Resources for Underserved Founders in Ohio

• Bunker Labs Columbus Columbus · Mentorship & Advising
  Based out of Rev1 Ventures, connecting veteran and military-spouse founders to mentoring, capital, and Bunker Labs' national peer network.
• Columbus Urban League — IncubateHer & MBAC Columbus · Mentorship & Advising
  IncubateHer is a free incubation program for women-led startups and small companies; CUL also houses the Columbus/Athens Minority Business…
• Disability:IN — DOBE Certification Statewide · Certification & Compliance
  National certifying body for Disability-Owned Business Enterprises (DOBE) — opens doors to corporate supplier-diversity programs actively seeking…
• Diversity Chamber of Central Ohio & Plexus (NGLCC Affiliates) Statewide · Certification & Compliance
  Ohio's NGLCC-affiliated chambers connect LGBTQ+-owned businesses to national certification and corporate supplier-diversity contracts.
• ECDI — Economic & Community Development Institute Columbus · Funding & Capital, Loans & Debt Capital, Mentorship & Advising
  The nation's top SBA microlender, funding loans from $750 to $500K. Runs Ohio's only SBA-backed Women's Business Centers in Columbus, Cleveland, and…
• Finance Fund Statewide · Funding & Capital, Loans & Debt Capital
  Business Lending.
• Hispanic Business Center Cleveland / Akron · Certification & Compliance, Mentorship & Advising
  Hispanic Business Center supports regional economic growth, often by convening businesses, providing services, and helping with supplier…
• Huntington Bank Statewide · Funding & Capital, Loans & Debt Capital, Mentorship & Advising
  Lift Local Business.
• Lightship Foundation Cincinnati · Accelerators & Studios, Funding & Capital, Grants & Non-dilutive Funding
  Lightship Bootcamp / Accelerator.
• Minority Business Assistance Centers Statewide · Mentorship & Advising, State & Public Programs
  MBAC Network.
• MORTAR Cincinnati · Accelerators & Studios
  Cincinnati's 12-week accelerator built for nontraditional, underrepresented founders — 87% of participants are Black, including 67% Black women.
• Ohio Impact Fund Statewide · Funding & Capital, Venture & Equity
  Ohio Impact Fund.
• Ohio MBE / EDGE / WBE Certification Statewide · Certification & Compliance, State & Public Programs
  State certification that unlocks set-aside contracts for minority-, women-, and disadvantaged-owned businesses — Ohio's EDGE program also covers…
• Ohio Minority Supplier Development Council Cleveland / Akron · Certification & Compliance, Mentorship & Advising
  Ohio Minority Supplier Development Council supports regional economic growth, often by convening businesses, providing services, and helping with…
• Operation Hope Cleveland / Akron · Mentorship & Advising
  Operation Hope is an organization that provides resources, connections, or support services for founders and small businesses in Ohio. Best stage to…
• Smashing Your Sales Goals: Velocity Accelerator Cleveland / Akron · Mentorship & Advising, Accelerators & Studios, State & Public Programs, Education & Community
  For business owners and entrepreneurs 0-6 years in business looking to create a step-by-step sales process that can be used again and again to…
• The Pride Fund Statewide · Funding & Capital, Venture & Equity
  The Pride Fund.
• Urban League of Greater Cleveland Cleveland / Akron · Mentorship & Advising, State & Public Programs
  Civil rights and economic empowerment organization offering business training, coaching, and capital access for Black and underserved entrepreneurs.…

By city

• Cleveland & Akron
• Columbus