StartupCincy is asking the community to help spotlight the founders and organizations shaping Greater Cincinnati’s startup ecosystem – but the clock is ticking.
Nominations for the inaugural StartupCincy Awards close Feb. 13, leaving just over a week for community members to submit candidates. StartupCincy is a regionwide community that supports entrepreneurs and startups in Cincinnati. Cintrifuse, a nonprofit entrepreneurial support organization, leads the effort.
The new awards program recognizes founders, startups, small businesses and ecosystem leaders whose work is driving innovation, growth and community impact across the region. Branded under the tagline “Cincinnati’s Founders Deserve a Stage,” the awards align with a decade of progress in the region’s entrepreneurial landscape.
Award nominations are open to individuals, companies and contributors operating in or significantly impacting Greater Cincinnati. Award categories span the breadth of the local startup ecosystem.
The StartupCincy Innovator of the Year honors a founder behind a breakthrough product or technology, while Small Business Excellence recognizes a neighborhood business showing resilience and growth. The Founder to Watch award highlights an emerging entrepreneur who made a significant leap in the past year.
Additional honors include High-Growth Startup of the Year for scalable companies showing strong traction, the Social Impact Award for mission-driven organizations addressing social, environmental or economic challenges, and the Creative Culture Driver Award, which celebrates innovation in arts, design, food and creative industries.
The Community Builder Award recognizes connectors, mentors, investors or organizations strengthening collaboration across the ecosystem, while the Regional Impact Award honors companies or organizations creating meaningful local economic growth through hiring and expansion.
Peers, partners and community members submit nominations; the awards don’t allow self-nominations. While nominators may enter candidates in multiple categories, each individual or organization can receive only one award.
A review process informed by community input and regional ecosystem leadership will determine award recipients, with judges weighing both measurable results and broader impact.
A StartupCincy Awards presentation will take place this spring.
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