It's been said that age is just a number.
When considering the achievements of Cincy Inno's second annual Under 25 list (check out last year's here), however, one would be remiss to not acknowledge and celebrate those innovators driving change for the better before their 26th birthdays.
The innovators on our list are from all over the Queen City, tackling a host of unique problems in different industries and companies. All are doing the kind of work that both bolsters the Cincinnati tech and startup ecosystem and has the potential to impact the whole world.
So, go ahead and meet this year's recipients, listed below in no particular order. Recipients were selected after considering reader nominations, relevant news and other editorial insights.
Enjoy!
Laura Mena and Andy Newman | Miami University's RedHawk Ventures
Miami University students Mena (a senior marketing and entrepreneurship major) and Newman (a finance major) serve as the co-managing directors of RedHawk Ventures, the university's 20-year-old, student-led seed stage venture capital fund.
The duo announced last month that they would be leading the fund's efforts to raise a $1.5 million fund to further invest in startups created by both Miami students and alumni. The work is planned for the 2019-2020 school year.
Kamilah Dotson | KCD Cosmetics
Dotson is the founder and CEO of KCD Cosmetics, a startup that produces makeup and other products developed specifically for women of color. A member of RedHawk Launch Accelerator's fourth cohort, Dotson, a Miami University studtent, additionally uses her company's platform to create what her nominator called a "positive social impact."
Francie Ruppert | SaferSit
You'll recognize Ruppert from last year's list for her work as co-founder of SaferSit, an online booking service that facilitates connections between parents and sitters, giving students a flexible work opportunity in the meantime. If you didn't, here's some context on Ruppert's accomplishments: She's a fourth year Lindner Honors-PLUS scholar at the University of Cincinnati, and her startup was in the inaugural Cincy cohort of The Brandery and gener8tor’s gBeta accelerator. Additionally, SaferSit was a past winner of UC’s IQ E-Pitch, a graduate of Venture Labs program at UC’s 1819 Innovation Hub, and now? SaferSit employs more than 700 contract staff, has operations in two states and serves over 2,200 customers.
Timothy Jordan, 23 | Total Applications, JellyFish
Jordan's list of accomplishments is lengthy. A recent graduate of the University of Cincinnati, he participated in the Bearcat Launchpad Accelerator and StartUpUC incubator for his work with Jellyfish, a video-based communication tool. He's a Cintrifuse member and is the client of such organizations as Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP, Cincinnati Minority Business Collaborative and J.C. Baker & Associates Inc.
Christie Currie | Zandaland
Recent Miami University graduate Currie is the founder of Zandaland, a digital platform and "virtual world" for children's hospitals. It "educates, connects, and comforts inpatient pediatric cancer patients," according to this podcast that featured Currie, a member of the RedHawk Launch Accelerator’s fourth cohort. Added the podcast, "the digital platform uses fun, play and technology to empower young patients through knowledge in order to engage young patients to take part in their healing process to improve not only their mental, but physical outcomes."
Bhavika Wani, 24; Srikanth Reddy Pydala, 25 | AmbiFly
Wani (a UC aerospace engineering student) and Pydala (a UC mechanical engineering student) have together developed AmbiFly, a medical drones system that is equipped with emergency supplies. The goal is to help those in dire situations who are hard to reach for first responders — such as disaster areas of locations with high traffic, etc.
In addition to participating in StartupUC in both 2018 and 2019, their work has earned them the Urban Futures Award from UC’s Office of Research.
Allison Manares, 24; Emma Hundley, 21; Kaitlin Burnam, 24; Madison Myers, 22; Meredith Moore, 23 | Wired Well
This team of UC students developed Wired Well, a startup that has produced a prototype for a smart wheelchair cushion. Their work led them to win second place in the graduate category during UC’s 2019 IQ E-Pitch event, which had 156 total teams.
Dylan Shoup, 23 | Shoup Landscaping
This Marvin P. Kolodzik Business Scholar in Lindner College of Business at UC founded Shoup Landscaping, a full-service company that looks to provide skills and employment for at-risk youth. Since its inception, the company has served more than 200 clients and currently has a staff of five full-time employees.
