Cincinnati is poised to become a "major hub" for a new B2B startup that recently raised $1.25 million to launch.
In mid-February, Onboard took its platform public, ending a 10-month long private testing period. The startup aims to help software companies more seamlessly transition customers onto their platforms at a time when more and more companies are turning to technology to help streamline their performances.
And while the company's CEO Jeff Epstein is based in Detroit, the Queen City will serve as a major hub for its growth, Cincinnati native Will Stevenson, Onboard's co-founder and chief operating officer, told Cincy Inno.
Onboard executives are building their team under a "dispersed model," meaning all employees will work remotely in whatever city they're currently based in; however, Stevenson said they recognize there's a "positive benefit" to hiring geographically, which is why he believes Cincinnati stands to shine.
Another of the company's co-founders — Zach Taylor, managing partner of Tailwind Growth Advisors — is also based in Cincinnati. Taylor currently serves in an adviser role to Onboard, rather than in a day-to-day role, Stevenson said.
"The really cool thing about this is onboarding is considered a part of customer success in most scenarios, and what I’ve found with Cincinnati, and the Midwest in general, is really good at customer success," he said. "The reason behind that is the (positive) Midwest attitude."
Stevenson — who was one of 10 original employees at one of the region's most notable startups, Dotloop — added the city's tech ecosystem has helped train and build the talent Onboard will need to help it scale.
Currently, Onboard has dozens of companies using its platform, with plans to grow that number 10 times by the end of 2021, Stevenson said.
To fuel its growth, Onboard will tap into the $1.25 million it raised last month. That funding round was led by Detroit-based Ludlow Ventures and included Zelkova Ventures and Detroit Venture Partners
"I’ve done (build startups) a few times before and it really just feels different this time," Stevenson said. "We’re having really great positive feedback and great traction. It’s a wide-open problem, and there aren’t many players in this space."
