FC Cincinnati president and co-CEO Jeff Berding energized a packed audience at the University of Cincinnati's 1819 Innovation Hub during this year's Founders+Funders Summit, where he shared lessons in cultivating leadership skills, developing a growth mindset and achieving innovation in sports entrepreneurship.
Berding was welcomed into the venue with great fanfare, led by two UC marching band drummers and cheers from attendees.
Ryan Hays, executive vice president and chief innovation and strategy officer at UC's 1819 Innovation Hub, welcomed the group, sharing what the hub is, what it does and why it matters. "1819 is three things," Hays said. "It's UC's front door to industry and innovation. It's the headquarters of the Cincinnati Innovation District - basically the 65 acres you see when you look out the atrium - and we move at the speed of need. We take our partners and connect them to the full range of capabilities across campus. That's what we do."
Photos from left to right: UC Marching Band drummers. Photo/Mia Rohrer. Jeff Berding with Phil Collins. Photo/Kori Moore.
Berding did, in fact, make an impact in politics as a member of the Cincinnati City Council, starting him on a path that would lead to the Cincinnati Bengals. While working downtown and going to school to obtain his MBA, Berding was approached with an opportunity to write a campaign plan for a sales tax initiative to keep the Bengals in Cincinnati in 1996.
The plan was a success, funding the construction of Paul Brown Stadium. And the rest, as they say, is history. Berding spent nearly 20 years with the team in an executive position and says it prepared him to become the co-founder and president of FC Cincinnati.
Berding reflected on his journey from being a first-time team owner to leading FC Cincinnati into Major League Soccer. He emphasized the importance of a growth mindset, building the right team and navigating tough leadership decisions.
"You have to get the right people on the bus," Berding said. "And sometimes, that means knowing when to let someone off. Culture and mindset drive everything."
Photos from left to right: John Cunningham, Athletic Director, UC Athletics, Photo/Alex Pearks; Tom Gelehrter, President & Founder, 4th Floor Creative and Nate Thompson, Founder, HTX Sports, Photo/Kori Moore
Photos from left to right: Saturn Sports founders: Braden Shepard and Hank Veeneman; Meteora3D founder: Prashanth Ravi and Jake Harrington; Band Connect founder: Abby McInturf. Photos/Brennen Rottmueller
- Saturn Sports is focused on improving helmet safety in football and other sports to reduce traumatic brain injuries. The startup just scored $200,000 in funding from the Ohio Third Frontier Commission.
- Meteora3D develops ultra-fast, patient-specific 3D-printed anatomical models for surgical planning. The company was previously featured on Local 12 News.
- Band Connect is a hybrid therapy platform for orthopedic rehab that helps providers and their patients improve clinical and financial outcomes. It was recently named one of the finalists for the Cincinnati Business Courier's 2025 Fire Awards.
Photos from left to right: Veiss Founder: Devansh Saxena and Gokul Reghunath, Woove Founder: Gavin Weiss, Motiv Founder: Noelle Scheper and Wes Disbro. Photos/Brennen Rottmueller
- Veiss is focused on developing fitness technology that can automatically track a user's gym workouts by analyzing their movements.
- Woove is a 3D-printed footwear company that builds shoes for performance, precision and circular design. Weiss, the startup's founder, was recently honored on the Cincy Inno Under 25 list.
- Motiv is an app designed to help high schools manage sports teams by centralizing communication and administrative features. The company was recently featured on Fox19 News.
The Founders+Funders 2025 Summit was a powerful reminder of how integral the 1819 ecosystem is to Cincinnati. As the Center for the Silicon Heartland, the 1819 Innovation Hub and its surrounding Cincinnati Innovation District are the ideal setting for top students, startups and thought leaders like Berding to collide under one roof.
Cover image: Jeff Berding and Phil Collins. Photo/Greg Glevicky
