ESP Entrepreneurial Signature Program

Are you ready to take your technology to market?

The Entrepreneurial Signature Program (ESP) works with multiple partners to assess and mentor startups with funds of $22.5 M for the Dayton/Springfield region with one objective: to bring technologies to market. ESP builds on the Region’s momentum and successes in attracting and growing emerging technology companies in the “Signature” areas of Advanced Materials, Composites, Nanoapplications and Sensors. The committee also reviews companies in the area of Information Technology.

ESP has a committee of regional partners who serve as experts in research, science and technology. They review proposals of area entrepreneurs to determine whether they qualify for development service grants, loan programs, and/or equity investments. Local members of the ESP committee include the National Composite Center, Wright Brothers Institute, NCIC Capital Fund, EMTEC, IDCAST, Dayton Entrepreneur Center, and the NET Incubator /Springfield. Directors meet monthly with ESP to assess, mentor, and guide startups that qualify in the following areas:

Have a new and innovative technology product in early stages of development
Product can be commercialized within three to five years
Revenues in the past fiscal year were less than $5 million
Has three legs of the Business Stool
- Business structure of less than 30 employees & privately held
- The entrepreneurial team to market and manage the startup
- Market need for the technology

The ESP Can Provide Investment Capital to Fuel Your Business:

Loan programs
Equity investments
Funded development services

ESP Can Provide a Wide Variety of Development Services Such As:

Design and prototype consultation
Market research
Business plan development
Technology validation and qualification
Secure IP protection
Incubation space and services

The ESP program committee will help provide supportive services and funding to enable regional startups progress from innovation to the marketplace. For information, contact the Director of the NET Incubator or esp@daytonregion.com.