Last Week's Speaker
Barb Ewing, CEO of Youngstown Business Incubator (YBI), is used to being asked “so what is it that YBI does?” It is, in fact, the most-asked question that she gets.
YBI is an economic development organization, which means they promote long-term, sustainable employment opportunities by facilitating the creation of high-value businesses through collaborative partnerships focusing on information technology and additive manufacturing. YBI is currently transitioning to identifying the needs and problems in the community, and supporting the adoption of new technologies in additive manufacturing to make the industry more competitive.
Initially focused on building companies in technology and software development, YBI is now much more diverse, with more emphasis on additive manufacturing than digital software. In the last five years, their model has shifted to entrepreneurship in any form. The Women in Entrepreneurship program creates economic opportunities for women through education and training, while the Youth Entrepreneurship program creates opportunities for youth ages 9 – 18. Programs are also available for veterans, the economically disadvantaged, and minority women.
Major success stories include Fitz Frames, an eyeglass company that relocated to Youngstown from Southern California. All services are conducted virtually and begin with an app that scans a customer’s face. Glasses are then printed using a 3-D printer, and sent to Classic Optical on Belmont Avenue for lenses. YBI has helped Goodyear develop airless tires, worked with the US Air Force to help obtain research dollars, and have a company locating here from Colorado that develops hypersonic weaponry. An 8-year old graduate of the Youth Entrepreneurship program started a company that sells hand cream through a website and pop-up shops.
YBI’s major fundraiser, Shark Tank, is coming up on October 28. The public is invited, but if you want to go, you’ll need to make your reservation soon, as it is expected to sell out well before then. Much like its TV namesake, the local Shark Tank invites businesses and entrepreneurs to pitch their ideas to a live audience in order to gain exposure and potential investment.
https://ybi.org/sharktank. busines
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