The Venture Lab exists to elevate our region by turning UC's most ambitious ideas into technologies and products the world can use. We take founders from validated concept to venture-ready company — putting the full weight of the 1819 Innovation Hub behind them, and moving at the speed their ideas demand.
This is where Cincinnati's top hard tech, deep tech and health tech startups transform into investable companies that build, grow and scale in Cincinnati and Southwest Ohio.
Since 2018, the Venture Lab has helped turn UC research into real companies — and real companies into regional economic impact. We fund the technical and commercial gap that most institutions and investors won't touch: the stage where a validated idea has to become a demonstrable, deployable product. The result is a growing portfolio of Cincinnati-built startups, backed by a deep bench of advisers and partners, and reinforced by outside capital that follows our lead.
The Venture Lab Accelerator runs twice a year, in the fall and spring, pairing a highly selective cohort of founders with everything they need to move from validated concept to investable company. Ventures get access to the full 1819 stack: dedicated coworking space, the UC Office of Commercialization, the Ground Floor Makerspace for prototyping, corporate connections through Partner Success and marketing support for building a compelling story. Nondilutive funding is available alongside the program, and our most engaged ventures can continue into VL Studio for deeper, ongoing strategic assistance.
Beyond the accelerator cohort, the Venture Lab runs a calendar of programs and events open to founders, mentors and the broader UC and Cincinnati startup communities — built to teach, connect and showcase what's being built here.
No startup builds alone. The Venture Lab connects founders to a network of experienced mentors, subject matter experts and entrepreneurship service providers who help fill gaps a young company can't fill on its own — from strategic guidance and fundraising support to corporate connections and preferred-rate services. It's the difference between a good idea with nowhere to go and a company with the people, capital and credibility behind it to actually get there.
Share your idea with the 1819 Innovation Hub by filling out a form to schedule a business consultation. From there, you’ll be guided through idea validation, customer discovery and connecting with mentors, programs and potential partners in the UC innovation ecosystem.
Startups at 1819 access mentorship, entrepreneurial programming, UC student talent, industry connections, commercialization support, funding, prototyping and design services, along with chances to collaborate with UC faculty and corporate partners.
1819 connects entrepreneurs with funding pathways including investor networks, venture programs, startup pitch opportunities and university-supported commercialization resources. Through the UC Venture Lab Accelerator program, startups can receive the funding and support to access additional investor capital.
Yes. Founders can connect with entrepreneurs in residence, industry professionals and academic experts through the Venture Lab Accelerator. These individuals provide guidance on business strategy, product development, market fit and scaling.
Yes. Programs and advisers at 1819 help startup founders test assumptions, conduct customer discovery and refine business models before launching or scaling.
No. While UC students and alumni are heavily involved, any entrepreneur or startup can engage with the 1819 Innovation Hub and its small business resources in the Venture Lab.
You can stay up to date by searching the 1819 Innovation Hub's website, subscribing to the Hub Happenings newsletter or following it on LinkedIn.
The best first step if you have a startup idea is to connect with the 1819 Innovation Hub team. They’ll help evaluate your business idea, connect you with entrepreneurial resources and guide you through early-stage startup development.
At the UC 1819 Innovation Hub, combine the power and expertise of a world-class university with business professionals and a vast team of entrepreneurial support and industry connections. 1819 has everything under one roof. It holds a 12,000-square-foot makerspace for design and prototyping, complete with waterjet and laser cutters, CNC machines and various 3D printers. In the Venture Lab Accelerator, which is free to community members, entrepreneurs in residence from Fortune 500 companies can help to vet your startup idea, provide startup guidance and sometimes even invest. The 1819 Innovation Hub uniquely combines the UC ecosystem with corporate partners, student talent and commercialization and patenting expertise, giving startups access to both academic and real-world industry collaboration.
Yes. Many business founders at 1819 begin building companies while still in school, using University of Cincinnati resources, mentorship and student co-ops to support early business development.
The fastest way to get involved at 1819 is by scheduling an introductory conversation with the 1819 team or by attending a business event to learn about available programs and resources.
September 23, 2026
Eight startup companies recently graduated from the University of Cincinnati’s Venture Lab, showcasing newfound business skills and publicly proving their readiness to scale.
July 23, 2026
Nurses spot what others miss. They notice gaps in care, recurring patient questions, and inefficiencies baked into the system, but most never think to turn those observations into something they can build University of Cincinnati College of Nursing alumna Nicole Homan, MSN, APRN, WHNP-BC, did. Through years in maternal newborn care and women's health, Homan kept meeting women who wanted more than a routine office visit could give them.
July 17, 2026
Learn how to pitch a business idea by understanding your buyer, preparing your presentation, anticipating possible outcomes and building trust with potential customers.
