Post event IDEALAB: reMaking Industry

The 2019 edition of Soapbox Cincinnati’s brainstorm workshop, IDEALAB, happened on May 9 with visionaries from here and afar presenting fresh ideas, and with connections being made among like-minded entrepreneurs, artisans, and community-minded leaders.
IDEALAB: reMaking Industry attracted an audience of people interested in improving the urban core by remaking an old-school industry — manufacturing — and retooling it with a new purpose of creating and nurturing jobs and businesses and sustaining urban communities.Innovators identify problems then find ways to fix them — @alexbandar of @IdeaFoundryCbus on new thinking at #IDEALAB #StartupCincy
The event, held at the Xavier Center for Innovation, attracted community activists, economic development leaders, investors, students, artists, craftsmen, and social entrepreneurs.@Bridgeway_Cap invested more than $12M in the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Homewood and the creation of 7800 Susquehanna, now a collaborative space for urban manufacturers. @AdamKenney76 at #IDEALAB #StartupCincy
It was the third in the IDEALAB Cincinnati series, following 2016’s IDEALAB: People Power, which focused on cutting-edge philanthropy; and 2017’s IDEALAB: Movement Makers, which explored how the movement concept is being used to tackle big problems around community building and awareness.“Food is as much a part of the new economy as any other sector.” @DanCarmody of @EasternMarket on the promise of food and ag businesses to grow local economies. #IDEALAB #StartupCincy
The IDEALAB lineup included thought leaders from Detroit, Columbus, Pittsburgh, and Cincinnati, as well as new data from a survey conducted by the Urban Manufacturing Alliance that yielded insights into the markets, customers, and plans for growth of small manufacturers in six cities, including Cincinnati.
The event ended with a question-and-answer with Adam Kenney of Pittsburgh’s Bridgeway Capital, Dan Carmody of Detroit’s Eastern Market Corp., Lee Wellington of the Urban Manufacturing Alliance, Alex Bandar of Columbus’ Idea Foundry, Rich Kiley @CoMadeCincy, Peggy Zink @CincinnatiWorks, and Dan Meyer of Cincinnati’s #NehemiahManufacturing.Among @UMfgAlliance survey findings about small manufacturers in Cincinnati: small makers love their hometown, but need more govt. support and better connected services. #IDEALAB #StartupCincy
IDEALAB reMaking Industry was made possible with support from The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr./U.S. Bank Foundation, People’s Liberty, and Issue Media Group.
And many thanks for assistance from our friends at CoMade, Xavier Center for Innovation, Findlay Market Corporation, Listermann Brewing, Urban Manufacturing Alliance, #startupcincy, Comfort Catering, and Prestige AV & Creative Service.








