak is a mobile health app that helps patients with connective tissue disorders track symptoms, identify patterns, and manage their health while accelerating the diagnostic process.
Illume provides connected data and analytics solutions, helping med spas and wellness providers operate and grow more effectively.
Another Nine is a self-service indoor golf simulator experience where players of all skill levels can practice, compete, and play world-class courses year-round.
Spendr is a digital payments and rewards platform that helps cannabis dispensaries offer fast, cashless transactions while increasing customer visits and spending.
Motiv helps school athletic departments streamline communication, scheduling, and team management so coaches can spend more time with their athletes.
High-Growth Startup of the Year
Honors a tech or scalable startup showing standout traction, revenue growth, user adoption, or fundraising success. Presented by Cintrifuse
FinOpsly helps companies optimize cloud spending and financial operations through advanced analytics and automation.
Kernel is building an open-source infrastructure that enables AI web agents to access and interact with the internet at incredible speed and scale.
Narratize enables teams to accelerate innovation by turning ideas into structured narratives that guide product development and decision-making.
Pantomath provides automated data observability tools that help organizations detect and resolve data pipeline issues before they impact business operations.
Sprints designs bold, high-performance athletic gear with fun colors and breathable fabrics, worn by millions of athletes worldwide and proudly designed and shipped from Cincinnati.
Social Impact Award
Recognizes a mission-driven company tackling social, environmental, or economic challenges in Greater Cincinnati. Presented by REDI Cincinnati
Brick Gardens works to combat food insecurity by converting vacant land and buildings into urban farms and indoor vertical farm houses, providing fresh healthy produce to areas of Cincinnati considered food deserts.
Last Mile Food Rescue built a logistics system to reduce surplus food and get it to those who need it most. The organization is on track to eliminate food insecurity in Cincinnati, making it the first American city to do so.
Nehemiah Manufacturing has created one of the nation’s most recognized second-chance employment models, providing stable careers and wraparound support, creating hundreds of jobs in Cincinnati through Fair Chance employment.
Sunflower Fuels is a renewable energy company cultivating high-yield Miscanthus grass on underutilized land to supply sustainable biomass for biofuels, industrial energy, and regenerative agriculture markets.
The Empower Group is an innovative consulting company leading the evolution of Fair Chance employment in the United States.
Creative Culture Driver Award
Celebrates a founder or company innovating in the arts, design, food, culture, or creative spaces. Presented by Kroger
Cindependent champions Cincinnati’s independent film scene and supports emerging filmmakers.
Josh Heuser leads AGAR, a creative agency known for innovative branding, design, and storytelling, and is the creative mind behind BLINK, Ghost Baby, and Prim.
SunnyBlu Art Agency partners with mission-driven organizations to create bold storytelling, strategic campaigns, and creative media that connect with communities, amplify impact, and inspire meaningful action.
Kristen Schlotman works to attract major film and television productions to Cincinnati through experience curation and economic incentives while supporting the local creative industry.
Redbox Ctudios is a production studio based in Cincinnati that combines the bounds of photography, videography, art, streetwear, and exhibitions to redefine the landscape of artistic expression.
Community Builder Award
For a connector—accelerator, mentor, investor, or grassroots leader—driving collaboration, support, and ecosystem growth. Presented by FBT Gibbons (Previously Frost Brown Todd)
Barbara Hauser is a true leader within Cincinnati and is responsible for championing countless nonprofit and civic initiatives and bringing together founders, creatives, corporate leaders, and community organizations in ways that drive real progress.
Dave Knox has been in the StartupCincy ecosystem since its founding and currently leads Blue North, an organization supporting entrepreneurs in Northern Kentucky by building community and providing access to the resources they need, in addition to leading the effort behind SparkHaus, Northern Kentucky’s entrepreneurial hub.
Mark Lacker helps shape the next generation of entrepreneurs through Miami University’s nationally recognized entrepreneurship program, empowering hundreds of students to pursue entrepreneurship and found startups early in their careers.
Nate Sowder works at the intersection of AI, corporate innovation, and startup growth, helping founders think more strategically about tech, talent, and decision-making, while also serving as a regional bridge between startups and institutions across Cincinnati and Dayton.
Rachel DesRochers is an advocate for emerging female founders and first-time entrepreneurs. Through The Gratitude Collective, her leadership in Power to Pursue, and partnerships with universities and community organizations, she creates programming that connects entrepreneurs to mentorship, community and hands-on learning opportunities.
Regional Impact Award
Honors a company or organization building, hiring, and growing in ways that create meaningful local economic impact. Presented by EcoMap
3CDC is a private, nonprofit, full-service real estate development and finance corporation focused on revitalizing Cincinnati’s urban core in partnership with the City of Cincinnati.
Alloy Growth Lab helps companies scale by connecting them with the tools, capital, and strategic support needed for sustainable growth.
FC Cincinnati is a major economic and cultural force for the region through professional MLS soccer, community engagement, and stadium development.
Mortar supports diverse entrepreneurs through mentorship, education, and access to resources that help small businesses launch and grow.
REDI Cincinnati drives regional economic development by attracting companies, supporting job creation, and strengthening the business climate.
The Port works to redevelop underutilized properties and create equitable economic growth across Cincinnati neighborhoods.
Nominations are open to founders, startups, small businesses, and ecosystem leaders across Greater Cincinnati. Submissions may come from peers, partners or community members.
Award recipients are selected through a thoughtful review process informed by community input and ecosystem leadership. Each award reflects both measurable progress and broader impact.
Nominations close on Feb 13, 2026
Nominees must be individuals, companies, or contributors operating in or significantly impacting the Greater Cincinnati region.
Self-nominations are not permitted.
Nominees may be submitted for multiple categories, but can only win one award.
