The Entrepreneurs’ Center Board of Directors
As we bid farewell to 2023, I’m proud of yet another year of unprecedented growth and success at the Entrepreneurs’ Center (EC). Our commitment to fostering innovation, supporting entrepreneurs, and driving economic vitality in the Dayton region continues to transform the small business community. Here’s a brief overview of our progress:
Regional Performance and Growth
During 2023, we expanded the EC team to almost 50 full- and part-time team members, who together serve more than 900 small businesses across our eight-county region. Those businesses continue to thrive:
- The 90 technology businesses supported by the EC generated more than $80M of revenue—yet another record performance.
- Those same businesses received more than $140M in third-party venture capital investments. This total exceeds the total amount of capital invested into portfolio companies during the 2020–2022 period, combined.
- The EC provided more than 11,000 hours of one-on-one support to clients—a 30% increase over 2022.
- Diversity is our strength: led by the EC’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC), almost half of the companies supported by the EC are led by a minority founder.
Bright Spots of 2023
In a year of incredible performance, a few bright spots stand out:
- The EC was one of just 20 organizations across the nation to receive an award under the Economic Development Agency’s Build to Scale Capital Challenge. This program will facilitate the development of a structured approach to local, regional, and national capital markets, increasing access to critical funding for our region’s entrepreneurs.
- In May, the Arcade Innovation Hub, founded by the EC and our partners from the University of Dayton, held the grand opening of the Upper Deck, the third floor of our Innovation Hub. With its opening, we expanded the available office space for clients by almost 40%, and we are well on our way to filling it with vibrant small businesses.
- Speaking of our partners from the University of Dayton, The Crotty Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership hosted 67 classes, and more than 930 students, here at the Hub during both the spring and fall semesters.
Looking Ahead to 2024
As we begin 2024, I expect yet another record-breaking year for the EC and our client companies. We remain committed to expanding our support for entrepreneurs, including the full launch of the Build to Scale program, continued growth in technology companies within our portfolio, and ongoing support for “main street” businesses crucial to our collective economic well-being. We will be implementing some new, novel approaches to company creation and enhanced client support methods – and we will continue to deepen our collaborative efforts with community partners as we broaden program accessibility across the region.
I, and all the EC staff, am inspired by three pillars of our community: People, Place, and Programs. Dayton is filled with incredible People: amazing entrepreneurs, a skilled workforce, and a promising generation of college and university students. We’ve got incredible Places for entrepreneurs to work. Most notably, The Arcade Innovation Hub, a testament to collaboration, is a remarkable space where small businesses, students, and the community intertwine. Finally, Dayton’s extensive entrepreneurial support Programs, coupled with dedicated local government partners, make it the best place to start and grow a business—anywhere.
Our Thanks
As 2023 closes, I want to express my gratitude to our incredible Board of Directors, clients, partners, and the entire Dayton community. Your continued support fuels our passion for fostering innovation and driving economic prosperity. With an eye on 2024, we remain committed to empowering entrepreneurs, embracing challenges, and building a thriving future for the Dayton region. Cheers to a remarkable year, and here’s to the exciting opportunities that lie ahead!
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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
The federal SBIR and STTR programs provide billions of dollars in non-dilutive funding to support technology innovation, yet many early-stage companies struggle to navigate the application process and build the commercialization strategies necessary for success.
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
937-203-0771 
