Stacy Strauss, Director

Spoken Inc. has joined the Innovation Center as a virtual client. The company, founded by Michael Bond, has a predictive speech app for people with aphasia (the loss of ability to understand or express speech) and other communication disorders. Available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play, Spoken uses big data, state-of-the-art machine learning predictions, and next-generation text-to-speech to help users build and dictate real sentences quickly. The app learns and adapts to each person's communication style. The more it is used, the better it gets at predicting what the person wants to say next.

The need for a better product became apparent to Bond when his grandmother lost her ability to speak following a stroke. He was inspired to build a more sophisticated tool that took advantage of the latest technological advances. "We are excited to welcome Spoken as they support a population that desperately needs their service. We look forward to assisting them with their growth," said IC director, Stacy Strauss.

"We’re thrilled to be expanding beyond our Marietta home base into the Innovation Center. As a tech company that depends on Amazon Web Services credits and remote teams to get things done, it’s a great fit, and we look forward to adding to the dynamic energy that makes spaces like this so exciting," said Bond.

To learn more about Spoken, click below.

Ohio Third Frontier Diversity & Inclusion Technology Internship Program has funds to pay college interns for working in your business. The program is designed to give college students real-world experience while providing your company with young talent. It covers two-thirds of the intern's wages (up to $10,000) and will support up to three interns per company. The deadline to apply for summer funding is February 14, 2020.

Students interested in technology are encouraged to apply. The program is is a great opportunity to build your resume and get experience with innovative Ohio companies.

The Innovation Center is offering free workshops hosted by Erin Rennich, Innovation Center executive coach and certified Strategyzer Facilitator. The classes target early-stage entrepreneurs or business leaders and provide a small group setting with individualized assistance. Upcoming workshops include the IDEAtion Workshop, the Customer VALIDation Workshop, and Introduction to Intellectual Property.

For workshops descriptions and times, click below.

The Innovation Center has space available now for early stage companies in our 36,000 square foot facility. The building includes 32 office spaces of varying sizes and its seven wet labs are ideal for life sciences, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and analytical chemistry startups. In addition to the professional space, Innovation Center clients benefit from one-on-one coaching, negotiated cost-savings, and the connection to our vast network of key people and resources necessary to grow and scale a venture. To learn more, click below.

IC associate director, Tanya Conrath, has resigned her position to pursue other interests and opportunities. During her three year tenure, Conrath upgraded the IC's public relations efforts, launched a new and improved IC website, contributed to multiple successful award and grant applications, provided supervision and mentoring to our student staff, ensured the highest level of client support, and managed the ever-present needs of the 36,000 square foot facility.

She plans to remain in Athens and we wish her plenty of success and happiness in her new endeavors! A national search for a new associate director will begin in the coming months.

The IC is the recipient of the 2019 Randall M. Whaley Incubator of the Year Award (InBIA) and the 2019 Rural-Based Entrepreneurship Center of the Year Award (InBIA). The center was ranked the third best University-Based Incubator in the U.S. (UBI Global Ranking 2015-2017), was named the 2016 Rural Incubator of the Year (InBIA). 

Our 36,000 square foot building has some space available.

For details, please give us a call at (740) 593-1818.

The Ohio University Innovation Center provides valuable business incubation resources to fuel the economy in Athens, Ohio and the surrounding region. Your gift supports our mission to connect entrepreneurs with the people and resources needed to grow businesses and create jobs in Southeast Ohio. 

Support for the Innovation Center is provided by TechGROWTH Ohio through funding provided by the Ohio Third Frontier Commission.