Ohio ESO Newsletter - Edition #6: Robinette Xavier Center for Innovation

Welcome Back to the Ohio Entrepreneurial Support Newsletter!

Hello Innovators and Entrepreneurs,

Welcome to the fourth edition of our Ohio Entrepreneurial Support Newsletter! Our mission is to spotlight the incredible organizations that are fueling innovation and supporting startups across Ohio. This week, we're excited to feature the Robinette Xavier University Robinette Center for Innovation , a hub of interdisciplinary experiential learning at Xavier University.

Spotlight on Xavier Center for Innovation - Empowering the Future of Innovation

About Xavier Center for Innovation

The Xavier Center for Innovation (CFI) seeks to engage Xavier students with mission-aligned ventures and opportunities while fostering interdisciplinary experiential learning. In a world that is increasingly diverse, uncertain, complex, and interdependent, the center leverages Xavier’s strengths, key assets, and core values to guide three strategic pillars: Student Enterprise, Mission-Focused Innovation & Entrepreneurship, and Experiential/Signature Programs.

Mission

Xavier's Center for Innovation aims to engage students with mission-aligned ventures and opportunities, fostering interdisciplinary experiential learning at the university.

Three Strategic Pillars

Student Enterprise

• Opportunities: Internships at small businesses, startups, and social ventures; coaching and mentorship to help start a business.
• Real-World Experience: Student-run businesses, workshops, and access to alumni, providing valuable experience for success in innovation and entrepreneurship.

Mission-Focused Innovation & Entrepreneurship

• Jesuit Values: Integrating Jesuit values with innovation and entrepreneurship.
• Community Engagement: Collaboration between Xavier's internal organizations and local community organizations to address issues such as environment, racial injustice, poverty, and healthcare.

Experiential/Signature Programs

• Experiential Learning: Leveraging expertise from internal university assets and external resources.
• Alumni Involvement: Engaging alumni in supporting and enhancing experiential learning programs.

Innovation Fellows

The Innovation Fellows initiative serves as an incubator, offering professional development funds to support innovative projects proposed by faculty, staff, and students. Up to six projects are supported annually. Congratulations to the 2023-2024 Innovation Fellows award recipients!

• Cooper Downerd (Business): A student-led storefront focusing on vintage/streetwear clothing and Xavier student products.
• Lance Kuo-Esser (Biology): A discreet at-home STD testing kit designed for college students.
• Jonathan Gibson and Justin Link (Art and Physics): LivingHistory.ai, an immersive 3D history education experience focused on Robert Oppenheimer.
• Kelly Crowe and Hanna Wetzel (Biology): Research Roundup, where undergraduates present their research in a 3-minute pitch for cash prizes.
• John Parham (Student-Athlete Academic Support Services): Sending staff and student-athletes to the Black Student-Athlete Summit with follow-up educational sessions.
• Ashley Varol and Jennifer Chubinski (Sport Science & Management and Health Service Administration): Innovative approaches to interprofessional education.

Xavier’s Impact on Cincinnati

According to Forbes, Cincinnati is experiencing significant growth in partnerships between accelerators, incubators, corporates, and startups, with increased venture capital funding. Xavier’s Center for Innovation plays a crucial role in this ecosystem by fostering collaboration and promoting innovative solutions.

Join the Xavier Center for Innovation Community

The Xavier Center for Innovation invites you to engage with their events and programs. For more information about the center and how it can benefit your organization, visit their website.

Get Involved!

We are always looking for more organizations to feature. Do you know an entrepreneurial support group making a difference in Ohio? Tag them or nominate them in the comments below. Let’s continue to uncover and celebrate the incredible work happening across our state.

Stay tuned for next week’s feature and join us on this exciting journey to explore Ohio’s entrepreneurial landscape!