The Advanced Materials Center of Excellence offers comprehensive support for startups developing next-generation materials technologies.

Specialized Partners

Support Across Sectors

Bounce supports capital readiness through the Northeast Ohio Student Venture Fund and offers hands-on workshops designed for founders who are looking to expand their skills and knowledge to scale their businesses effectively, these interactive and hands-on workshops allow founders to engage with subject matter experts and are held the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month.

MAGNET supports hard tech startups with tailored resources for manufactured products, including prototyping, engineering expertise, operations assistance, and early-stage funding connections. MAGNET also runs Mspire, an annual manufacturing pitch competition for support services, and the Advanced Manufacturing Fund, an early-stage investment fund.

The Ohio Aerospace Institute (OAI), an affiliate of Parallax Advanced Research, provides guidance to founders applying to the Ohio Third Frontier’s Technology Validation and Startup Fund (TVSF) and federal SBIR/STTR grants, specializing in working closely with deep tech startups to navigate key steps in the commercialization process.

UARF introduces the Business Model Canvas through Starting Line, its five-step, self-directed pre-accelerator program. For teams seeking to further validate ideas and better understand customer needs, UARF offers the NSF-funded I-Corps Program and Advanced Customer Discovery, which are six-week, online programs. UARF’s i-Pitch competition runs three times annually, providing recent I-Corps graduates the opportunity to pitch and compete for funding.

SUPPORT AT EVERY STAGE OF THE JOURNEY

Validation: Proving the Concept

Bounce Synthe6 Materials Accelerator

This 12-month cohort-based accelerator give founders access to expert mentorship, tailored industry connections, and specialized workshops covering leadership skills, customer validation, financial modeling, marketing, and investor outreach. Founders are paired with experienced advisors to overcome technical and manufacturing roadblocks, make direct connections to industry leaders, and have the opportunity to pitch at a high-impact demo day with potential investors.

Bounce Synthe6 Leadership Series

Founders can access select Synthe6 meetings including panels with polymer industry thought leaders focused on unique challenges faced by materials science startups like intellectual property strategy, leveraging corporate partnerships, contract manufacturing, and raising capital for your “tough tech” venture.

Bounce Facilities

Materials science startup can access newly renovated turnkey wet lab facilities, complete with lab safety oversight, chemical and gas management, and waste disposal. This setup expedites lab readiness so founders can focus on advancing technology, developing products, and demonstrating performance.

Bounce Polymer Industry Cluster’s Innovation & Commercialization Committee

This forum brings polymer-focused startups together with corporate innovation leaders and industry experts, helping to facilitate advisor connections and opening doors to customers, investors, and strategic partners.

CWRU Core Facility Use

Access to 40+ specialized facilities for fabrication, testing, and characterization provides affordable, pay-as-you-go use of high-cost equipment and expertise, helping founders move faster while conserving capital. This includes capabilities for polymers, metals, ceramics, and composites, from advanced microscopy and spectroscopy to manufacturing and mechanical testing.

CWRU Launch Services

Founders who are members of CWRU’s 11000 Cedar Startup Incubator, are connected with domain experts to validate the business model and potentially embed those experts into the startup prior to raising dilutive capital.

Traction: Early Customers and Measurable Momentum

CWRU Startup Services

Founders who are members of 11000 Cedar Startup Incubator make connections to vetted, subsidized service providers for critical functions like HR, accounting, and marketing. This helps founders avoid costly missteps and extend their runway.

Bounce Polymer Industry Cluster Pilot Plant

Advanced materials startups can access space to scale production from lab prototypes to larger runs for customer pilots and demonstrations. Startups gain cost-effective use of specialized equipment and facilities to make, test, and characterize materials at larger scales.

Additional programs in this stage: Synthe6 Materials Accelerator, Synthe6 Leadership Series, Bounce Facilities, Bounce Polymer Industry Cluster’s Innovation & Commercialization Committee

Pre-Seed to Seed+: Securing Early Funding to Scale

Programs in this stage: Synthe6 Materials Accelerator, Synthe6 Leadership Series, Bounce Facilities, Bounce Polymer Industry Cluster’s Innovation & Commercialization Committee, Bounce Polymer Industry Cluster Pilot Plant, CWRU Startup Services, CWRU Core Facility Use

Series A: Accelerating Growth with Investment

Programs in this stage: Synthe6 Materials Accelerator, Synthe6 Leadership Series, Bounce Facilities, Bounce Polymer Industry Cluster’s Innovation & Commercialization Committee, Bounce Polymer Industry Cluster Pilot Plant, CWRU Startup Services, CWRU Core Facility Use

Don’t Know Where to Begin? Start Here.

Every entrepreneur starts somewhere, and you don’t have to figure it out on your own. Fill out the form below and we’ll connect you with a Regional Startup Ambassador who can help you find the right resources, programs, and next steps.