These gaps can trouble startups and early-stage businesses. The state of Ohio and Ohio University have funded TechGROWTH Ohio to help bridge these gaps for entrepreneurs trying to commercialize a new technology innovation.

It’s easy to get started. We just need to know a little bit about your idea. The first step is to complete the online inquiry form and have a confidential, free discussion with one of our professional staff members about your business plans.

We’ll evaluate your application to determine if your opportunity fits within the following parameters of our program.

• Technologically innovative ideas, services, or products including sectors, such as biosciences, agricultural sciences, advanced energy, digital media, and other more general business ideas
• Located or are willing to locate in the 19 counties of SE Ohio, which are Adams, Athens, Belmont, Coshocton, Gallia, Guernsey, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson, Lawrence, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Pike, Scioto, Vinton, and Washington
• Be an individual innovator or a small company with fewer than 30 employees and less than $5 million in annual revenue
• Company must be less than 5 years old

Failure/Success

Many things mark the difference between success and failure for an entrepreneur, however, two are most critical: management talent and coachability.

Management: the Link between Innovation and Execution The challenge does not lie in the quality of the innovation, but in the effectiveness of the execution. You need more than a good idea or a brilliant invention. You need a plan to turn idea into product. You need a plan to bring that product to the market where it can be sold. You need to sell. The skills that brought you your invention are not the same skills that will bring that invention to market. You need a management team. Recognizing this need and adequately preparing your company to have a well-rounded management team (which may or may not include yourself in a subordinate or ancillary role), is an important part of business success.

Coachability

If you are not “coachable,” then TechGROWTH (or any other source of smart money) will not invest in you. TechGROWTH is looking not only for innovative technologies that solve big problems but for entrepreneurs who grasp the need for effective execution of a plan for success and who exhibit the flexible, adaptive excellence needed to carry it out. You need the ability to listen, learn, think critically, and rely on the talents of others whose interests are aligned with yours.