Innovation News

Growing Ohio Valley Life Sciences Conference comes back to Cincinnati in 2011

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May 11, 2010

Three years after moving around Ohio and Kentucky, the 9th Annual Ohio Valley Affiliates for Life Sciences (or OVALS) Conference will return to Cincinnati in 2011.OVALS launched in 2002 at the University of Cincinnati to connect the region's major research and medical universities. It started with just a few partners and has grown over the years to include the Air Force Research Laboratory, CincyTechUSA and Ohio University.The founding partner universities, in Ohio and Kentucky, attract and expend approximately $650 million per year on basic and applied research, which generates over 240 intellectual property disclosures per year, according to OVALS."We started this as an opportunity to pull together some of the research universities in our region. It’s a way to create a larger, critical mass of activity. On an individual level it's harder for us to compete with the east and west coasts," said Dorothy Air, OVALS chair and associate vice president for entrepreneurial affairs at UC.The conference is the organization's signature event and brings together researchers, entrepreneurs, investors and innovators. It also includes the Universities of Kentucky and Louisville and Bluegrass Business Development Partnership.When the conference returns to the Queen City, even more university partners could be involved, Air said. At least three universities that conduct research but aren't traditionally known as research or medical universities have expressed interest and may join the affiliates by next year, she said.In addition to gathering for the annual event, OVALS These affiliates share resources and equipment that make the Ohio and Kentucky life sciences community stronger, Air added. "We all exist in a small area, and are within two hours of each other. That actually is an important part of how we pull this together. We wanted the kind of partnerships that help us to grow as a bio science and life science community," Air said.Among the projects OVALS has helped bring to the area was the recent national Small Business Innovation Research conference that came to Kentucky."To attract a national conference to a region you have to show you have local support in terms of organizing it, and that 500 or 600 people will come to it. (SBIR) put out a call for proposals. Kentucky led that and OVALS supported it," Air said.Two-state organizations like OVALs are rare, and garner interest outside the region."A lot of people are quite taken with idea that we have two states working together and multiple organizations working with it. It's a little different model than what goes on in some areas. Because this is affiliation and not an official or government entity, it's pretty amazing that we pull together to get things done," Air said.Writer: Feoshia HendersonSource: Dorothy Air, OVALS Chair

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Garden Grove Organics shop blossoms in Covington

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General

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May 11, 2010

Garden Grove Organics is a business devoted to a better way to grow plants and produce--sans chemicals. After tinkering with hydroponics, no-soil organic, and traditional gardening since 1997, Casey Fraser and his wife, Heather, opened Garden Grove three years ago. Fraser takes a scientist's pleasure in finding solutions to gardening challenges. Casey Fraser was first inspired by his grandparents' love of growing things. He grew up in Eastern Kentucky and earned a degree in Communications and Electronic Media from Morehead State University. He started out in garden supply retail, and later traveled the country as a sales rep for a wholesale supplier - all the while pursuing gardening as a weekend passion."While shopping locally, I noticed a lack of specific, scientific garden supplies," said Fraser. "I also noticed that my own gardening knowledge often surpassed that of the sales staff." By then he'd met Heather, whose accounting degree from NKU could hold up the paperwork side of a small business. It was time to grow their own enterprise. After falling in love with downtowns on both sides of the river, Fraser found his perfect urban location the old-fashioned way - on foot. East Seventh Street in Covington is near City Hall, the Mad Hatter, and the Madison Theater.The Frasers believe detailed knowledge of hydroponics, grow lights, and organic gardening is their most valuable currency. They're often invited to speak at local gardening classes, and recently began selling organic gardening supplies at the Farmers Market in Covington. Casey, Heather, and one additional employee man the store six days a week. Writer: Elena StevensonSource: Casey Fraser, co-owner, Garden Grove Organics

2010 Cincinnati Innovates offers more $$, entrepreneur training, categories

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Entrepreneurship

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May 11, 2010

Cincinnati Innovates 2010 is offering Greater Cincinnati entrepreneurs, creatives and inventors more chances at start-up prize money this year, with more than $80,000 in awards.Cincinnati Innovates evolved from InOneWeekend, which challenged - and equipped - aspiring entrepreneurs to create a viable start-up business in three days.The second annual competition is open to anyone now or originally from a 15-county area of Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky and Southeast Indiana. It has a broad reach and can include innovative products, devices, business processes and more. The top prize is $20,000.This year's competition ups the stakes and opportunities for innovators. There are several new prize categories including a $5,000 web development award sponsored by CoStrategix, a $10,000 award in branding and design services from LPK, and a $10,000 commercialization award to a Kentucky-based company sponsored by The Northern Kentucky eZone, Tri-Ed, Vision 2015, and Biologic."There is so much happening in Northern Kentucky," said Cincinnati Innovates founder and organizer Elizabeth Edwards. "But last year we only had 16 entries from Northern Kentucky. This year with the Northern Kentucky Prize we are hoping for a couple hundred."To enter the contest or get more info, go to the contest's website. There you'll enter a short description of your idea and upload pictures, video, or sketches to help explain and showcase it. The earlier you enter the better, because you can enter more than one idea and update and improve on entered ideas after submission, Edwards said.Cincinnati Innovates more than doubled its sponsorships over last year, up to 23. They include representatives from the region's legal, economic development, health, investor and media communities (including Soapbox).Need a little help in fleshing out or presenting your idea? This year Cincinnati Innovates is offering more group workshops throughout the competition, based on feedback from last year's event, Edwards said.Among scheduled workshops are "How to Finance a Startup," and "Cincinnati Innovates Video Workshop.""We'll have 14 cameras there for people to help them craft an elevator pitch, and we'll have some angel investors there to help," Edwards said of the video workshop. "Many of the proposals that won last year had good video explanations. Some were 30 seconds; some were four minutes. They weren't professionally done, just well put together."There are no age restrictions to entering. The contest is open now through Sept. 1. Winners of a total of 10 prizes - including a community choice award picked by online voters - will be announced September 22 at the Cincinnati National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. Entries will be judged by investors and other industry experts from a wide variety of backgrounds.Writer: Feoshia HendersonSource: Elizabeth Edwards, founder Cincinnati InnovatesYou can follow Feoshia on twitter here.

Xavier student starts graphic design company for small businesses and individuals

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Entrepreneurship

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May 11, 2010

Xavier student Angela Santarpio had always wanted to own her own business. The dream materialized sooner than expected in Santarpio Design.Santarpio Design, which she describes as a "down-to-earth" graphic design company for small businesses and individuals.Having another year to go on her marketing and art studies degree at Xavier was no obstacle. "It wasn't until recently that I saw a way to combine my entrepreneurial dream with art," said Santarpio. Friends and family approached her to help with brochures and other graphic needs, and she realized she loved the process of meeting with people face-to-face and creating an image that made the statement they desired. "The idea of designing for individuals, rather than advertising firms, really appeals to me because it’s so much more personal. You get a little peek into someone else’s life or business as they trust you to help make their ideas come to life," she said.Set to launch June 1, Santarpio has worked to build awareness of her business on Facebook and Twitter. The website has a feminine vibe, but communicates the company’s abilities with clear, strong images and language. Although Santarpio Design specializes in custom, affordable event invitations and stationery, they can provide business cards, brochures, and the like for small businesses. Santarpio provides digital-only products for email distribution, as well as traditional printed designs.Angela and her mother, Lauren Santarpio, are the founding partners of the firm. Lauren's freelance photography experience gives her an eye for what looks good; she also holds a leadership role in a charity that designs and makes quilts for children in need. Kevin Santarpio, Angela's father, is an engineer and entrepreneur who gives practical and tactical advice. Santarpio Design plans to collaborate with Jennifer Nally, a wedding hair specialist, to market wedding invitations at competitive prices."We are still evolving and finding our footing in the overcrowded design market," said Santarpio. Written by: Elena StevensonSource: Angela Santarpio, Partner, Santarpio Design

Local entrepreneur launches web-based accounting program for small businesses

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Entrepreneurship

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May 11, 2010

Local entrepreneur Scott Miller has just launched a new company from the Hamilton County Business Center, and is working to generate some buzz about his new software product, the Bee.B2BeeLLC launched within the last week with its namesake software product The Bee, an invoicing system designed for small business owners."I really wanted to create something that would help small, one-to five-person companies. One day I sat down and had coffee with about 50 of these small business owners, and everyone was having a hard time with accounting and bookkeeping. Most invoicing programs are made for accountants, and these weren't accountants. I wanted to create something that would help them," said Miller, of Blue Ash.This isn't Miller's first foray into entrepreneurship, in 2004 he sold Treadstone Group, an IT consulting and systems integration firm, to Exact Software. "After that I played some golf, taught a class on entrepreneurship at Miami University and did some Angel investing," Miller said.But the creative bug, or bee, got to him again."I've been planning the venture and writing software for the last 10 months. We've had a soft launch and have some clients signed up, but this week we're starting to gear up our marketing efforts and tell the world about it," he said.B2bee is a self-funded company and has three full-time employees, as well as several outside contract workers.The Bee is professional, but simplified version of programs like QuickBooks, Miller said."(Quickbooks) is based on double-entry accounting. You have charts of accounts, debits and credits that are very intimidating. None of that is part of our system, it's very simple to get on and start generating invoices," he said.The software is internet-based, and can be downloaded from the B2Bee website, users pay $14 a month for the service. Users can access the program for free for their first three clients, when a company gets a forth client the $14 a month service fee kicks in. The website also offers a 30-day free trial."It's a web application that you can use from anywhere. You can fire it up from your browser and it's very secure. Every year we will continue to make small changes to software, but there are no upgrade fees," Miller said.Writer: Feoshia HendersonSource: Scott Miller, founder B2BeeYou can follow Feoshia on twitter here.

Zoo train will be partially fueled by french-fry grease

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General

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May 4, 2010

The iconic train at the Cincinnati Zoo is about to become a shade greener.A new user-friendly vegetable oil-to-biodiesel converter designed by UC Engineering seniors will start turning the waste oil from four zoo restaurant's fryers into biodiesel next week. The bulk of the fuel will be blended with the petroleum diesel that currently powers the train.The program is one of many energy-saving initiatives that the Cincinnati Zoo has enacted in the past couple of years, and one of four energy projects by UC engineering students that will be on display at the Technology Expo and Energy Conference in downtown Cincinnati on May 4.Mechanical Engineering and Technology (MET) senior Jamie Judd built a cart with a tank and pump that will collect the grease, and her partners Lawrence Nurre and Jonathan Meyer built a "homebrew" style reactor out of hot water heaters and plastic tanks that will convert the used vegetable oil into biodiesel. The unit also captures methanol, a byproduct of the reaction. While most "homebrew" operations are time-intensive, the students automated a few steps to create a user-friendly system for Zoo employees, Meyer said.Like many green initiatives gaining ground around the country, the biodiesel program will boost the zoo's bottom line as well as its image.The converted biodiesel will cost about $1.40 to $1.50 per gallon after labor and materials are factored in, which is about half the price of biodiesel, Meyer said. The only thing preventing the Zoo from saving even more money is the limited supply of waste vegetable oil that it produces - about 25 gallons per week during its busiest season.Meyer estimated the project's material cost to be around $4,000, and said it should pay for itself in less than five years through reduced fuel costs and money saved on grease removal.The biodiesel converter is one of four energy-related projects produced by engineering seniors this year, UC professor and physical plant director Ray Miller said. The other projects include an energy audit for arts groups like the Aronoff Center for the Arts, a project that recycles paper into pellet fuel and a home wind turbine kit that could be sold at a hardware store.All four of the projects will be on display at the Energy Expo, today Tuesday May 4. Writer: Henry SweetsSources: Jamie Judd, Jonathan Meyer, Ray Miller

KY Green Bank funds could come to NKY cities

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May 4, 2010

Northern Kentucky cities this year could get greener if Congress passes an energy bill that would expand an existing Kentucky program that offers loans for public building energy efficiency upgrades.Kentucky is the first state in the nation to create a Green Bank, a revolving loan fund offering low-interest loans for energy efficiency projects at state buildings. The $14.4 million fund uses federal stimulus money and is currently limited to publically owned state buildings.The Green Bank of Kentucky was launched last fall by Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear; dollars are awarded through a competitive application process. Loans can be used for energy efficiency upgrades like LEED certified construction projects, energy efficiency upgrades or retrofits that result in reduced energy usage. "When the governor first came into office, one of his early goals was to create a comprehensive energy proposal. Energy efficiency was going to play a major role in that. We thought before we started asking homeowners and businesses to be more efficient, we should start first," explained Kentucky Finance and Administration Cabinet Secretary Jonathan Miller. The cabinet administers the program.So far the Green Bank has announced one loan, $1.3 million to the Kentucky Department of Education which will use the funds for projects at the Kentucky School for the Blind in Louisville and other department buildings. Several other applications are under review, but none in Northern Kentucky so far.Though the current Green Bank program is limited to state buildings, local cities and counties could be included if a provision to create a national Green Bank in the current federal Clean Energy Bill passes this year, Miller said.Though some parts of the bill are very controversial including the so-called cap-and trade proposal, the idea of a national Green Bank fund has much wider support, Miller added."A national Green Bank has national support, and if it does pass we feel pretty confident (we could use federal funds) for the state Green Bank. We could loan that to city and county facilities so that folks on the local level can become more energy efficient," he said.Several other states already are looking to model Kentucky's innovative program, including Delaware and South Carolina. Officials there have been talking to Kentucky officials in an effort to launch their own Green Banks, Miller said.Writer: Feoshia HendersonSource: Jonathan Miller, Secretary of the Kentucky Finance and Administration CabinetYou can follow Feoshia on twitter here.

NKU students developing housing options for Haitians

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Environment + Sustainability

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May 4, 2010

Months after a 7.0 earthquake devastated the poor, island nation of Haiti, hundreds of thousands of families remain homeless without the basic necessities and safety that we take for granted.But Northern Kentucky University Construction Management students are among those working to help some Haitians build a brighter, more sustainable future through an innovative housing initiative. The undergraduate students in Dr. Sean Foley's construction management class are working on a plan to provide permanent and reliable housing for nearly 500 people.The project, to be presented May 3, is one of three capstone projects for the university's construction management classes. The other projects are a proposed renovation of NKU’s baseball complex and a renovation of the Winton Hills Medical Center in Cincinnati for a new dental office.The Haiti project would provide housing for about $400 per person and was completed with input from Hearts and Hands for Haiti (or HHH), a ministry-based, non-profit that provides housing and other necessities for Haitians. Students worked with HHH board member Harry Lyness."Mr. Lyness has worked to guide us through some of the more uncertain areas in the process," Ohlhaut said. "With the help of experienced mentors like Mr. Lyness and the NKU faculty and some diligent work on the parts of our group members, we will have a proposal that provides comfortable housing, shower and bathroom facilities and a sanitary water supply for 480 of the western hemispheres most impoverished people," said student Patrick Ohlhaut.Writer: Feoshia HendersonSource: Northern Kentucky University CommunicationsYou can follow Feoshia on twitter here.

Clerco Inc., Greater Cincinnati companies partner to provide jobs for 300

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General

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May 4, 2010

Cinatas, Aramark, Rubbermaid and Senco Fasteners are among Greater Cincinnati area companies that partner with Clerco Inc., a Clermont County non-profit that helps people with developmental disabilities find jobs.Clerco was established in 1973 by the Clermont County Board of Developmental Disabilities. Over the years it has helped hundreds of local workers find temporary and permanent jobs in production, packaging and assembly services for area businesses at its workshops in Batavia.More than 300 people are employed or receive employment assistance through Clerco, affiliated with the Clermont County Board of Developmental Disabilities. Clerco, Inc. partners with a number of local companies to provide work for the individuals that are served.The Clermont County Board of Developmental Disabilities is on the ballot today (Issue 5) asking voters for a replacement of a continuing .9 mill levy. Clerco also sends teams of workers to companies to perform some jobs. Currently Clerco workers can be found at Byran Equipment Sales, Fairfield Inn, Clermont County Records Department and Sporty's Pilot Shop at the Clermont County Airport. A Clerco grounds crew provides lawn maintenance services to many local businesses, parks and cemeteries. They also run Clerco Café, a local catering service.The non-profit also offers job training. "Another function of our agency and our Community Employment Department is to provide community employment to people who are seeking jobs within the community. We develop jobs in various settings and provide job coaching and job retention services to the people served by this department," said Scott Brown, Program Coordinator Community Employment and Clermont County Board DD.Writer: Feoshia HendersonSource: Scott Brown, Program Coordinator Community Employment and Clermont County Board DDYou can follow Feoshia on twitter here.

Cincinnati Children’s awarded $2.3 million in NIH funding for innovative cancer research

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April 27, 2010

Two cancer research teams at Cincinnati Children's Hospital were awarded a total of $2.3 million in National Institute of Health funding to continue studies that could lead to new treatments for leukemia and bone marrow failure.One team, lead by Cincinnati Children's Drs. Yi Zheng and James Mulloy, will use its $1.04 million in funds for Leukemia Stem Cell research. Their work aims to develop a new treatment for leukemia stem cells in bone marrow for leukemia that is resistant to traditional chemotherapies.Another team lead by Dr. Qishen Pang will use its $1.25 million award for a project studying bone marrow failure, once referred to as pre-leukemia. The work's goal is to find, prevent or better treat bone marrow failure and related cancer progression.The researchers are part of the hospital's Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute at Cincinnati Children's and its divisions of Experimental Hematology/Cancer Biology and Hematology & Oncology. Cincinnati Children's Hospital is one of the top two recipients of research grants from the NIH, and is one of 10 children's hospitals named to the Honor Roll in U.S. News and World Report's 2009-10 America's Best Children’s Hospitals.Writer: Feoshia HendersonSource: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Communications You can follow Feoshia on twitter here.