Our Impact
SOCIAL INNOVATION IN ACTION
2025 marked an exciting chapter in our mission to advance social innovation and support purpose-driven founders. From hands-on problem solving to founder coaching and storytelling, our programs brought together entrepreneurs, volunteers, and community partners to create meaningful, measurable impact.
This year, we proudly celebrated the 10th year of Flywheel Accelerators, our nine-week founder coaching program supported by dozens of volunteer business coaches and mentors. This milestone year featured a record-breaking Elevate Impact Demo Day in July and culminated in a holiday celebration that reunited alumni, coaches, and Philanthropreneurs. Learn more about the impact this program has created below in By The Numbers.
2025 marked our second Innovation Lab partnering with The City of Cincinnati, Pave the Way!, tackling our city’s pothole problem and demonstrating how cross-sector collaboration can address real civic challenges. 68 applicants were narrowed to 13 teams and 24 solvers who developed solutions over the course of week of guided innovation. 5 Finalists were selected to present in front of City Officials and community changemakers on Demo Day. 80% reported they would participate in a future lab.
City of Cincinnati Council Member Evan Nolan speaks to audience and participants of the Pave The Way! Social Innovation Lab at 1819 Innovation Hub.
We also launched the On the Fly! Podcast, now live on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, amplifying founder voices and local solutions beyond our walls. On The Fly!
BY THE NUMBERS
10 Years of AcceleratorS = Lasting Impact
Flywheel has equipped 67 social enterprises with the tools & skills needed to build and scale — 80% of which are still operating today.
Across 10 years of Elevator, Elevate Equity, and Sustainable Cincy Accelerators
30 Coaches
68 Program Contributors
5268 Coaching and Consulting Hours
Our founders have elevated their stories to 2,198 people at 246 community- building events.
double bottom line IMPACT
68% of our founders are women and 51% are people of color.
Over $9 million in follow-on investments
43% of investments returned
697 jobs created
our enterprises are impacting
our enterprises are strengthening the community
WiProsper
Taking bootstrapping to a new level, WiProsper is the first and only platform crowd-investing the growth of the Black Owned Business economy.
Workforce Connection
Workforce Connection provides on-site job coaching and other services to help frontline employees in high-turnover industries retain their jobs and increase the economic stability of their families.
Mighty Good
Mighty Good is the first of its kind in the Queen City – specializing in delicious Southern food using incredible local ingredients. The restaurant is located at 1819 Elm Street in the Findlay Market District. The kitchen is staffed by students in the Findlay Culinary Training Program – a partnership between the Corporation for Findlay Market and CityLink Center.
The Empower Group
The Empower Group sees a solution to both the labor shortage in manufacturing and the lack of fair-chance employment opportunities for returning citizens.
Resolv
Using the lessons it learned in Elevator, Resolv launched several initiatives to help young girls stay motivated, connected, and healthy during the COVID-19 crisis.
Brewhaus Dog Bones
Brewhaus Dog Bones employs young adults with disabilities to make healthy pet treats, made from spent grains produced at local breweries.
All-In Cincinnati
Addressing systemic racism and inequities isn’t easy, and broad-based coalitions are necessary. All-In Cincinnati provides toolkits and onboarding solutions for communities around education, policy change, and community action.
Possip
During the COVID-19 crisis Possip has been able to grow by helping schools communicate closure information and helping to fully meet families’ needs.
Found Village
Found Village partners with schools, family services agencies, and behavioral health centers to provide wraparound services and sponsored opportunities for community engagement for at-risk teens.