51ĀŅĀ×

Businesses are like plants: They need the right environment to grow. A solid foundation (like soil) and advice (like sunlight and water) are elemental. TechGROWTH Ohio (TGO), a program of 51ĀŅĀ×ā€™s Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs, plays the role of master gardener for entrepreneurs in southeast Ohio.

As a public-private partnership between 51ĀŅĀ×, Ohio Third Frontier, and private investment companies, TGO has been a game-changer for technology startups in the region. It has fostered companies with innovations and technologies ā€œunlike any otherā€ on the market, says Lynn Gellermann, its executive director.

An entrepreneur often begins with an idea, then struggles to get the resources to turn that idea into a successful business venture. TechGROWTH Ohio has been the regionā€™s resource since 2007, connecting more than 2,000 entrepreneurs with services like market research, consulting, and financial planning. And as that entrepreneurā€™s ideas are realized and the startup grows, TGO grows with them, helping with funding, hiring, and establishing a company structure.

ā€œTechGROWTH helps entrepreneurs bridge gaps and find resources while guiding their new technology idea to the marketplace so it can grow,ā€ says Jane New, TechGROWTH manager of investments & new venture development.

For Global Cooling, Inc., TGO has made all the difference.

ā€œThey have been a really important part of our success,ā€ says Neill Lane, the companyā€™s president and CEO. The program was ā€œthere right from the beginning,ā€ he says, helping the company, which develops and manufactures ultra-low-temperature freezers, identify a market for its unique and energy efficient technology. Global Cooling now has more than 100 employees and offices in Athens and Columbus, Ohio, and in Lexington, Kentucky.

Global Coolingā€™s success isnā€™t just about sales. The company actively works to create a culture of accountability and transparency. How? One example is the quarterly book club the company hosts, which encourages employees to discuss topics like emotional intelligence and communication. Efforts like this earned Global Cooling TGOā€™s 2019 Best Startup Culture Award.

ā€œWhether you want it or not, you have a culture, so itā€™s really important to kind of create the culture that makes sense and lifts the business,ā€ Lane says.

A company culture that rewards innovation and entrepreneurship is a company that has a better chance at succeeding in the business landscape, Gellermann says.

ā€œSuccess begets success, so with more winning entrepreneurs and startup companies, we have more shared examples for people and institutions to see and experience.ā€ Gellermann says.