William Thomas II, Allen Woods and Derrick Braziel of MORTAR pictured with David Adams, UC Chief Innovation Officer, at UC 1819 Innovation Hub.
MORTAR, an urban entrepreneurship hub in Cincinnati, is moving their nine-week Uptown accelerator program into the University of Cincinnati’s new 1819 Innovation Hub. The program’s 15 participants will meet on Tuesdays from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. beginning May 22 and continuing through the end of July.
The UC 1819 Innovation Hub is designed to connect the university with local businesses and organizations to generate collaborative solutions to business, industry and community problems. As part of the Uptown Innovation Corridor, the 1819 Innovation Hub and MORTAR will contribute to the growing innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem in and around the area.
“The innovative and collaborative nature of both MORTAR and the 1819 Innovation Hub makes this new partnership a perfect fit,” said Beth Robinson, Uptown Consortium president and CEO.
This is the second year MORTAR is hosting the nine-week accelerator program in Uptown. Robinson recruited MORTAR to Uptown last year and knew that it was a priority to continue to support MORTAR’s ability to attract a non-traditional, urban population.
The partnership between the Uptown Consortium and MORTAR builds on the organizations’ shared belief that community development should grow neighborhoods in harmony with its residents.
“Inclusion isn’t a one-and-done activity. It’s a continuous, proactive mindset that ensures we’re being accountable to a vision of the future,” said Robinson. “
MORTAR works to empower budding business owners to use their imagination and creativity to not just earn money, but to make a difference in their community.
The MORTAR partnership adds to a portfolio of inclusion resources, including the Avondale Community Development Corporation, the Greater Cincinnati Urban League, WEB Ventures and HCDC.
MORTAR will host a public pitch night and graduation event in August.
For more information about MORTAR, visit www.wearemortar.com.