Our Partners
The Center on Rural Innovation
The Center on Rural Innovation (CORI) is a national nonprofit at the heart of a dynamic social enterprise focused on closing the rural opportunity gap.
CORI helps rural towns across the country become strategic about economic development in the 21st century. Knowing that the barriers facing rural communities are multidimensional, CORI brings a comprehensive range of expertise, programs, and partnerships to the table to ensure that all Americans, regardless of geography, are connected online and able to participate in a 21st century tech economy.
The SSU Kricker Innovation Hub and Portsmouth, Ohio are one of 38 rural communities connected with the CORI network.
ECDI Women’s Business Center of Central Appalachia at SSU
In partnership with Shawnee State University (SSU), the WBC of Central Appalachia is located at the SSU Kricker Innovation Hub, serving entrepreneurs and the SSU community.
Their staff are committed to the growth and success of women-owned small businesses throughout Central Appalachia by providing access to a suite of small business services at all stages of planning, development, and growth.
LIGHTS Regional Innovation Network
Shawnee State University is a Gateway for LIGHTS which provides expertise, training and resources to the regional workforce, entrepreneurs, companies and local communities.
LIGHTS is for individuals who live or work in the 28-county region and are interested in building a product and/or creating a business. This program partners with various regional hubs and gateways that give its team the ability to make your ideas happen.
Tech Growth Ohio
TechGROWTH Ohio is a $67 million public-private partnership composed of the Ohio Third Frontier program, Ohio University and the private investment community. It is one of the regional entrepreneurial services provider programs funded by Ohio Third Frontier to provide business expertise, services and investments for startup companies in the 19-county southeastern Ohio area.
As one of the premier programs of Ohio University’s Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs, TechGROWTH Ohio is part of an entrepreneurial ecosystem that includes programs supporting university and regional technology commercialization and small business acceleration. For more information, visit www.techgrowthohio.com
The Ohio State University Endeavor Center
National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE)
Shawnee State University belongs to the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE). This is a member organization of over 300 community colleges representing nearly 2,000 staff. Presidents, educators, administrators and center directors are focused on inciting entrepreneurship in their community and on their campus.
NACCE has two main goals:
Empower the college to approach the business of leading a community college with an entrepreneurial mindset; and
Grow the community college's role in supporting job creation and entrepreneurs in their local ecosystem.
National Council of Entrepreneurial Tech Transfer (NCET2)
The National Council of Entrepreneurial Tech Transfer (NCET2) is a membership organization of university Startup Officers from the top research universities in the United States. NCET2 aims to advance and professionalize university Startups Officers by providing opportunities for networking, policy advocacy, and education.
NCET2 recognizes that Startup Officers are the backbone of any university's research commercialization program. They work to support the world's most transformative companies created at their university by students, researchers, alumni, faculty, and staff. SOs are instrumental in coordinating with national and regional angels, VCs, and corporates that help fund, mentor and support university startups.
NCET2 also works extensively with Fortune/Global 1000 open innovation and corporate venture groups to align university startups with their technology and scouting requirements. Through the semi-annual University Startups Demo Day and annual University Startups Conference in Washington, D.C., NCET2 showcases the central role of Startup Officers and the university community to national competitiveness and economic growth.
NCET2's mission is to strengthen the innovation and entrepreneurial network by bringing together Fortune/Global 1000 companies, angels, VCs, economic development organizations, state and federal agencies, universities and entrepreneurs.
The U.S. Small Business Administration’s Columbus District office provides many free resources for small businesses in our region. Check out their resource guide HERE. Watch our events calendar, and sign up for our newsletter to stay up-to-date on future SBA events and workshops at the Kricker Innovation Hub.