Initiatives

Akron USA

Akron USA is a marketing initiative of The City of Akron.

Greater Akron Investment Partners (GAIP)

Greater Akron Investment Partners LLC (GAIP) is a holding company formed by private sector investments in association with city and county government. The City of Akron is a major investor in GAIP, and this project is the first partnership of its kind between an Israeli incubator and a U.S. city. The Targetech Innovation Center leverages significant investments by the Israeli government and specializes in taking emerging innovative ideas in biotech, electronics, Internet technology, manufacturing systems and materials engineering and advancing them to the stage of prototyping and initial market entry.

Technology Bridges

A technology bridge is a two-way informational networking infrastructure with "feet on the ground" on both sides of the bridge that will facilitate cooperation and business development and reduce risks inherent for early-middle stage companies that are ready to expand globally.

Akron BioInvestments Funds

This seed fund is directed at attracting early stage homegrown and other biomedical companies to set up operations in the Akron Biomedical Corridor. Cleveland-based health insurer Medical Mutual of Ohio is the fund's first sponsor, having pledged $1 million toward it. Power supplier FirstEnergy has also committed to being an investor. The city is targeting about $15 million for the fund's size. The fund is intended to help guide early stage companies through the "valley of death" period that occurs when a company is developing its product and not yet generating revenue. The investment from the city's fund ideally would stabilize the companies and help them attract private capital. Most investment amounts range from $100,000 to $250,000.

Ohio BioMaterials Commercialization Hub

Ohio's Hubs of Innovation and Opportunity are supported by the Ohio Department of Development and work to leverage a region's resources and investments to attract clusters of connected businesses, encourage new investments and an influx of talented workers, and help to create new opportunities to grow jobs and develop Ohio's key industries.