Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub

If you haven't met them yet... Meet Flywheel’s powerhouse duo: Donna Zaring, Executive Director, and Samuel Baker, Program Manager! Together, they lead our mission to empower entrepreneurs and ignite community transformation through innovation and collaboration. Their passion and commitment to meaningful impact inspire us every day. Join us in celebrating the small but mighty team behind Flywheel’s success by leaving a comment to recognize their hard work! 🌟

Empowering Black women to thrive in the workplace — that’s the mission behind the Black Career Women's Network (BCWN), founded by HR professional Sherry Sims. With over 20 years of experience, Sherry created BCWN to provide mentorship, resources, and career support for Black women nationwide. As alumni of our 2021 cohort, BCWN continues to drive impact by fostering equity and opportunity in professional spaces. We’re proud to celebrate the incredible work of Sherry and her team. Learn more about BCWN here: https://lnkd.in/gEb7gWUS Inspired by BCWN and want to join our next Elevate Impact cohort? Apply here: https://ow.ly/7k0O50VpmHc

Not all heroes wear capes... 🦸♂️ We’re searching for our next Impact Hero, someone making a difference in our community, no matter the size of their contribution. They could be volunteering on their time off, helping neighbors in need, or working for a nonprofit. We want to celebrate their impact on the community. Our past heroes, Mary Maune from Hamilton County Commission on Women & Girls and Denisha Porter from All-In Cincinnati, have made incredible strides. Now it's time to spotlight another trailblazer! Nominate someone who’s driving impact in their community today! https://lnkd.in/gUWNJP3y

🌟 Elevate Impact Applications Are Now Open! 🌟 Are you an entrepreneur driven to create meaningful change? Elevate Impact is an 8-week accelerator that runs from April 28th to June 26th, designed for early-stage startups committed to positively impacting disparities in social and economic equality. Participants receive: ✅ Expert-led hybrid workshops ✅ A dedicated coaching team to help you grow ✅ Opportunities to pitch your startup This is your chance to turn bold ideas into powerful solutions. Apply now and take your impact to the next level! 🔗 https://ow.ly/MARu50Vo2p9

🌟 Meet Our March Impact Leader: Mary Maune 🌟 Mary is a passionate advocate, leader, and champion for equity in Hamilton County and beyond. Since 2021, she has led the Hamilton County Commission on Women & Girls, building a commission that uniquely includes high school students to create lasting change — the only commission in Ohio to do so. Mary’s leadership has been pivotal in ensuring that no-cost period products are available in Ohio schools and that students can focus on learning without barriers. Beyond this incredible achievement, Mary is also dedicated to closing the gender pay gap by encouraging businesses in Hamilton County, Ohio to commit to pay equity. Thank you, Mary, for your dedication to building a more equitable future for all! 🔗 Know someone you think deserves to be recognized? Nominate them for next month's impact hero: https://lnkd.in/gZgDia_R

🚀 Elevate Impact is back! Applications are NOW OPEN for our 8-week accelerator designed for early-stage entrepreneurs committed to tackling systemic inequities through their startups. The Details: 💻 Hybrid workshops (online + in-person) 🤝 A dedicated coaching team for guidance and connections 🎤 Pitch opportunities to showcase your impact 📅 Program runs April 28th - June 26th Ready to take your startup to the next level? Apply now! https://lnkd.in/gy9KEGxx Our 2024 Cohort In Fly We Trust , Jide' Fresh AARON Wearable Tech LLC, Valda Freeman-Karmo Soul Care LLC, Calisha Brooks Ph.D. ChaSE, Cyrina Thomas Edith Institute, Alicia Suguitan

Today, we celebrate the bold, brilliant, and resilient women who drive innovation, lead change, and uplift communities. At Flywheel, we are proud to support and empower women entrepreneurs who are shaping a more equitable future through their ventures. From groundbreaking founders to dedicated mentors, your contributions inspire us all. Let’s continue to break barriers and create opportunities for all women in entrepreneurship. Who is a woman that inspires you? Tag them below! 👇✨ #InternationalWomensDay #WomenInBusiness

At Flywheel, we believe in building a more equitable future for all. That’s why we’ve joined The Hamilton County Pay Equity Commitment, a voluntary, employer-led initiative dedicated to closing the gender and race-based wage gap in our community. Hamilton County, Ohio thrives when 100% of residents have the opportunity to succeed—and that includes fostering innovation to address pay inequities. We’re proud to stand alongside other organizations committed to creating a more just and inclusive economy.

How do so many successful startups emerge from our accelerators? Great entrepreneurs don’t build alone—they have exceptional coaches guiding them. Over the past three years, 34 dedicated Flywheel coaches have contributed 512 hours to our flagship accelerators, sharing their expertise to help founders scale and succeed. Their mentorship is the secret ingredient that helps founders refine their ideas, overcome challenges, and build companies that make an impact. Let’s give them the recognition they deserve! 👏 Gavi Begtrup | Hugh Ralston | Joan Kaup | Julie Albright, CFA, CFP® | Reginald L. Staples, Jr. | Tricia Morris | Rebeca Arbona | Deborah-Rene Davis | Pete Effler | Mishawn S. | Roy M. Kulick, MD, MBA | Kelly Dehan | Lisa DiGate | Paul Sturkey | Janine Miletic | Kathy Schwab | Paul Szydlowski | Melisse May | Bob Ziek | David A Iyoha | Eric Ross, CFP® | Byron J. Stallworth, Sr. | Frederick Hilkowitz | Rhonda Starghill | Jodi Geiser | Alisa S. | Sherry Sims | Betsy Neyer | Dan Poston | De'Marco Kidd

We’re proud to reflect on the success of our first Social Enterprise Lab: the Housing Stabilization Hackathon! In partnership with the City of Cincinnati and the Human Services Impact Award, we united 24 data scientists, programmers, market researchers, real estate investors, and community advocates to tackle eviction prevention through innovation. Key Highlights: 🔹 54 applicants contributed diverse perspectives. 🔹 59 volunteers dedicated 169 hours of their expertise. 🔹 49% female and 51% BIPOC participants fostered an inclusive environment. 🔹 24 finalists showcased their innovative solutions at Demo Day, attended by 121 community members. The Outcome? The winning concept, TenantGuard, leverages machine learning to predict at-risk tenants and connects families with local resources through an AI-powered chatbot. TenantGuard is now being piloted by 84.51˚ and Strategies to End Homelessness, Inc., showcasing how innovative ideas can lead to real-world solutions. This event was powered by impactful partnerships with 84.51˚.51°, Bethany House Services, Found House Interfaith Housing Network, Legal Aid Society , Lighthouse Youth & Family Services, The Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Cincinnati, YWCA Greater Cincinnati, and Strategies to End Homelessness, Inc.