Ohio groups send founders to Black Tech Week with bus and lodging support

Ohio Startup Network, EPIC Learning Today and Lightship are helping Columbus and Cleveland entrepreneurs get to Black Tech Week in Cincinnati with chartered buses, subsidized lodging and pre-event networking. The effort is meant to reduce access barriers for Black founders seeking investors, partners and business opportunities.

Why it matters: - The partnership targets a real access gap: many founders miss high-value conferences because travel and lodging are expensive. - Black founders receive just 0.4% of venture funding, down from 1.3% in 2021, making relationship-building events like Black Tech Week especially important. - The initiative is designed to help more Ohio founders enter rooms where investors, partners and support organizations are available.

What happened: - Ohio Startup Network's HustleBus, EPIC Learning Today's Startup House initiative and Lightship are partnering to help entrepreneurs from Columbus and Cleveland attend Black Tech Week in Cincinnati. - The support includes chartered transportation, subsidized lodging and community programming. - Black Tech Week runs July 14–16 at Cincinnati's Aronoff Center for the Arts. - The conference brings together founders, investors, innovators and corporate leaders for networking, education and business development.

The details: - Two chartered HustleBus routes will operate, with one departing from Columbus and one from Cleveland. - Startup House will provide subsidized lodging to extend networking beyond conference hours. - Organizers say many participants will build relationships with fellow founders, investors, entrepreneur support organizations and ecosystem partners before they arrive in Cincinnati. - The Columbus delegation will begin with a HustleBus Send-Off hosted by Rev1 Ventures' Startup Studio. - The send-off is meant to connect founders with entrepreneur support organizations, capital partners and community leaders before departure. - HustleBus operates July 13–16, and space is limited. - Entrepreneurs can reserve spots through Columbus HustleBus and Cleveland HustleBus. - Black Tech Week registration is available at Black Tech Week registration.

Between the lines: - The effort treats the trip itself as part of the conference experience, not just transportation. - That approach creates extra touchpoints for founders before formal programming begins. - Lightship Founder and CEO Candice Matthews Brackeen said access creates opportunity, and programs like HustleBus and Startup House help keep talented founders from being left out because of cost. - EPIC Learning Today founder and Startup House organizer Dr. Erika Pryor said cross-organizational partnerships can reduce barriers across the ecosystem. - The broader goal is not just attendance. It is helping more Black founders reach relationships, resources and knowledge that can compound over time.

What's next: - More entrepreneurs can still join the Ohio delegation while space remains available. - Participants will travel to Cincinnati for Black Tech Week and use the event to build connections that may lead to future partnerships, funding and support. - Ohio Startup Network, Startup House and Lightship are positioning the program as a model for lowering conference access barriers for founders.

The bottom line: - Ohio startup groups are using buses, subsidized lodging and pre-event networking to make Black Tech Week more reachable for founders who might otherwise be priced out.