Four Northern Kentucky companies were awarded grants from Main Street Ventures, a Cincinnati-based organization that supports entrepreneurs.
The organization has awarded a total of $172,098 in grants to 13 small businesses, facilitating their growth and expansion throughout Greater Cincinnati. Since 2018, the organization has distributed over $4.5 million in equity-free funding to local startups and small businesses.
Main Street Ventures provides two types of grants: Launch and Leap Funding, each designed for businesses in different developmental stages.
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Launch Funding provides pre-revenue businesses with $5,000 to $10,000 of equity-free funding at the prototype or product stage. This funding looks to increase the company’s odds of reaching the market entry stage and beyond.
Leap Funding provides revenue-generating businesses with $10,000 to $30,000 of equity-free funding to scale their business and increase their overall sustainability.
“For our region to thrive, it is essential for small businesses to succeed, and we look forward to seeing these entrepreneurs continue to grow and innovate,” Main Street Ventures Board Chair Kelly Bonnell said in a press release. “From building eco-conscious solutions to creating cost-effective technologies and streamlining operations through automation, this group is tackling real-world challenges with purpose. Their work is promising, practical, and has the potential to significantly shape the way our communities and industries operate.”
Launch Funding
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Ecoshell
is a patented, eggshell-based plastic alternative with proven market use and cost parity for sustainable packaging. The company is based in Covington. -
Jukebox
is a customizable, hand-crafted sparkling beverage shop. Jukebox is based out of Bellevue. Its flagship store is in Mason, Ohio. -
SPORK
: A flexible Software-as-a-Service platform that aligns teams, boosts engagement, and drives performance through continuous improvement. SPORK’s business is registered in Kentucky.
Leap Funding
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Spice, Spice Baby
is a locally owned and operated retailer of custom-blended spices and BBQ rubs, dressings/marinades, and dry soup mixes. The company previously operated out of Newport’s Incubator Kitchen Collective.
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