UT Manager of Business Incubation among those recognized

The University of Toledo Manager of Business Incubation is among a group of professionals to be recognized as “Champions of Change” June 4 at the White House.

The Champions of Change program each week recognizes Americans who are doing extraordinary things in their communities to out-innovate, out-educate, and out-build the rest of the world.

The White House Office of Public Engagement invited Scott E. McIntyre, UT interim manager of business incubation, to the ceremony along with a group of entrepreneurs who exemplify the promise of crowdfunding to fuel growth of startups, small businesses and innovative projects across the nation.

“I am honored to be invited to attend this important event with my peers, and am gratified to be able to collaborate with such passionate, visionary professionals from all walks of business. I look forward to seeing the continued commitment this administration makes toward Restoration of the American Dream,” said McIntyre, co-chair of education and training for the Crowdfunding Professional Association, a leading international trade group.

Traditional methods of financing a business startup can be expensive and time consuming, but crowdsourcing provides entrepreneurs greater access to funding opportunities. Individual donations in a crowdfunding campaign currently average $25 to $80, which is low economic risk for the donor but could have a huge impact on a start-up company if a number of individuals contribute, McIntyre said.

Websites such as kickstarter.com are an example of crowdfunding, which can be used to fund artistic projects as well as manufacturing a new product.

McIntyre joined The University of Toledo in April and is responsible for administering an incubation program in partnership with UT and the State of Ohio’s Edison Technology Program.

He also serves a Founder/Chairman of Phabriq Development, a venture catalyst organization responsible for the founding of CrowdSchools.org to support student entrepreneurship.

For more information on Champions of Change, visit whitehouse.gov/champions.

Media Coverage
13 ABC (June 4, 2013)
The Blade (June 4, 2013)