Application Deadline

Description

• Target Stage: Focuses on Startup and Early-stage companies.
• Development Phase: Assists businesses in mitigating the risk of being a startup, from initial high-tech commercialization to expansion. 
• Client Intake: Startups interested in becoming a "Braintree client" should reach out via the center's contact page.
• Focus Areas: While they assist various business types, they have a "special interest" in companies bringing cutting-edge technology to the marketplace.
• Submission: Founders are typically required to provide details about their high-tech venture to determine if it fits the center's mandate. 

Eligibility

• Sectors: Primarily technology-focused startups.
• Geography: Primarily serving the Mansfield and Northeast Ohio area, as well as broader Northern Ohio through the JumpStart Entrepreneurial Network.
• Business Type: Must be striving to commercialize innovative technologies. 

Process

1. Initial Contact: Email or call to discuss the startup's high-tech focus.
2. Incubation: Accepted companies may receive below-market lease rates for space and collaborative services.
3. Mentoring: Ongoing counseling and mentoring from a network of business and industry partners.
4. Caffeinated Ideas: A recurring event where founders can pitch and receive feedback from advisors; a session is scheduled for Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at 10 a.m.

What an Applicant can Obtain

• Capital Support: Assistance with identifying and securing grants, direct lending, or leveraging external investment capital.
• Incubation Space: Collaborative workspace and below-market lease rates.
• Advisory Credits: Braintree grants can sometimes pay for outside consultants and professional advisors for high-tech client companies.
• Kiva Loans: Facilitation of crowd-funded, 0% interest loans of up to $5,000 for business purposes.