Encore Venture Labs

🚀 Welcoming Maxwell Watters to the Encore Venture Labs Team! 🚀 We’re thrilled to welcome Maxwell Watters to Encore Venture Labs, where he joins our team as part of an exciting new partnership with the Sycamore Legacy Family Office. As Chief Investment Officer at Fiber Capital Partners and Partner at Sycamore Legacy Consulting, Max has built a career at the intersection of industrial investment, M&A, and infrastructure development. He has led strategic investments in broadband infrastructure, helping to bridge the digital divide across America, and worked extensively in private equity and investment banking, scaling middle-market companies and revitalizing legacy industries. Through this partnership, Encore Venture Labs and Sycamore Legacy are joining forces to revitalize and scale industrial businesses across Northeast Ohio and beyond. Our mission is clear: to breathe new life into legacy manufacturing companies, integrate emerging technologies, and create a thriving industrial ecosystem that fuels sustainable economic growth. This isn’t just about preserving the past—it’s about rebuilding the future of American industry and ensuring that the Great Lakes region remains a leader in manufacturing and innovation. Learn more about Max’s journey and how this partnership is driving real impact: https://lnkd.in/epVr4Wx9 👏 Join us in welcoming Max to the team! 

🚀 Excited to have Abbas Mandviwala representing Encore Venture Labs at the 2025 Canton AI Tech Innovation Summit on March 28th at Malone University! He’ll be sharing insights on how AI and emerging technologies are transforming healthcare and entrepreneurship in Northeast Ohio. At Encore Venture Labs, we believe true innovation happens when talent, technology, and collaboration come together. With world-class hospitals, top-tier research institutions, and a thriving startup ecosystem, our region has the potential to lead in AI-driven healthcare transformation. But it all starts with connecting the right people to drive real impact. Don’t miss this conversation—register online today and be part of the future of AI innovation! 👉 https://lnkd.in/gPu9uanM Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce UH Ventures JumpStart Ventures Bounce Innovation Hub

At Encore Venture Labs, we believe in a future where important things are made in the U.S. again. To make that happen, we focus on four key areas: ⚙️ Advanced manufacturing & automation 💧 Water technology 🔋 Advanced & renewable energy 👷 Talent & workforce development But what should founders actually build? The answer isn’t in a pitch deck—it’s in talking to customers, stress-testing assumptions, and being willing to kill ideas that don’t stick. Michael Nieset breaks down this approach in his latest blog post. Read it here: 👇 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dwB4fQSv #manufacturing #startups #venturebuilding #innovation #customerdiscovery #encoreventurelabs

Great having The Ohio State University Integrated Business and Engineering Honors Program stop by the studio. These students represent the future of reindustrialization in the Midwest and across the country. Our very own Adam Barber and Michael Nieset shared insights on entrepreneurship, innovation, and the evolving startup landscape here in Ohio. Exciting times ahead for the next generation of industry leaders. 🚀

🚀 Building the Future: The Blueprint Launches Next Week! EVL is bringing you inside the minds of the founders, operators, and visionaries shaping the future of American industry—starting right here in Cleveland. Our mission is clear: reindustrialization is the key to driving innovation, economic growth, and a stronger future. This podcast will uncover the people and ideas making it happen. With our upcoming Summit, there’s no better time to highlight the bold ideas and companies driving this movement forward. Follow along, tune in, and be part of the movement. #TheBlueprint #EncoreVentureLabs #Reindustrialize #Cleveland #BuildingTheFuture

Six months in, Encore Venture Labs is proving that reindustrialization happens when world-class builders take action. 🚀 Launched ventures: INTRACT, Aurelia ⚙️ Prototypes in development: BatCo, Import Anything, MediusRX 💰 $1M raised in our first close—next close in April We move with speed, focus, and a commitment to building transformative companies in advanced manufacturing, energy, health tech, and the water economy. The next six months? More ventures, more capital, and more execution at the highest level. Read more from our Managing Partner, Andrew Rising: https://lnkd.in/eGSuZug7 If you're a builder, operator, or investor ready to make an impact—let’s talk. The future won’t wait. #Reindustrialization #VentureStudio #Startups #Innovation

What an incredible night! A huge thank you to everyone who joined us at the Lay of The Land Podcast event—founders, CEOs, investors, and community leaders who are shaping the future of innovation right here in Cleveland. The energy, passion, and ideas in the room were truly inspiring. A special shoutout to Jeffrey Stern for organizing such a fantastic event and creating space for meaningful conversations and connections. Events like this highlight the strength of Cleveland’s entrepreneurial community and the momentum we’re all building together. At Encore Venture Labs, we’re committed to driving the re-industrialization of America by building companies that address real challenges in manufacturing, energy, and workforce development. Our focus is on creating meaningful solutions that fuel growth, innovation, and long-term impact in the industrial sector and the region. If we didn’t get a chance to connect—or if you’re interested in learning more about our work—we’d love to continue the conversation. Feel free to reach out or connect with us directly. Here’s to building the future of American industry—together. 🚀 Andrew Rising Abbas Mandviwala Michael Nieset Adam Barber Carrie Murphy David Boone Jr. Noura Awad William Tavel Maxwell Watters

🚀 Cleveland’s Moment: Building a Healthcare Innovation Ecosystem Healthcare innovation thrives at the intersection of medicine, entrepreneurship, education, and collaboration—and Cleveland has all the right ingredients to lead the way. With world-class hospitals, cutting-edge research, and a growing community of entrepreneurs, what’s missing isn’t ambition—it’s connection. At Encore Venture Labs, we’re working to foster those connections. Abbas Mandviwala, a Partner at Encore Venture Labs, Physician at University Hospitals and Assistant Professor at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine is helping bridge the gap between clinicians, entrepreneurs, and institutions to build a stronger innovation ecosystem. The future of healthcare innovation won’t be built in silos—it will be shaped by collaboration, partnerships, and shared expertise. Cleveland has the potential to lead this movement and build a lasting legacy of innovation. 👉 Read the full blog post here: 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dQe9Taxj

Our Entrepreneur-in-Residence, David Boone Jr. explores how back-office innovation is transforming Cleveland’s manufacturing scene. By streamlining tasks like order input into ERP systems, companies are boosting productivity and empowering their teams. Discover how this behind-the-scenes shift is driving real change and connect with David Boone Jr. to learn more about his vision for the future of manufacturing. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dySuyrfi #Innovation #BackOfficeRevolution #Manufacturing #EncoreVentureLabs #Operations #Cleveland

🚀 Advancing Aerospace Innovation For the past five months, our Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Adam Barber, has been focused on identifying cutting-edge opportunities in aerospace manufacturing, hardware, and software—while building key partnerships across federal, state, and academic sectors. His latest venture tackles one of the most pressing challenges in aviation: aerial deconfliction and seamless integration of manned and unmanned aircraft. With deep expertise as a former military aviator, Adam and his team have developed and tested a cockpit-portable solution that enhances safety and coordination in mission-critical environments—like wildfire firefighting operations—without requiring modifications to existing aircraft. This innovation represents a major step forward for U.S. reindustrialization, economic growth, and aviation safety. If you're interested in airworthiness testing or design iteration, connect with Adam directly! #Aerospace #Innovation #VentureStudio #Manufacturing #Drones