How Accelerate Works
Accelerate features three pathways to turn ideas into impact.
ACCELERATE CORE COMPETITION
The Core Accelerate competition is comprised of five categories. Panels of community leaders judge the pitches in each category and select one pitch from each of the five categories to advance to the finals. The five finalists pitch their ideas to the audience members, who then vote to determine the $5,000 winner. The four runners-up each receive $2,000. In addition to the cash prizes, all six finalists will receive a spot in the 2026 NEO SEA Change Cohort and a one-year ECDI membership.
TECHNOVATION ACCELERATE
A judge panel of community leaders select the winner. The Technovation winner receives $3,500.
TEEN ACCELERATE
A judge panel of community leaders select the winner ($1,000) and runner-up ($500).
GET TICKETS > | GET EVENT DETAILS >
The 2026 Presenters & Pitches
Click on each of the tabs below to check out the pitches in each category. The pitches will take place in the order in which they are listed.
4:30 P.M.
- Teen Accelerate
SPONSORED BY
A separate competition just for high school students hosted by the Young Entrepreneur Institute. Any high school student can apply to pitch an idea that would make a difference in their community. Ten finalists are selected to pitch at Accelerate.
Prizes:
- Grand Prize: $1,000 + mentor from partner organization
- Runner-Up: $500
- Remaining 8 Finalists: $250 each
All finalists must pitch on event day to receive their award.
Teen Accelerate participants’ journey is separate from Core Accelerate and Technovation Accelerate presenters. Details for Teen Accelerate, including the presenter journey and application guide, are available through Young Entrepreneur Institute.
- Technovation Accelerate
SPONSORED BY
Technovation is an additional optional opportunity for tech-driven ideas for social good in Cuyahoga County to win $3,500. Accelerate applicants whose idea includes a technology component can opt in to be considered for Technovation. Technovation submissions are reviewed by a separate panel and as such, applicants may be selected for Technovation alone, the Core Accelerate category alone, or both. If selected for both, presenters will pitch twice prior to the final round at the event.
Pinwheel Toy Library
Maya Camhi
Pinwheel Toy Library is a subscription-based service that gives families affordable access to high-quality, developmentally rich toys without the cost or clutter of ownership. Through a website and app, families borrow curated toys tailored to their child’s age and interests, then return or exchange them as needed. Each toy is cleaned, inspected, and refurbished to ensure safety and longevity. Built on circular economy principles, the service reduces plastic waste, maximizes reuse, and lowers financial burdens. Launching in Cleveland, Pinwheel aims to scale nationally, offering a sustainable, equitable model for children’s learning and play.
LI: Maya Camhi | IG: @thenerdypengwin | FB: Maya Camhi
My Why
“I love Cleveland and am passionate about contributing to a vibrant, thriving community. Accelerate is an exciting opportunity to grow my entrepreneurial skills, connect with like-minded investors, and turn ideas into real-world impact. I’m committed to building thoughtfully and collaboratively, creating solutions that serve people and the planet.”
SayItBuddy: Giving Every Child a Voice
Cambron Jones
SayItBuddy is a mobile communication app designed for nonverbal and speech-delayed children. Users tap images to produce spoken words, enabling expression of needs, feelings, and independence. The app is customizable, allowing parents to add photos from home, school, or therapy settings, and includes adjustable voice rate and sensory-friendly visuals. SayItBuddy offers a low-cost, easy-to-setup alternative to traditional speech-generating devices, providing an accessible, intuitive platform that supports communication for children with diverse abilities.
IG: @camboni11 WEB: https://sayitbuddy.com/
My Why
“I’m a parent, technologist, chess player, and avid stock investor who built SayItBuddy. I chose to pitch at Accelerate to bring greater awareness and visibility to the rapidly growing issue of autism and the communication challenges many families face.”
I Got YouPal : Connecting Communities through kindness
Joel Kingunza
I Got YouPal is a community app that connects people nearby who need help with those willing to lend a hand, whether running errands, giving rides, or small acts of kindness. The app uses a points system that rewards helpers with gift cards, vouchers, and recognition, encouraging continued engagement. By making assistance tangible and rewarding, it fosters connections, builds trust, and strengthens neighborhood communities, turning everyday acts of kindness into meaningful, fun, and impactful interactions.
IG: @j.king_k
My Why
“Moving to Cleveland, I was fortunate to receive help from different people when I didn’t know anyone. That experience inspired me to create ways for people to support each other, even in small ways. Pitching to Accelerate is my way of giving back to the city that welcomed me and helping the community thrive.”
Care Navigator
Madeline Stull
Care Navigator is a human-centered, tech-supported service that guides families through dementia care. Each family is paired with a trained navigator who provides real-time support during crises such as agitation, functional decline, falls, delirium, or hospital decisions. Navigators clarify reversible versus expected changes, outline options, and help families make choices aligned with safety, comfort, and long-term goals. Technology tools—crisis checklists, communication guides, safety templates, and personalized care timelines—support families between sessions. Structured debriefs after major events reduce repeated emergencies, creating a scalable framework for consistent, practical dementia support outside traditional clinical care.
LI: Madeline Stull
My Why
“I am a physician and a mother of two young children. I left residency one year ago after confronting fundamental gaps in how our healthcare system approaches serious illness, death, and dying. I applied to Accelerate Cleveland to gain the structure, mentorship, and local ecosystem support needed to turn this work into a viable, real-world solution.”
eLEXir
Menaka Wijeratne and Krupa Venkatesan
eLEXir is a personalized learning platform for students with learning disabilities, providing speech, reading, and vocabulary practice through AI-driven, adaptive exercises. The platform uses reinforcement learning to adjust to each student’s pace, style, and interests, and generative AI to create personalized content. eLEXir engages students with interactive exercises and immediate feedback while automatically tracking progress. It supports over 20 languages, making it accessible to diverse learners. Designed for after-school use and school supplementation, eLEXir extends special education support, helps educators and therapists deliver instruction, and addresses gaps caused by shortages of qualified personnel.
WEB: https://menakaw05.wixsite.com/elexir
Our Why
“Menaka Wijeratne is an undergraduate student pursuing dual Bachelor’s degrees in Biomedical Engineering and Computer Science at Case Western Reserve University. Krupa Venkatesan is an undergraduate student at Case Western Reserve University, majoring in Computer Science and Biomedical Engineering with a minor in Artificial Intelligence. We chose to pitch at Accelerate to connect with our local community to help expand eLEXir’s impact.” - Core Accelerate: Arts & Culture
🎨 Arts & Culture
Improving lives and spaces through arts and culture.
Every Mind is a Creative Art Kit
Shcarra Benn – The Creative Leo
Every Mind is Creative Art Kit is a sensory-friendly, accessible art kit designed for individuals with developmental disabilities. The kit provides adaptive, easy-to-use, and low-cost art materials that support a wide range of abilities and sensory needs. It is designed to be affordable for people on fixed or limited incomes and usable without specialized tools or training. By delivering inclusive art supplies directly to individuals and support settings, the kit makes creative expression more accessible in everyday environments.
LI: Shcarra (“The Creative Leo”) Benn | IG: @creativeleodesigns & @the_creativeleo | FB: Creative Leo Designs & Shcarra Benn | WEB: www.creativeleodesigns.com
My Why
“With over 10 years of experience working with individuals with developmental disabilities and hosting art sessions at county boards and community agencies, I have seen firsthand how powerful creative expression can be for emotional well-being and communication. I chose to pitch to Accelerate because I believe The Art Kit for Every Mind can remove financial and accessibility barriers to the arts for an underserved population in our community. My goal is to ensure that creativity is not a luxury, but a right for every mind.”
hi raya!
Rhea Doria
hi raya! produces beverage and dessert syrups inspired by diverse cultural traditions. Each flavor is developed using traditional influences and storytelling to highlight the heritage behind the ingredients and recipes. The syrups are designed for use in drinks and desserts, combining high-quality taste with educational and cultural context that connects consumers to the traditions that shape each product.
IG: @shop_hi_raya | WEB: https://www.hi-raya.com/
My Why
“hi raya! is a small-batch syrup business honoring the cultural heritage behind each flavor, made with whole ingredients and no added preservatives. I chose to pitch to Accelerate to build a brand that treats multi-faceted flavors as lived traditions, not as passing trends, where we can create space for deeper cultural appreciation and storytelling.”
Heartfelt Movement: Connecting Movement with Purpose
Ruth Rachel Przybojewski
Heartfelt Movement is a community-based dance organization that offers inclusive spaces for adults of all ages and abilities to create, rehearse, perform, and connect through movement. The program supports dancers and choreographers by providing accessible practice and performance opportunities that emphasize expression and storytelling through dance. Activities are hosted in existing community spaces, including churches and partner facilities such as Dancing Wheels, activating venues that might otherwise remain unused.
IG: @heartfelt_movement | FB: Heartfelt Movement | WEB: https://heartfeltmovement.org/
My Why
“Heartfelt Movement provides a welcoming environment for adults of any age or ability a space to to create, perform and connect through movement. Our goal is to keep costs low for participants and utilize spaces within the community for rehearsal and performances.”
Cleveland’s Concrete Quilt
Dr. Ken Schneck and Dr. Erin Benay
Cleveland’s Concrete Quilt is a public memorial and awareness project that commemorates individuals lost to HIV/AIDS while sharing current information about prevention and testing. Modeled after the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt, the project invites community members to paint 3’ x 6’ panels in memory of loved ones. Up to 80 panels will be installed together in an underpass near Edgewater Park, forming a large-scale, accessible outdoor artwork. Interpretive panels at the site will provide information about HIV testing and PrEP. The project includes a limited-edition screenprint designed by Zygote Press, with on-site printing opportunities and distribution through public libraries. The initiative concludes with a free, downloadable guide to support replication of the project in other communities.
IG: @kenschneck
Our Why
“Dr. Ken Schneck is the editor of The Buckeye Flame, Ohio’s LGBTQ+ newsroom, and Dr. Erin Benay is an associate professor of art history at Case Western Reserve University. They could not be more excited to combine their superpowers of LGBTQ+ and public art advocacy to create an opportunity for community, remembrance, and empowerment.”
Mindful Makers & Founders Collective
Angelique Wong
The Creative Collective Cohort is an 8–12 week hybrid program for creative entrepreneurs focused on building sustainable businesses alongside personal well-being. The program combines practical business education with creative development and wellness practices. Participants receive hands-on training in branding, social media, content creation, pricing, and business foundations, as well as guidance for developing creative products, services, and experiences. Weekly sessions pair business strategy with practices such as stress management, burnout prevention, journaling, and facilitated check-ins. The cohort model emphasizes collaboration through peer support circles, small-group discussions, networking, and ongoing alumni connections. Groups of 10–20 participants foster relationship-building and shared learning. Sessions are offered through a mix of in-person gatherings in Northeast Ohio and virtual participation for flexibility.
LI: Angelique Wong M.S. | IG: @angthemaker | FB: Angelique Wong | WEB: https://societalheights.com/
My Why
“I am a creative entrepreneur and marketing specialist with experience supporting small businesses, founders, and organizations through branding, digital engagement, and strategic planning. My work sits at the intersection of business development, community-building-based marketing, and sustainable business systems, informed by my involvement with Northeast Ohio’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. I am the founder of the Creative Collective Cohort, a program designed to help entrepreneurs build resilient, sustainable ventures while prioritizing mental well-being and long-term impact.” - Core Accelerate: Climate & Energy Innovation
Climate & Energy InnovationDeveloping innovative solutions for energy efficiency and collective climate action.
SPONSORED BY
Refill, Reduce, Rethink Your Writing
Lucas Fuciu and Parker Heffelfinger
WiFill is a student-run company operating through Junior Achievement that develops refillable dry erase markers designed to reduce plastic waste. The markers feature a bamboo barrel to decrease plastic use and extend product lifespan. The team conducts market research, prototype development, and user testing to refine writing quality, ink flow, and the refill system. Students and teachers participate in product testing to ensure performance comparable to standard markers. The company manages production, marketing, sales, and research while selecting safe, durable materials suitable for everyday classroom and office use.
IG: @wifill_ja
Our Why
“We chose to pitch to Accelerate because it provides us with the opportunity to make a tangible impact through our idea. We are given the opportunity to show how a simple product redesign can reduce plastic waste and shift everyday habits toward more sustainable choices. Presenting here helps us move from intention to measurable impact.”
Sisu Plastic
Carasai Ihentuge
Sisu Plastics is a technology-enabled recycling company that processes U.S. plastic waste into high-quality PET, PP, and HDPE pellets. The operation uses automated sorting and processing systems to improve efficiency, material cleanliness, and consistency. The resulting recycled pellets are designed to meet manufacturer standards for reuse in a range of products, supporting scalable and reliable plastic recycling.
LI: YumVillageCle | WEB: https://www.yumvillage.com/
My Why
“I am the founder of YumVillage, an Afro-Caribbean food concept serving bold, culturally rooted flavors through our restaurant and food truck while specializing in halal and vegan options. I chose to pitch to Accelerate because we’re at a critical growth point and looking for strategic support to strengthen operations, expand institutional partnerships, and build a sustainable model that creates jobs and economic opportunity in our community.”
SPAAP
Isaiah Jackson
The project is a self-contained bioreactor that cultivates fast-growing cyanobacteria and processes the biomass into dried bricks for efficient transport and downstream use. The system generates its own water from ambient air and produces heat using small-scale solar power and solar concentration. Designed for deployment in varied environments, the bioreactor captures carbon emissions while automating growth, harvesting, and drying to enable faster and lower-cost operation compared to conventional systems.
LI: Isaiah Jackson
My Why
“I am very passionate about humanity, nature, biomimicry, and engineering. I chose to pitch to this competition because I know that my project can help many people in the short and long term!”
UniSWAP
Suneha Shelke and Suong Tran
UniSWAP is a campus-exclusive digital marketplace designed to support year-round secondhand exchanges within the Case Western Reserve University community. The platform enables students, faculty, and staff to buy, sell, swap, and post lost items in a secure, university-verified environment. Key features include campus email authentication, real-time notifications, and an intuitive interface that supports safe and efficient transactions. UniSWAP is designed to complement existing reuse programs by extending access beyond seasonal drives and reducing surplus donations. The project includes development of a mobile and web platform, on-campus piloting at CWRU, and iterative refinement based on user feedback, with the goal of scaling the model to other universities.
LI: Suneha Shelke & Suong Tran | IG: @suneha.shelke
Our Why
“As students, we’ve seen firsthand how move-out waste and affordability impact our peers every year. We chose to pitch UniSWAP to Accelerate because this program offers the mentorship, resources, and local network needed to turn a student-led idea into a scalable solution with measurable impact across universities, and real community change!”
Go For Green Solutions Cleveland
Sarah Willgrube
Go For Green is an event-focused waste management service that supports composting and recycling at festivals and public events. The service provides collection infrastructure, trained staff, and proper disposal of compostable and recyclable materials. By managing on-site waste sorting and removal, Go For Green enables event organizers to implement sustainable waste practices without adding operational burden.
LI: Sarah Willgrube
My Why
“I have had the privilege of working in the film industry for the past twenty years. During this time I developed a love of outdoor and adventures. She strives to make the world a more sustainable place!”
5:45 P.M.
- Core Accelerate: Education
📚 Education
Advancing access, readiness, and success for learners of all ages.
LanguageBridge
Justin Bernard and Prentice Howard
Justin Bernard
Creating an audio-first translation service for preliterate students in K-12 classrooms across Ohio.
LI: Justin B. | WEB: https://www.languagebridge.app/
My Why
“I am an ESL educator with 15 years classroom experience teaching all over the world, and hold a Master’s degree in Educational Technology. After watching preliterate students fail before learning even started, I built LanguageBridge, an audio-first accessibility tool that removes the barriers between students and school. At LanguageBridge we are re-imagining what day one looks like for multilingual learners.”
SayItBuddy: Giving Every Child a Voice
Cambron Jones
SayItBuddy is a mobile communication app designed for nonverbal and speech-delayed children. Users tap images to produce spoken words, enabling expression of needs, feelings, and independence. The app is customizable, allowing parents to add photos from home, school, or therapy settings, and includes adjustable voice rate and sensory-friendly visuals. SayItBuddy offers a low-cost, easy-to-setup alternative to traditional speech-generating devices, providing an accessible, intuitive platform that supports communication for children with diverse abilities.
IG: @camboni11 WEB: https://sayitbuddy.com/
My Why
“I’m a parent, technologist, chess player, and avid stock investor who built SayItBuddy. I chose to pitch at Accelerate to bring greater awareness and visibility to the rapidly growing issue of autism and the communication challenges many families face.”
LIVEKIND
Joan Morgenstern
LIVEKIND is a digital program that helps children build daily kindness habits through four stages: Learn, Internalize, Value, and Embody. Children explore eight core habits—smiling, holding doors, letting others go first, giving compliments, offering encouragement, helping, including others, and expressing gratitude—through hands-on activities, simple tracking tools, and nonprofit partnerships. The program connects each habit to thoughts, feelings, and actions, showing the impact on themselves, peers, and the community. Designed to be engaging, scalable, and interactive, LIVEKIND turns everyday moments into repeated, meaningful acts of kindness.
My Why
“After decades as an educator, I’ve learned that kindness doesn’t fail from lack of belief – it fails from lack of practice. LiveKind was created to help children practice kindness in visible, repeatable ways that shape everyday life. Accelerate is the platform where this work can move from an idea into systems that scale impact.”
Tokenization on Wheels™
Monica Mullins
Tokenization on Wheels™ is a mobile tech lab that brings Web3 and digital skills directly to Cleveland’s underserved communities. The unit is equipped with laptops, tablets, VR, and blockchain tools to deliver hands-on workshops in tokenization, Web3 literacy, digital identity, AI basics, cybersecurity, and small-business tech adoption. By visiting schools, rec centers, senior centers, and community events, the program removes barriers of transportation, cost, and access. Participants earn digital badges and community tokens to incentivize learning and create pathways to workforce development and entrepreneurship. Small businesses receive guidance on token-based loyalty systems, digital security, and technology adoption.
FB: Monica Mullins | WEB: https://smileatoswf.com/
My Why
“I am a Cleveland-based social entrepreneur and nonprofit founder dedicated to building community-centered spaces that create opportunity, visibility, and access for under-served families and creatives. I chose to pitch to Accelerate because it aligns with my belief that sustainable impact requires not just passion, but strong systems, mentorship, and scalable support to help mission-driven ideas grow and thrive.”
eLEXir
Menaka Wijeratne and Krupa Venkatesan
eLEXir is a personalized learning platform for students with learning disabilities, providing speech, reading, and vocabulary practice through AI-driven, adaptive exercises. The platform uses reinforcement learning to adjust to each student’s pace, style, and interests, and generative AI to create personalized content. eLEXir engages students with interactive exercises and immediate feedback while automatically tracking progress. It supports over 20 languages, making it accessible to diverse learners. Designed for after-school use and school supplementation, eLEXir extends special education support, helps educators and therapists deliver instruction, and addresses gaps caused by shortages of qualified personnel.
WEB: https://menakaw05.wixsite.com/elexir
Our Why
“Menaka Wijeratne is an undergraduate student pursuing dual Bachelor’s degrees in Biomedical Engineering and Computer Science at Case Western Reserve University. Krupa Venkatesan is an undergraduate student at Case Western Reserve University, majoring in Computer Science and Biomedical Engineering with a minor in Artificial Intelligence. We chose to pitch at Accelerate to connect with our local community to help expand eLEXir’s impact.” - Core Accelerate: Health & Wellbeing
⚕️ Health & Well-being
Promoting the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of individuals and communities.
Stronger Together
Ben Colas
Stronger Together is a father/child fitness program offering interactive, screen-free exercise experiences in local parks. Activities like bear crawls and crab walks are designed to be fun for children while providing a physical challenge for fathers. Classes foster bonding, healthy habits, and social connection in a group setting, allowing dads to model active living alongside their children.
LI: Benjamin Colas
My Why
“As an educator and dad of two girls, I am passionate about helping communities flourish by fostering spaces where people can grow and truly belong. I believe strong families are the backbone of any healthy community, and that the family unit can grow stronger through meaningful, challenging experiences together.”
Summit
Charles Griffith and Mark Takasaki
Summit is a Cleveland-built platform that supports student-athletes by integrating AI-powered nutrition analysis, team communication, training tracking, and academic oversight into a single system. The platform uses computer vision to analyze meals, flags potential health or performance risks, centralizes training data, and streamlines coach–athlete communication. Designed for Cleveland institutions, Summit pilots at CWRU and partners with local schools to improve athlete health, reduce stress, and track academic and athletic performance. By consolidating fragmented systems, it delivers measurable cost savings, enhances well-being, and provides a scalable model for holistic, data-driven student-athlete support.
LI: Charlie Griffith & Mark Takasaki
Our Why
“We are the co-founders of Summit, an AI-native platform that optimizes student-athlete performance at high-academic Division III programs through personalized AI agents for training, nutrition, and communication. Mark is a Finance and Accounting major pursuing an integrated Master of Finance, while Charlie studies International Relations, French, and Business Management on a pre-law track. We chose to pitch to Accelerate because its mission to support change agents aligns with our goal of driving meaningful change in collegiate athletics, and conversations with past competitors highlighted an unmatched community of founders to learn from and build alongside.”
The Cleveland Purpose Project
Dr. Megan Lowes-Bolin
The Cleveland Purpose Project is a community-based workshop series helping young adults navigate major life transitions. Participants explore strengths, values, goals, and identity through guided activities, storytelling, and facilitated discussion grounded in positive psychology, career development, and well-being science. Over multiple sessions, participants create a “Purpose Map,” an actionable roadmap for career, community, personal growth, and well-being, while building peer connections to reduce isolation and increase belonging. Delivered through colleges, libraries, community centers, and employers, the program provides structured support, practical tools, and resources to help young adults gain clarity, confidence, and direction.
LI: Megan Lowes-Bolin, MBA, Ed.D | IG: @drmeganlowesbolin
My Why
“Dr. Megan Lowes-Bolin is a higher education professional, leadership educator, and nonprofit consultant passionate about helping people and communities move from ideas to impact while improving health and wellness for others. She chose to pitch to Accelerate because she believes Northeast Ohio thrives when everyday leaders are empowered with the tools, confidence, and support to build healthier, more resilient individuals and communities.”
The Aging Clarity Project
Lori Lynn and Dina Rock
The Aging Clarity Project is a free, community-based program helping families navigate aging with confidence and clarity. Interactive workshops across Northeast Ohio provide practical tools and guidance for adult children, caregivers, and aging individuals, covering aging milestones, family conversations, medical and financial navigation, home safety, and early signs of needed support. Participants receive checklists, conversation guides, planning templates, and a one-page “Aging Roadmap” for immediate use. Offered in libraries, community centers, senior centers, and faith spaces, the program reduces caregiver stress, prevents emergencies, and empowers families to take proactive steps before crises occur.
IG: @nextstepseldercare | FB: Next Steps Elder Care Consulting | TikTok: @nextstepseldercare | WEB: https://nextstepseldercareconsulting.com/
Our Why
“Aging is a journey and no one should have to navigate it alone. As co-founders of Next Steps Eldercare Consulting, we created our work from lived care-giving experiences with our own parents. We empower individuals and families to plan ahead, gain clarity, and take confident next steps because every journey matters. Through Accelerate, we are looking forward expanding this mission and walk alongside more families across our community.”
Care Navigator
Madeline Stull
Care Navigator is a human-centered, tech-supported service that guides families through dementia care. Each family is paired with a trained navigator who provides real-time support during crises such as agitation, functional decline, falls, delirium, or hospital decisions. Navigators clarify reversible versus expected changes, outline options, and help families make choices aligned with safety, comfort, and long-term goals. Technology tools—crisis checklists, communication guides, safety templates, and personalized care timelines—support families between sessions. Structured debriefs after major events reduce repeated emergencies, creating a scalable framework for consistent, practical dementia support outside traditional clinical care.
LI: Madeline Stull
My Why
“I am a physician and a mother of two young children. I left residency one year ago after confronting fundamental gaps in how our healthcare system approaches serious illness, death, and dying. I applied to Accelerate Cleveland to gain the structure, mentorship, and local ecosystem support needed to turn this work into a viable, real-world solution.” - Core Accelerate: Social Change
⚖️ Social Change
Increasing equity, access, and opportunities.
SPONSORED BY
Pretrial Support Team
Pat Dillard
The Pretrial Support Team pairs individuals with 1:1 Navigators during the period from arrest to case resolution. Navigators provide phone reminders, transportation, childcare, and connections to community services, helping participants maintain jobs, family stability, and housing while addressing underlying life challenges. The program reduces jail time, bench warrants, and repeat offenses, creating a smoother court process and saving Cuyahoga County money. Piloted successfully over its first year, the program demonstrates that structured pretrial support benefits both individuals and the judicial system and provides a model for sustainable integration into county services.
My Why
“Our volunteer nonprofit pilot project has shown that pretrial services benefit the individual, the Court, and our community. We are working for pretrial services for all to be integrated into our Cuyahoga County Court system and believe that Accelerate can help get us there.”
EmpowerHER: Building Confident Girls, Strong Leaders
Kendra Mance and Ashley Williams
EmpowerHER is a free, community-based program for girls ages 5–13 that builds confidence, leadership, and identity. Weekly workshops combine teamwork activities, social-emotional learning, leadership challenges, storytelling, and guided discussions, helping participants recognize strengths, practice using their voice, and develop skills for school, friendships, sports, and future careers. Sessions are structured to be positive, inclusive, and responsive to individual needs. EmpowerHER also hosts outreach events, partners with schools, brings in women guest speakers, and provides resources like feminine care packs. The program creates consistent, supportive spaces that empower girls to lead with confidence, kindness, and connection.
IG: @empowerhercluboh | FB: EmpowerHer Club | TikTok: @empowerher.club.o
Our Why
“We started EmpowerHER because we saw a true need for girls to have a safe space where they feel seen, heard, and confident being exactly who they are. As moms and community members, we have watched girls grow quieter and more unsure far too early, and we wanted to help change that. We chose and are honored to pitch to Accelerate because this is more than a program to us, it is personal – it’s a movement we are building, and we believe with the right support, EmpowerHER Club can grow into something that truly changes the way girls see themselves and their future, not just locally, but across the region.”
TaxChatAI
Gavin Owens
TaxChatAI is a 24/7 AI-powered tax consultant designed for small businesses, trained on over 50,000 pages of U.S. tax law. It provides accurate guidance on deductions, compliance, and other tax questions, reducing the need to contact under-resourced IRS agents. The platform serves users in over 55 countries, has answered 5,000+ questions, and supported 1,000+ users. Collaborating with an experienced accountant, TaxChatAI has saved small businesses over $1.3 million. By combining AI with expert oversight, it offers accessible, reliable tax support to individuals and businesses that cannot afford traditional accountants.
IG: @taxchatai | X: @taxchatai | WEB: https://taxchatai.com/
My Why
“I am 18 years old and a senior at University School. I was born and raised in Northeast Ohio and my startup is aimed at small enterprises and under-served communities who don’t have access to proper tax guidance. Leveraging AI, users can ask a question in plain-English to a tax assistant that is trained on over 50,000 pages of tax law—more than any accountant, lawyer, or academic could possibly know. As of today, I have had 1000+ users and have saved them an estimated $1.3 million dollars on taxes.”
Nyumbani Ni Nyumbani
Ashley Ristaino
This program supports Congolese and African newcomers in Cleveland by providing education, advocacy, mediation, and community connections to help them thrive. Services address barriers such as rental home maintenance, health and safety, systems navigation, landlord relations, and neighbor conflicts. Support is person-centered and tailored to each case, using tools like group training templates, visual aids, translated guides, and instructional videos in Swahili, Kinyarwanda, and other languages. These resources provide accessible, self-paced learning and practical guidance to help newcomers build skills, navigate their environment, and strengthen community connections.
Our Why
“We have been coworkers for over two years with a shared passion for supporting refugee newcomers. Ashley’s specialty is in housing and has helped to resettle hundreds of families into their new homes. Michael’s specialty is in education with a focus on helping young immigrants and refugees prepare for a successful life in the United States. Pitching to Accelerate is a big first step in kicking off our project with the mission of better supporting the Congolese community in Cleveland.”
Neighbors Community Farms
Danie White
Neighbors Community Farms transforms underused growing spaces in Central into community-powered mini-farms that produce food while fostering skill-building and connection. The project engages students from East Tech High’s culinary and horticulture programs, adults seeking re-entry, residents with diverse abilities, and neighbors seeking training and leadership. Produce supports the Central Kinsman Wellness Collective farm stop co-op, creating a hyperlocal food economy. Partnering with local institutions, the initiative refreshes garden infrastructure, expands accessibility, and provides hands-on learning, workforce development, and leadership opportunities, cultivating healthier, empowered neighborhoods through community-driven agriculture.
My Why
“I’m driven by work that centers people, place, and possibility especially where community care and creativity intersect. I chose to pitch to Accelerate because I believe sustainable ideas grow best when they’re rooted locally and supported boldly. This is me planting a seed and trusting the right conditions to help it rise.”
Most of the ideas presented at Accelerate are in the early stage of development and the presenters do not have business plans or implementation timelines. The goal of Accelerate is to help them begin the process of bringing their ideas to reality. If a pitch resonated with you, you can help bring it to life by connecting with the presenter(s) at the event or post-event to offer advice, funding, or a connection. You may be the deciding factor in bringing that project to reality.
Entertainment
- SHOWCASE OF SUCCESS FEATURING PAST PRESENTERS
SPONSORED BY:
Meet past Accelerate presenters who have transformed their original pitches into meaningful change. Hear about their journeys, how their ideas have grown and transformed, and how you can help further their impact.
- EMCEE
Danita Harris
Danita Harris – a motivator, minister, community advocate, WKYC morning anchorwoman, and Emmy award-winning journalist, considers herself to be blessed to serve as an agent of change. Danita is devoted to her passion and purpose to encourage and empower women, men, and children through ministry as an ordained reverend. Danita’s spiritual faith is the foundation of her initiative, “It’s Your Time to S.H.I.N.E.,” which was founded in 2016 to help others find their divine light within. Proving unwavering success, S.H.I.N.E, a 501(c)(3) organization, meets monthly as a way to provide a sisterly and brotherly safe haven, as well as outreach to individuals and community groups in need.
FB: Danita Harris SHINE | IG: shinedanita | X: danitaharris
WEB: danitaharris.com | WEB: shine-now.org - DARE 2 BELIEVE TEEN POP-UP SHOPS
SPONSORED BY:
In 2018, Tory Coats won Accelerate with his pitch to teach teens how to, “do business by doing business.” A few of his young entrepreneurs will be at the event showcasing their products and services. The pop-up shops will be located across the hallway from registration. Stop by and support these budding entrepreneurs.
- DJS
SoundBender Institute
The SoundBender Institute (SBI) was founded by longtime friends & DJ’s KNYCE & Step One. With over 30 years of combined experience rocking crowds in clubs, on-air radio & mobile events, Soundbender Institute is the realization of a lifelong dream for both DJs. This experience along with numerous mixshow awards & accolades has led them to develop a simple yet effective way of teaching the art of DJ’ing called “The 4 Pillars”. In just four weeks a student will learn the basics of DJ’ing & be ready to rock their first gig!
SoundBender Institute was the Education Finalist at Accelerate 2023.
Sponsors + Supporters
The generosity of the following sponsors, donors, and supporters make Accelerate possible.
- Sponsors
- Hosts
Co-Chairs
- Matt Kuchta, Ohio Commercial Market Executive, Citizens, Ohio
- Kip Bollin (LC 2020, CLC Board Chair), Partner in Charge, Cleveland, Thompson Hine LLP
Accelerator Table Hosts
- Mitchell Balk (LC 2001), Mt. Sinai Health Foundation
- Lou Grasso (LC 2024), The John P. Murphy Foundation & Kulas Foundation
- Daniel Griffith (CLI 2026), WellLink
- Sonia Winner (LC 2025), Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Ally Hosts
- David Akers (LC 2007, CBB 2001), Equalis Group
- John Beer (LC2 2019, LC 2018, CLC Board), PNC Private Bank
- Michael E. Bennett (LC 2009)
- Becky Borden (CLI 2017), Cleveland Leadership Center
- Rick Fedorovich (CLI 2020, LC 2015), Bober Markey Fedorovich
- Scott Garson (LC 2019), Goods Bank NEO
- Debbie Lewis (CLI 2017, CLC Board), Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio
- Enid Rosenberg (ALI 2018, LC 2007), Community Volunteer
- Becky Rupert McMahon (LC 2018, CBB 2008), Cleveland Leadership Center
- Theodore Wagner (LC 2017), Bober Markey Fedorovich
Sponsor Hosts
- Ilene Frankel, Young Entrepreneur Institute
- Maria Spangler (CEF 2007), Nordson Corporation Foundation
- Eddie Taylor, Burton D. Morgan Foundation (CLC Board Emeritus)
- Deepa Vedavyas, NOPEC
See Host Committee Opportunities > | Join the Host Committee >
