Moving from Vision to Reality: Dayton Region Entrepreneurial Signature Program
Author:
March 2007
The Dayton Region is the recipient of an Ohio Department of Development Third Frontier Grant of $11.3 M matched by $7.5 M from local investors. An additional $3.7 M is proposed for a second round of funding by the State in spring, 2007. This will make available more than $22.5 M for the Dayton Region to partner with technology-based companies with one objective – to bring new and innovative technologies to market.
Together, we will build on the Region’s momentum and recent successes in attracting and growing companies in our “Signature” area of advanced materials, particularly composites, nanomaterials, and sensor applications. Our major focus will be building on the Dayton Region’s World-Class reputation for advanced materials R&D, and capitalizing on this success to commercialize and manufacture tomorrow’s products.
The Entrepreneurial Signature Program (ESP) may also provide assistance and funding to companies commercializing other innovative technologies.
The Dayton Region Entrepreneurial Signature Program is here to help you take your technology to market. We will be providing assistance to you in the form of loans, equity investments and grants to get you the help to complete your commercialization efforts.
ESP will provide a wide variety of services, including design and prototype development, technology validation and qualification, incubation space and services, and market research. It can help you - on an individualized basis - address the barriers to your progress, by providing developmental service grants to recruit key personnel, secure IP protection, develop your marketing plan, or secure the consulting help your product or your business requires. In short, ESP is geared to your needs and your plan with assistance provided by a service provider that you choose.
ESP’s Service Program collaborators are available to assist you in the development and implementation of your commercialization plan. ESP Collaborators include The Entrepreneurs Center, the National Composite Center, EMTEC, the Dayton Development Coalition, the WSU Center for Innovation Management in the Raj Soin College of Business, the University of Dayton Research Institute, the AIM Center at Sinclair Community College, Business First!, the Springfield CIC, Aileron and many others.
In addition to developmental service grants, the ESP Pre-Seed Fund will provide the capital you need during the commercialization process. Because of the outstanding support provided by the State of Ohio Third Frontier Initiative, the terms of the equity assistance will be more attractive than the usual venture capital requirements. What is most important is the expert advice and assistance that will be provided by the local investors who made ESP a reality for the Dayton Region. More than 20 knowledgeable and experienced angel investors have pledged their time and expertise to help you build your business.
They are joined by venture capital advisors, River Cities and Four Seasons. Also, major community partners including the University of Dayton, Wright State University Foundation and the Sinclair Community College Foundation, the Turner Foundation, Soin International, and Premier Health Partners all of whom believe that the Dayton Region’s future rests with you – the creator of tomorrow’s industries and jobs. We ask that you join us in thanking them for their support and commitment to the Dayton Region and its entrepreneurs.
The Dayton Region Entrepreneurial Signature Program is designed to serve start-ups, small entrepreneurial companies, and existing technology-based companies commercializing new technologies. In general, if the following describes your company, you may qualify for ESP assistance and investment:
- You have a new and innovative product in the early stages of development.
- Your product can be commercialized and marketed within three to five years.
- You have “all three legs of the stool” – a business structure, an entrepreneurial team, and a technology that will be competitive in the marketplace.
- Your revenues in the past fiscal year were less than $5.0 M, you have less than 30 employees, and you are privately held, or you are commercializing your technology in a stand-alone company separate from your larger, privately-held company.
If this description fits you, and if you are located in the counties identified by the State of Ohio as our ESP Region (Champaign, Clark, Darke, Greene, Miami, Montgomery, Preble and Shelby Counties) or the northern sections of Warren, Butler and Clermont Counties, and the southern part of Auglaize County and are interested in participating in the Dayton Region ESP, please request an ESP Commercialization Project Proposal Outline at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or contact the Dayton Development Coalition at 937-222-4422 and we will work with you to determine your eligibility or options.
We hope to hear from you!
