The university-anchored innovation hub that jumpstarted the Dayton Arcade revitalization is celebrating a major milestone as it works to add new programming and partnerships to its existing slate of offerings.
The Hub Powered by PNC — a joint venture between the University of Dayton and the Entrepreneurs' Center — recently held a ceremony to mark its one-year anniversary in downtown Dayton. The Hub had an impactful first year as an incubator for local entrepreneurs and businesses, a place where students could take courses and gain hands-on experience in new ventures, and as a catalyst for the redevelopment of the downtown landmark.
“We’re marking the Hub’s first anniversary by celebrating the partnerships that bring to life our vision for a space where entrepreneurs, students and community come together to learn, grow and positively impact the Dayton region,” said Vince Lewis, the University of Dayton’s associate vice president for entrepreneurial initiatives and president of the Hub.
At 100,000 square feet, The Hub is one of the largest university-anchored innovation hubs in the country. It’s a place where more than 100 entrepreneurs and small businesses renting space can pop in on a class of students, like the Thursday morning “Hub Talks” in Eric Janz’ and Kevin Hallinan’s engineering design class.
It's also where Black, woman, and other under-resourced and under-represented entrepreneurs can connect to resources through a satellite office of the Greater West Dayton Incubator; where community partners like Liberty High School and Sinclair College’s Fast Forward program can collaborate in the Hub’s GEM and explore new teaching models to bring resiliency and other microcredentials to the community; and where art and design students can display their typography visualizing the work of poet Sierra Leone.
“Having creative engaging space at The Hub has been a perfect way to connect UD and the community,” said Darden Bradshaw, a UD art and design associate professor.
With a year of activity to its credit, The Hub is still growing. This semester, the university has 32 classes — art and design, engineering, business and more — hosted on site with over 300 students. That's up from 20 classes and 200 students last fall.
More events are planned, including Imagining Community in March and the Flyer Pitch final round in April. Private office space for businesses is almost full, with some reserved for underrepresented entrepreneurs through a new program with the Greater West Dayton Incubator. Future plans call for building out the third floor of the rotunda building with the addition of more classrooms and private offices.
Support from the incubator, the Entrepreneurs' Center, Launch Dayton and others have helped increase the number of minority-owned businesses at The Hub to 30%, up from 10% when it first opened.
“Entrepreneurs catalyze economic growth, they transform communities and they create a culture all their own," said Scott Koorndyk, president of the Entrepreneurs’ Center and executive vice president of the Hub. "At the Hub, all three are happening. Our regional startup ecosystem is in the midst of a renaissance, and The Hub is a huge part of our momentum.”
The Hub offers opportunities for students to build their skills, and helps entrepreneurs like Kameron “Elijah” Seabrook launch and grow their businesses. Seabrook, founder of Open Bay Autos — a DIY community and mechanic shop providing the tools and space for car enthusiasts — said he is in the final stages of raising funds for a business he says will "reinvent the automotive industry." And it's thanks in part to his time spent at The Hub.
“From the staff, to the mentors, the space itself, and endless amounts of resources, I can honestly say that being in such a synergy has changed the trajectory of where I was taking Open Bay,” Seabrook said. "Dayton has such a rich history of innovation and I’m looking forward to continuing the trend. I couldn’t be more thankful to the incredible community here that allows people like me to thrive.”
The partnerships benefit undergraduates too, like engineering student Grace Silverberg, who gained experience as a paid intern with UD’s Stitt Scholars program by working with entrepreneur and Lunnie Founder Sarah Kallile to conduct absorbency tests on a new, leak proof nursing bra for breastfeeding moms.
Other students have redesigned space at the Old Salem Mall for indoor farming and co-share kitchen space; run the accounting and marketing functions for the Hub’s Startup Grounds bistro through the student-run Flyer Enterprises; and started their own businesses in a sophomore class with $5,000 seed funds. It all happens, as entrepreneurship professor David Marshall says, "in the creative and unique space that energizes everyone involved."
“In its first year, The Hub Powered by PNC Bank has brought together students, faculty and staff, regional entrepreneurs, local business leaders and global experts to form collaborative ideas and groundbreaking solutions to meet the needs of the Dayton area,” said David Melin, PNC regional president for Dayton. “With extensive programming and services for UD students and residents across the region, we aim to help advance the Dayton area’s business community and strengthen the foundation for the city’s future.”
