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Redhawk Launch Accelerator announces seventh cohort of startups

The Miami University Redhawk Launch Accelerator, a seed-stage startup accelerator for Miami University student-led startups with high growth potential, is launching its seventh cohort this spring with six startups taking part in the 14-week program.

The businesses include: 

  • Bloxsmith, a provider of digital in-game assets and gaming currencies for community-based game developers. Bloxsmith is the first metaverse marketplace for Roblox game developers. . Since 2017, Bloxsmith has been provided clients in more than 20 countries access to hundreds of highly detailed digital maps, models, graphical user interfaces, scripts, morphs/armors and more. 
  • Step Up Social, a student-run social media marketing agency based out of Miami University, Ohio. The firm specializes in TikTok campaigns and startup marketing by using college student “creators” to generate content at scale. This type of content is especially effective in converting younger audiences and is cheaper than traditional agency work. Current clients include growth companies and funded startups. The company has grown to over $180,000 in ARR and seven employees in less than a year and was recently featured on Amazon Prime TV and selected as a winner of Main Street Venture’s Launch It: Cincy Pitch Competition.
  • AutoHive, a peer to peer marketplace that makes it quick and easy to find used car parts. Our goal is to make it as streamline as possible to post and sell any kind of car part or accessory you may have as well as find the parts you need to get your project rolling. Whether you’re a back-yard mechanic, a budding shop finding your niche or an established shop of any scale, we strive to give everyone the ability to make professional, well-organized listings with the information every customer needs to make an informed purchase.
  • emilyOandbows, a lifestyle and digital media company that focuses on creating content on social media for women. Additionally, emilyOandbows sells original merchandise centered around home decor, apparel, and entertainment. Through posting consistently on social media emilyOandbows has amassed a loyal audience that follows her journey, purchases her merchandise and attracts sponsorships from large brands.
  • Virraa company providing a platform and services specializing in the creator economy to help them reach their true fans, establish a connection with them, and monetize them. Recently launched two software products to help artists connect with fans and music curators on Spotify automatically.
  • Space Foundry operates in the $85 billion-dollar global gaming industry with a player-to-player trading platform for digital in-game assets. Founded in January 2020, we have provided customers in over 45 countries access to thousands of specialized digital ships, ground vehicles, weapons, clothes, and other accessories from the game Star Citizen. 

It’s an impressive group of companies led by some amazing student founders. Last November, Bloxsmith, Autohive, and Step Up Social swept the top 3 spots in Main Street Ventures’ 2021 Launch It: Cincy Pitch Competition, and AutoHive Founder Ben Corwin was named to Cincy Inno’s 2021 “Five Under 25” Innovators to Watch list in the fall," John W. Altman Institute for Entrepreneurship director Tim Holcomb said. "Companies in previous cohorts have raised more than $30 million in follow-on funding and have earned spots in nationally-ranked startup programs like Dreamit Ventures, Gener8tor, OCEAN, and the Mayo Clinic Innovation Exchange, among others.”

Participating startups will receive:

  • one-on-one mentoring from Miami’s pool of more than 700 startup and business professionals across the U.S.
  • a $750 grant to fund operations and customer acquisition
  • the opportunity to make at least one investor pitch to more than 100 accelerator directors, angel investors and VCs from 20-plus states during the Altman Institute’s RedHawk Venture pitch competition.

The accelerator is based in COhatch in Hyde Park and Union Hall in Over-the-Rhine and is led by Daniel Jones and Mark Lacker, faculty in the Miami University Department of Entrepreneurship.

Programming takes place during the spring semester and will focus on benchmarking and goal setting, customer interviews and feedback, prototype development and testing, product-market fit, sales and marketing, crowdfunding and venture capital.

Learn more about RedHawk Launch Accelerator