Achieving results by selecting
and nurturing top-tier startups

Akron Fusion Ventures

Our Playbook

Lead or co-invest in local, regional and Silicon Valley based companies and funds to create deal flow to grow local startup ecosystem.

Akron Fusion Ventures

Our Playbook

Lead or co-invest in local, regional and Silicon Valley based companies and funds to create deal flow to grow local startup ecosystem.

Akron Fusion Ventures

Our NE Ohio Advantage

NE Ohio has a cluster of manufacturing, healthcare and consumer goods businesses, which represent massive buying power for technology products and services.

25+

Fortune 1000 companies

And 25+ privately held companies with $0.5B+ sales

40+

Companies with 2,000+ local employees

600+

International companies

Akron Fusion Ventures

Our NE Ohio Advantage

NE Ohio has a cluster of manufacturing, healthcare and consumer goods businesses, which represent massive buying power for technology products and services.

25+

Fortune 1000 companies

And 25+ privately held companies with $0.5B+ sales

40+

Companies with 2,000+ local employees

600+

International companies

Akron Fusion Ventures

Our NE Ohio Advantage

NE Ohio has a cluster of manufacturing, healthcare and consumer goods businesses, which represent massive buying power for technology products and services.

25+

Fortune 1000 companies

And 25+ privately held companies with $0.5B+ sales

40+

Companies with 2,000+ local employees

600+

International companies

Akron Fusion Ventures

Our Key Takeaways

We invest in top-tier startups with optimistic, driven, and honest entrepreneurs with a passion to improve our world

We are dynamic and ambitious serial entrepreneurs who have built, scaled and sold companies

Our value proposition provides a sustainable competitive advantage for unique deal flow for investors and access to enterprise customers for entrepreneurs.

We are creating connectivity between Silicon Valley and NE Ohio – two regions with distinct world-renowned expertise

We LOVE what we do and are committed to building a series of funds that will improve our region

Akron Fusion Ventures

Our Key Takeaways

We invest in top-tier startups with optimistic, driven, and honest entrepreneurs with a passion to improve our world

We are dynamic and ambitious serial entrepreneurs who have built, scaled and sold companies

Our value proposition provides a sustainable competitive advantage for unique deal flow for investors and access to enterprise customers for entrepreneurs.

We are creating connectivity between Silicon Valley and NE Ohio – two regions with distinct world-renowned expertise

We LOVE what we do and are committed to building a series of funds that will improve our region

Akron Fusion Ventures

About Us

Akron Fusion Ventures is a for-profit venture capital fund in Akron, OH with an investment strategy to connect coastal ecosystems with NE Ohio.

Investing in Ohio’s Future
Successful & Experienced Team
Innovative Approach

Akron Fusion Ventures

About Us

Akron Fusion Ventures is a for-profit venture capital fund in Akron, OH with an investment strategy to connect coastal ecosystems with NE Ohio.

Investing in Ohio’s Future
Successful & Experienced Team
Innovative Approach

Akron Fusion Ventures

About Us

Akron Fusion Ventures is a for-profit venture capital fund in Akron, OH with an investment strategy to connect coastal ecosystems with NE Ohio.

Investing in Ohio’s Future
Successful & Experienced Team
Innovative Approach

Akron Fusion Ventures

Our Team

Our team includes successful serial entrepreneurs who have helped local companies realize $50 million+ in direct investments and follow-on funding.

William J. Manby, Jr.

Founder

CEO of Akron-based Acquire Investments and Paradigm Equity.

Victoria Tifft

Founder

Founder and former CEO of ClinicalRM, a Northeast Ohio-based clinical research company acquired by ICON in 2016.

Michael L. Rademacher

Founder

Former President of PolyOne Distribution, a $1B division of PolyOne Corporation headquartered in Avon Lake, Ohio.

Mark S. Allio

Advisor

Bank Executive, Retired

George Murray

Advisor

Former Chief Merchandising & Marketing Officer, Signet Jewelers

Nitin Pachisia

Advisor

Founding Partner, Unshackled Ventures
Palo Alto, CA

Doug Weintraub

Advisor

CEO, Bounce Innovation Hub

Akron Fusion Ventures

Our Team

Our team includes successful serial entrepreneurs who have helped local companies realize $50 million+ in direct investments and follow-on funding.

William J. Manby, Jr.

Founding Partner

CEO of Akron-based Acquire Investments and Paradigm Equity.

Victoria Tifft

Partner & Managing Director

Founder and former CEO of ClinicalRM, a Northeast Ohio-based clinical research company acquired by ICON in 2016.

Michael L. Rademacher

Partner

Former President of PolyOne Distribution, a $1B division of PolyOne Corporation headquartered in Avon Lake, Ohio.

Mark S. Allio

Advisor

Bank Executive, Retired

George Murray

Advisor

Former Chief Merchandising & Marketing Officer, Signet Jewelers

Nitin Pachisia

Advisor

Founding Partner, Unshackled Ventures

Doug Weintraub

Strategic Partner

CEO, Bounce Innovation Hub

Akron Fusion Ventures

Our Silicon Valley (SV) Advantage

Tested with SV investors and founders who have raised competitive rounds. Generating significant interest.

Bring SV startups

Win investment allocations in SV based B2B tech companies that want to sell to enterprises in our region by giving them access to a large customer base.

Build Local Presence

When SV startups begin working with enterprises in Northeast Ohio, they’ll want to setup local presence, which creates local jobs, and brings SV mindset.

Attract SV Investors

Relationships with SV VCs will result in them looking at startups in Northeast Ohio and investing in the right opportunities.

Akron Fusion Ventures

Portfolio Companies

Web platform that streamlines waste management and treatment operations. Customers include 4th largest waste company nationally.

Student loan refinancing platform currently focused on medical school loans. Doubled revenue in last 12 months.

AR/VR technology company building medical and surgical training programs founded in Southern California.

Midwest regionally-focused fund provides network and dealflow of emerging companies.

Next generation intelligent managed care software for the nursing care industry.

Breakthrough technology helping rubber manufacturers repurpose scrap back into production. Brought NSR to Akron from Milwaukee

The leader in wireless network monitoring and optimization. Offering a complete solution to ensure quality wireless experience across enterprise organizations.

Online, therapeutic gaming environment specifically designed for seniors and children with special needs. Games respond to movement using motion based technology.

Akron Fusion Ventures

Limited Partners

Fortune 1000 mutual insurance company, 1.6+ million customers with 2500+ employees.

Start up & Technology Interests:
Customer experience, claims cost management, big data and employee experience.

Fortune 500 electric utility involved in distribution, transmission and generation of electricity + energy management and related services.

Start up & Technology Interests:
Smart cities, micro grids, sensors, cyber security and electronic vehicles.

Research and commercialization arm of the University of Akron, a 20,000+ student, public university and home to the world-renowned College of Polymer Science and Engineering.

Start up & Technology Interests:
Polymer science, advanced materials & engineering.

Ranked as one of the top pediatric hospitals in the U.S., 2 hospitals and 60 urgent care, specialty or primary care locations. Partnered with other health systems to serve over 1M patients per year.

Start up & Technology Interests:
Telemedicine & direct primary care solutions, electronic medical records, big data analysis and back office automation.

Open innovation hub serving entrepreneurial and innovation community with 300K+ sq. ft. of coworking, creative, event and professional office space including a state-of-the-art Esports Center.

Start up & Technology Interests:
Technology incubation, software acceleration and manufacturing advocacy.

The city and its partners are committed. Other institutional investors including regional hospitals, medical school and economic and regional development organizations are also investors.