Lightship Foundation

10/14/2026

These bootcampers just got a fresh set of headshots 📸

New skills. New connections. New headshots to match.

10/14/2026

Congratulations to Lightship Bootcamp Alum, Sujit Pal and Public Access LLC! 💡 🚀

Out of thousands of applications from around the world, Public Access LLC, a benefit company, has been selected as one of TechCrunch's 2026 Startup Battlefield 200, earning a coveted spot to exhibit at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 in San Francisco from October 13 through 15.

The Startup Battlefield 200 represents the most promising early-stage startups on the planet. Alumni of the program include Dropbox, Cloudflare, and Discord, with over $32 billion raised and 250 exits across the program's history. Being named to this list puts Public Access in exceptional company and on a global stage in front of the world's top venture capitalists and technology leaders.

Congratulations to Public Access LLC, a benefit company. At YBI Engine Tech Incubator, we are proud to see companies like this doing work that earns recognition on the world's biggest stages.

Read more here: https://techcrunch.com/2026/08/20/the-2026-startup-battlefield-200-is-here-see-who-made-the-cut/

10/09/2026

✨ Cincinnati is bringing the ecosystem together!! 👏🏾

MORTAR’s inaugural Our North Star event is bringing entrepreneurs and the organizations that support them into the same room to connect, learn and build what’s next. 💡

Lightship Foundation’s CEO, Candice Matthews Brackeen will be speaking today at 2pm. Make sure you’re there to catch this fireside chat! 🔥

10/08/2026

Every founder brings a different story to . ✨

A different industry.
A different challenge.
A different vision for what’s possible.

Meet our , OH cohort below! 🚀

Alicia Wagner, Sunra Health
Arabia Simeon, Politics on the Go [POGO]
Arrhen Fejokwu, Tribeter
Bri Franklin, Pathways to Prospa(r)ity
Brittany Shaw, Content Creator Circle
Dmitrrii Anisimov, iLog
Joshua Torres, AxisAir Holdings, Inc.
Matthew Burnett, RoundHere
Mitchell McKenzie, Mitch Investments LLC
Patrick Schaal, Row of Ducks LLC
Sarah Powell, Vanity Pro Holdings
Sherry Howell, Mii Shoppe
Sonia Gibbs, Krash Partnere
Tynisa Roubideaux, Food with Purpose LLC
Zachary Hewitt, WyshList

Welcome them to the Lightship Crew. 🖤

08/20/2026

Ohio's economy runs on a simple cycle: strong small businesses help attract large employers, and large employers create the conditions for even more small businesses to thrive.

When large manufacturers choose Ohio as an operational hub, they often cite the state’s robust network of suppliers — including small businesses — as a key advantage. For example, Intel's supply chain includes more than 350 Ohio businesses across 47 counties.

That growth flows both ways. Just ask Terrence Williams of Miamivalleyrecycling: "Any exposure to manufacturing and new construction is economic growth for people in all industries."

We support entrepreneurs at every stage through partnerships with Lightship Foundation, Aileron, and ThinkMODA — plus the JobsOhio Small Business Grant, which has awarded 667 grants since 2020, helping create and retain more than 13,000 jobs across the state.

Big or small, Ohio businesses grow together.

07/20/2026

🎉 Big congratulations to Lightship Bootcamp alum GlobeKin on the launch of GlobeKin V2! 🚀

GlobeKin is turning screen time into hands-on learning and real-world adventures. The platform rewards kids ages 5-11 with STEAM kits and museum passes for completing science, nature & engineering activities. 🌎

There's nothing better than watching founders take what they've built and learned, iterate and launch even stronger. We're proud to have been part of the journey and can't wait to see what's next! ⭐️

https://www.globekin.com/

Turn screen time into real-world adventures. GlobeKin's ad-free platform rewards kids with STEAM kits and museum passes for completing science, nature & engineering activities.

07/01/2026

We asked founders one simple question:

📚 What’s the last book you read?

The pauses were real. 😂
The answers were even better.

And yes, *Atomic Habits* made the list.

Drop your last read below 👇🏾

06/29/2026

“The best founders aren’t the ones who know everything. They’re the ones who know where to find it.”

If you're building a business in Ohio, these organizations should be on your radar.

From accelerators to venture support to statewide economic development, this ecosystem exists to help entrepreneurs grow.

Here are 6 more organizations every Ohio entrepreneur should know.

Save this post for later and share it with a founder building in Ohio.

06/11/2026

POV: Your team decided to edit the recaps from Ohio’s favorite entrepreneur program like a reality TV show. 🎬😂

Because the founders are real.
The challenges are real.
And the results are real. 🚀

Welcome to Episode 0.

Meet **Rod Walton**, Lead Facilitator of Lightship Bootcamp and Managing Director of ThinkMODA.

Rod has helped founders generate more than **$25M in revenue** and raise over **$12M in funding**. 💰

In this episode, Rod shares why Bootcamp isn’t just about learning. It’s about exposing entrepreneurs to the tools, frameworks, and opportunities they didn’t even know existed.

Because sometimes growth isn’t about working harder.

It’s about gaining:
⚙️ Better systems
🤖 Better tools
💡 Better strategies
🤝 Better community
📈 More confidence in your next move

As Rod puts it, entrepreneurs often don’t know what they don’t know.

Lightship Bootcamp helps change that.

🎥 Episode 0 starts now.

Drop a 🚀 if you’re building something.

04/16/2026