Entrepreneurs’ Center client Skuld delivers its first Lightning Metal system to UT Knoxville, marking a major step in next-gen manufacturing.
Skuld LLC, based in Piqua, Ohio, is transforming the landscape of metal manufacturing with its pioneering Additive Manufacturing Evaporative Casting (AMEC) platform. Now, with the successful delivery of its flagship Lightning Metal LM-16 system to UTK’s cutting-edge manufacturing research facility, Skuld is extending its impact beyond defense contracts into academic and commercial markets.
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, recognized nationally for leadership in manufacturing research, will integrate the Lightning Metal system into its curriculum and research programs. Students and faculty will use the platform for advanced materials science education, hands-on workforce training, and real-world experimentation in alloy development.
“This milestone isn’t just about shipping a machine—it’s about powering the future of American manufacturing,” said Skuld CEO Sarah Jordan. “We’re proud to see our technology in the hands of researchers and educators who are shaping the next generation of engineers.”
Backed by more than $9 million in U.S. Department of Defense contracts and pilot programs with the U.S. Air Force and Defense Logistics Agency, Skuld’s evolution into commercial and academic partnerships represents the next phase of growth for this high-potential startup. The Lighting Metal platform empowers users with tooling-free, net-shape casting capabilities for aerospace-grade aluminum and other high-performance alloys, reducing lead times and enabling rapid iteration in a field where precision is paramount.
At Entrepreneurs’ Center (EC), we’ve been honored to walk alongside Skuld’s leadership team as they evolved from early-stage innovators to manufacturing trailblazers. From navigating commercialization pathways to pursuing government partnerships, Skuld’s journey is a powerful example of the ingenuity and perseverance we see every day among Ohio’s entrepreneurs.
“Skuld is showing the world what’s possible when visionary engineering meets real-world application,” said Scott Koorndyk, President of Entrepreneurs’ Center. “They’re not just building machines—they’re building momentum for the future of advanced manufacturing.”
Skuld’s first commercial deployment is just the beginning. With more Lightning Metal systems on the horizon and momentum building, this Ohio-born company is poised to redefine the future of advanced manufacturing. It’s also a powerful reminder of what’s possible when bold ideas are matched with the right support. At EC, we’re proud to back innovators like Skuld as they turn breakthrough technologies into real-world impact.
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A Letter from our President & Board Chair
At the Entrepreneurs’ Center, everything we do is driven by one goal: delivering real impact to the clients and communities we serve. Over the years, we’ve celebrated major milestones—but none more meaningful than the one we’re proud to share today.
Between 2017 and 2024, EC-supported businesses surpassed $1 billion in cumulative economic impact, measured through revenue generated, investment capital attracted, and grant funding secured.
That kind of impact doesn’t happen by accident. It’s the result of relentless work to make the Dayton Region one of the very best places to build a business—through bold programming, expanded access to capital, and a community that’s more connected than ever.
For high-growth, high-tech startups, we continue to lead the region’s Ohio Third Frontier Entrepreneurial Services Provider program. Today, we support more than 100 tech companies whose innovations are fueling job creation, attracting capital, and reshaping Dayton’s economic future. In 2025, our successes were recognized with a program extension through mid-2027.
At the same time, we remain equally committed to the small businesses that sustain and energize our communities. Through the Miami Valley Small Business Development Center, we served more than 500 Main Street entrepreneurs in 2024, offering education, one-on-one advising, and support to access the funding they need to grow. We also deepened our role as a convener, hosting Dayton Startup Week and welcoming over 400 attendees and 80 speakers to share, learn, and connect.
2024 was also a breakout year for the Arcade Innovation Hub, our flagship innovation space. Now home to more than 160 member companies, The Hub Powered by PNC Bank has become the region’s most dynamic gathering place for entrepreneurs, educators, and creatives. This partnership between the University of Dayton’s Crotty Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership and the Entrepreneurs’ Center is a powerful example of what’s possible when institutions work together to spark innovation.
From our earliest days as a startup incubator to today’s billion-dollar milestone, we’ve remained grounded in one mission: to build progress and prosperity through entrepreneurship. The future we envisioned is now happening—and we’re just getting started.
We’re deeply grateful to our public and private partners, our community collaborators, and especially the hundreds of small business owners and startup founders who trust us to walk alongside them. This impact is yours, too.
We believe the next billion is already on its way.
Scott Koorndyk, President
Dr. David Kirschman, Board Chair
Water technology innovators often face additional challenges, including high initial capital costs, long adoption timelines, complex regulatory environments, and limited access to commercialization support tailored to the sector.
The SBIR/STTR Accelerator addresses these barriers and aims to support startup fundraising efforts by helping participants:
- Understand and navigate the federal funding landscape
- Develop compelling value propositions and commercialization strategies
- Identify market opportunities and competitive advantages
- Strengthen business planning and investor readiness
- Build actionable plans for pursuing SBIR/STTR funding
A Letter from our President & Board Chair
As we reflect on another year of bold ideas, resilient founders, and transformative growth, it’s our pleasure to present the 2025 Annual Impact Report for Entrepreneurs’ Center—the Region’s venture development leader.
In 2025, our team remained focused on our mission: to accelerate the growth of entrepreneurial businesses across the Dayton region at every stage—from a good idea to a scaling business to a business attracting capital. Through targeted programming, expert mentorship, access to capital, and deep partnerships across the ecosystem, we continued to build a thriving environment where entrepreneurs can turn visionary ideas into economic engines for our community.
In 2024, we reported that our impact exceeded $1B since 2017. That momentum is not just continuing—it’s accelerating. In 2025 alone, EC-supported businesses generated more than $266M in economic impact, signaling a pace of growth that is compounding year-over-year.
These outcomes are more than numbers—they represent real stories of innovation, perseverance, and community reinvestment right here in Dayton. From high-growth technology startups to main-street businesses and neighborhood innovators, the entrepreneurs we serve are strengthening our regional economy and positioning Dayton as a hub for opportunity and progress.
None of this would be possible without the unwavering support of our Board of Directors, our funders, investors, corporate partners, academic collaborators, and dedicated team. Your belief in the power of entrepreneurship fuels our impact across the Miami Valley and beyond.
We invite you to explore the full 2025 Annual Impact Report to see the depth of our programs, the success stories of the founders we are privileged to work with, and the forward momentum we’re building together.
Thank you for your continued partnership as we continue to power progress and prosperity in the Dayton Region.
Scott Koorndyk, President
Dr. David Kirschman, Board Chair
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