By Maggie Byers
YBI Youth Entrepreneurship Coordinator
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Under the leadership of CEO Barb Ewing, the Youngstown Business Incubator experienced tremendous growth in 2024 as it fostered innovation and economic development, accomplishing its mission of elevating every entrepreneur.
The YBI’s Minority Business Assistance Center has empowered small, minority, veteran and economically disadvantaged businesses since 2017. Regional director Tanisha Wheeler led the Tier II MBAC team, in partnership with its Tier I MBAC partner, Valley Partners, in certifying 42 businesses and serving 225 new clients.
This past year, the team received the best overall performance award from the Ohio Department of Development, placing at the top of the 11 MBACs designated by the state. The program’s strength can be seen through numerous cases of client success, including Aundréa Cika Heschmeyer’s securement of state funding in one of the first loans awarded to our team in this region.
YBI’s Youth Entrepreneurship program, directed by Megan Payich, advanced its efforts of development and innovation. Through entrepreneurship education and the power of Virtual Reality technology, the program reached more than 3,000 students across Mahoning, Trumbull, Columbiana, Stark and Summit counties. Nearly 30 schools and 20 organizations received the program’s services, while over 75 youth businesses were launched.
In the upcoming year, the youth program aims to expand and improve its partnerships with local manufacturing operations as it works toward creating a series of career exploration videos.
YBI’s Evolve Technology Entrepreneurship Program works directly with entrepreneurs in tech-based startups, providing mentorship, strategic connections and resources to technology-based startups focusing on SaaS (software as a service), medical and advanced manufacturing.
Led by Chandler Fiffick, the Evolve program served 65 startups, creating or retaining 400 jobs, with client companies raising $152 million in capital and generating $30 million in revenue. A successful product of the program’s influence can be seen in the expansion of Droxi, an Israeli med-tech startup with a base in Youngstown, which included contracts with health care systems and the achievement of $1.15 million in revenue.
Under the leadership of Stephanie Gaffney, YBI’s Advanced Manufacturing program introduced 54 companies to advanced manufacturing technologies, executed 38 advanced manufacturing implementation projects with local manufacturers, and secured $6.1 million in grants. The team enables small- and medium-sized manufacturers to evaluate and integrate advanced manufacturing techniques into their operations as they aim to expand the industry across the region.
While YBI’s programs expand to support more entrepreneurs, the incubator’s five-building campus in downtown Youngstown continues to change.
In December, the organization celebrated the completion of Phase II renovations to its Tech Block Building 5 in downtown Youngstown. Additionally, the year saw the start of internal and external renovations to the organization’s main office at 241 W. Federal St.
In 2025, the YBI – in partnership with America Makes – will work toward establishing an innovation hub for aerospace and defense. That would entail securing a second manufacturing facility in the Vindicator II building.