Two University of Cincinnati-backed startups, TapIn and Saturn Sports, have secured major state funding to advance the commercialization of their early-stage technologies, according to the Cincinnati Business Courier.
This marks another milestone for alumni of the 1819 Innovation Hub's Venture Lab. The business accelerator, which sits at the heart of the Cincinnati Innovation District in the rapidly growing Center for the Silicon Heartland, pairs each startup team with entrepreneurs in residence, seasoned founders and industry leaders who guide ventures from idea to launch.
Both TapIn and Saturn Sports credit their rapid progress to the Venture Lab experience, where they refined business models, honed technologies and built momentum toward commercialization.
Both startups point to the 1819 Innovation Hub's Venture Lab accelerator as an essential catalyst in their journeys. Through the program, founders gain a structured pathway to commercialization, including:
- One-on-one mentorship from entrepreneurs in residence with deep industry experience
- Immersive sessions on customer discovery, business modeling and prototype development
- Access to UC's research strengths and state-of-the-art Ground Floor Makerspace
- A direct link to the broader Cincinnati Innovation District ecosystem, where corporate partners, faculty, students and startups collaborate to bring new technologies to life
The Venture Lab has become a magnet for students, faculty and community innovators looking to launch high-potential companies in the Silicon Heartland.
The Venture Lab program located inside the UC 1819 Innovation Hub. Photo/Greg Glevicky
With TapIn tackling digital trust and identity verification and Saturn Sports advancing player safety through sensor-enabled equipment, both startups exemplify the type of high-impact innovation the Cincinnati Innovation District was built to support. Their recent Third Frontier wins mark critical steps toward large-scale commercialization and reflect the strength of UC's entrepreneurial ecosystem.
As these ventures continue to grow, they demonstrate how the 1819 Innovation Hub's Venture Lab empowers founders to transform promising ideas into scalable businesses that strengthen Ohio's tech economy.
Contact the Venture Lab's digital pre-accelerator to learn how you can take your own idea from concept to commercialization.
Featured image at top: Saturn Sports chin strap technology for helmet safety. Photo/1819 Innovation Hub
