Main Street Ventures dished out its largest round of grants to date recently.
The Over-the-Rhine staple announced it supplied $256,000 between its two flagship grants to 11 female-founded businesses within the Tri-State. The funding was supplied to Main Street Ventures by the Cincinnati City Council, which gave the organization $1 million received via the American Rescue Plan Act.
"Data shows that closing the gender gap in entrepreneurship helps create more stable households, healthier communities, and stronger local economies," Councilwoman Liz Keating said in a statement. "Supporting women-owned businesses has a direct impact on children and families and the impact of this program can benefit our city immensely."
Grant recipients include:
- Areni Rose (Launch Grant): Areni Rose creates custom shoes made with high-quality materials tailored exactly to your measurements.
- Perceive Now (Launch Grant): Perceive Now is an online platform that allows tech entrepreneurs and scientists to quickly access business and research intelligence extracted from millions of scholarly articles and patents.
- Brown Bear Bakery (Leap Grant): Brown Bear Bakery specializes in thoughtfully created pastries and desserts featuring a variety of sweet and savory options made with local ingredients and guided by the seasons.
- Financial Fitness App (Leap Grant): The Financial Fitness App empowers employees through personal budget and investment training - putting a CFP Professional in everyone’s pocket.
- Honey Child Artisan Pops (Leap Grant): Honey Child Artisan Pops creates delicious, superfood popsicles.
- Lucca Laser Workshop (Leap Grant): Lucca Laser Workshop is a woman-owned machine shop and studio focusing on natural, laser-cut gifts, supplies, and decor.
- Mixicles (Leap Grant): Mixicles produces botanically infused ice designed to naturally flavor and chill any spirit, wine, beer, or other beverage.
- Nettie Pickleball Co. (Leap Grant): Nettie is a pickleball brand bringing well-designed, affordable, and retro-inspired gear and apparel to the casual pickleball player.
- Paktli Foods (Leap Grant): Paktli is a puffed ancient grain snack inspired by the Mexican Alegria.
- Sweet Mae’s Cookie Co. (Leap Grant): Sweet Mae's is a premium stuffed cookie company with a southern accent.
- The Arepa Place (Leap Grant): The Arepa Place is a small, fast-casual restaurant that specializes in delicious Colombian and Venezuelan dishes.
Launch grants support companies still designing their product but have evidence of consumer engagement to validate their business model and range from $5,000 to $10,000. Leap grants, meanwhile, support businesses making revenue to help scale their community impact and increase the odds of survival and range from $10,000 to $30,000.
Main Street Ventures did not disclose the exact amount each company received.
