Contacts:
Devyn Giannetti: (216) 255-9813; dgiannetti@cuyahogacounty.us 


Six Entrepreneurs Connect with Subject Matter Experts to Turn Ideas Into Products

CUYAHOGA COUNTY, OH - While COVID-19 brought a brief pause to program activities, the Cuyahoga County Office of Innovation and Performance launched the inaugural cohort of The Lab @ Cuyahoga County on June 5.

The Lab @ Cuyahoga County connects local entrepreneurs and businesses with public sector partners to test new ideas, products or services in a real-world environment. Transforming the County into a living lab for the latest innovations, local entrepreneurs and businesses are provided with the subject matter expertise, data and customer feedback needed to make the jump from product ideation and validation to product launch.

“The Lab @ Cuyahoga County is a great way to support and enhance the entrepreneurs of our region, giving them an opportunity to do a real-world test of their ideas,” said County Executive Armond Budish. “I look forward to the continued work of our first group and am grateful for the support of our subject matter experts to help bring their ideas to life.”

Below are the entrepreneurs participating in The Lab’s inaugural cohort:

1. RoadPrintz
   What It Is: RoadPrintz uses advanced robotics, geolocation and sensor technology to apply street markings, like turn arrows or bike symbols, without stencils.
   Goal: To reduce the costs and time regularly associated with applying street markings and to reduce injuries to road workers by eliminating the need for workers to be on the road.
   Community Partner: Working with the Cleveland Metroparks, RoadPrintz will test the efficiency and accuracy of their prototype at various parking lots in the Cleveland Metroparks Euclid Creek Reservation.
2. [unBail]
   What It Is: [unBail] is a simple, interactive, user-centric platform that guides defendants through the criminal legal system by providing users to court provided and external resources.
   Goal: To become a trusted advisor for defendants and their families and encourage the best possible outcomes for defendants and democratize information about the criminal legal system.
   Community Partner: The [unBail] team will connect with Cuyahoga County subject matter experts to gather information to support application development.
3. CablePlant
   What It Is: CablePlant is a web-based software for documenting network infrastructure, ethernet cabling and other network assets.
   Goal: Designed with simplicity in mind, CablePlant features include a centralized dashboard to display critical status, live maps to visualize pathways for outside infrastructure and a customer report generator.
   Community Partner: Working with Cuyahoga County subject matter experts, CablePlant will identify additional features and infrastructure documentation needs to support application development.
4. Recipe Re-Mix
   What It Is: Recipe Re-Mix is developing a technological product to expand healthy recipe programming and benefit enrollment assistance to seniors using smart devices (i.e. smart speakers like Amazon Alexa).
   Goal: To bring positive culinary literacy programming to Cleveland’s urban population and remove barriers to healthy eating.
   Community Partner: Working with Cuyahoga County Public Library, Recipe Re-mix will gather information and expertise to identify potential audiences and expand program delivery.
5. AugTagger
   What It Is: AugTagger is a geo-spatial information delivery network that provides a platform for extended reality application development.
   Goal: Using location-based messaging and functionality, applications built on AugTagger can provide users with information on the world around them.
   Community Partner: Working with the Cleveland Metroparks, AugTagger is gathering information to support product and business plan development for the non-profit and public sectors.
6. EvergreenCLE
   What It Is: A smart growing solution, EvergreenCLE leverages IoT technology to provide an optimal indoor growing environment. Users can leverage technology to monitor and automate nutrients, PH, water, temperature, lights, and air exchange all from their smart device.
   Goal: Turning unused indoor space into automated hydroponic farms, EvergreenCLE’s mission is to empower communities to become food independent.
   Community Partner: Beginning in September, EvergreenCLE will complete a pilot test of a 9-foot automated growing dome at Cleveland Public Library’s downtown branch to spark conversation about indoor urban farming as well as the use cases for tech-enabled agriculture.

“For entrepreneurs, accessing the people, places, and information needed to develop and test your product is difficult in the best of times,” said Rebecca Eby, Office of Innovation & Performance Innovation Manager. “To continue our commitment to our cohort of entrepreneurs we worked with program partners to host The Lab’s program activities online. Since June, entrepreneurs and their champions have hosted virtual meetings with subject matter experts and adjusted plans for pilot testing as needed. The flexibility, resilience, and ingenuity of this cohort is inspiring and we’re looking forward to seeing the results of their work later this year.”

In addition to being connected to their identified champions, entrepreneurs were also provided with access to JumpStart’s Market Validation Workshop, as well as a workshop on Working with the Public Sector that provides an overview on public sector procurement. Through the remainder of the program period, entrepreneurs will receive support from their champion and The Lab’s program manager to achieve pilot plan milestones.

“The Lab has connected [unBail] with several subject matter experts in the legal, IT security, and public procurement fields,” said Cait Kennedy, [position] at unBail. “We’ve completed the market validation training at Jumpstart and are on our way to completing our first RFP, business model canvas, and sustainability plan. These opportunities presented to us through The Lab have accelerated and amplified our work tremendously.”

For more information on The Lab’s first cohort, visit cuyahogacounty.us/thelab.