Lightship Foundation unveiled plans to expand its Lightship Bootcamp program by hosting six three-day boot camps throughout Ohio in 2023 to provide mentorship, specialized curriculum, and networking for underrepresented entrepreneurs seeking to grow their businesses within the state. Lightship has scheduled a boot camp for April 25-27 in Athens, Ohio, for entrepreneurs and innovators in Southeast Ohio.
JobsOhio, the state’s private economic development corporation, has partnered with the foundation to promote and sponsor the boot camps, which will target businesses within each region of the JobsOhio network.
Lightship Foundation, an impact-driven organization serving remarkable entrepreneurs and ecosystems, established its headquarters in the Cincinnati Innovation District in 2021. The organization has played an integral role in making Ohio more inclusive for minority- and women-owned businesses and helps drive the state’s growing startup ecosystem.
Lightship’s Bootcamp program includes a thoughtfully constructed curriculum and exercises, including investment deck audit and revision, pitch audit and revision consultation, abbreviated financial audit and guidance, legal guidance, brand audit and workshop, customer insight report, business model canvas, product landing page audit and revision, and more. JobsOhio is supporting the expansion of the Lightship Bootcamp program as part of the economic development corporation’s growing inclusion growth strategy.
“Lightship Foundation was founded in Cincinnati with the purpose of supporting remarkable Ohio-based entrepreneurs and innovators— so we are thrilled to be expanding our Lightship Bootcamp programming to other forward-thinking cities throughout the state of Ohio,” said Candice Brackeen, CEO of Lightship Foundation. “We are grateful to be supported by an organization like JobsOhio, which has the statewide reach and network of business and industry partners needed to bring the expansion of this important program to life.”
“This partnership with the Lightship Foundation complements our shared vision to ensure Ohio is more inclusive and accessible for businesses throughout the state,” said J.P. Nauseef, JobsOhio president and CEO. “By assisting the Lightship Bootcamp program, we are investing in innovation, creating jobs, and attracting new talent that can bring more opportunity for underserved members of our business community.”
The bootcamps are open to underrepresented entrepreneurs eligible for JobsOhio programs in many of the state’s most attractive business regions, including Dayton, Athens, Columbus, Cleveland, Toledo, and Youngstown. The boot camps are scheduled for the following dates:
- March 7 – March 9, 2023: Dayton, OH;
- April 25 – April 27: Athens, OH;
- June 27 – June 29: Columbus, OH;
- August 8 – August 10: Cleveland, OH;
- August 29 – August 31: Toledo, OH; and
- October 17 – October 19: Youngstown, OH.
“We are pleased to host Lightship Foundation in the OhioSE region and look forward to the opportunities it brings to our regional entrepreneurs,” said Katy Farber, Vice President of OhioSE. “Thanks to the JobsOhio sponsorship of this exciting event meant to further empower our region’s entrepreneurs that are so very important to the economic growth of our communities.”
Business owners, entrepreneurs, and innovators can visit Lightship Foundation’s website to learn more and apply.
Ohio Southeast Economic Development (OhioSE) is the JobsOhio Network Partner for southern, eastern, and southeastern Ohio, providing economic development work and resources in 25 rural counties; they are the newest and geographically the largest of the six regions across the state. OhioSE partners closely with regional development districts, local economic development offices, state agencies, and other entities to expand, retain, and attract businesses in the counties they serve.
