Encore Venture Labs

🚀 Welcoming Maxwell Watters to the Encore Venture Labs Team! 🚀 We’re thrilled to welcome Maxwell Watters to Encore Venture Labs, where he joins our team as part of an exciting new partnership with the Sycamore Legacy Family Office. As Chief Investment Officer at Fiber Capital Partners and Partner at Sycamore Legacy Consulting, Max has built a career at the intersection of industrial investment, M&A, and infrastructure development. He has led strategic investments in broadband infrastructure, helping to bridge the digital divide across America, and worked extensively in private equity and investment banking, scaling middle-market companies and revitalizing legacy industries. Through this partnership, Encore Venture Labs and Sycamore Legacy are joining forces to revitalize and scale industrial businesses across Northeast Ohio and beyond. Our mission is clear: to breathe new life into legacy manufacturing companies, integrate emerging technologies, and create a thriving industrial ecosystem that fuels sustainable economic growth. This isn’t just about preserving the past—it’s about rebuilding the future of American industry and ensuring that the Great Lakes region remains a leader in manufacturing and innovation. Learn more about Max’s journey and how this partnership is driving real impact: https://lnkd.in/epVr4Wx9 👏 Join us in welcoming Max to the team! 

💡Solving Airspace Safety—From Idea to Prototype in 5 Months. For the past five months, Encore Venture Labs Entrepreneur in Residence Adam Barber has been focused on one thing: building a system that enables manned and unmanned aircraft to safely share airspace in mission-critical environments. Backed by deep market research and real-world user input, Adam’s prototype is already gaining interest from partners in aerospace, public safety, and emergency response. Read how his work is shaping the future of airspace coordination—right here in Ohio! LINK IN COMMENTS 👇🏻👇🏻 #Aerospace #DefenseTech #DeepTech

💡From Pharma to Founders: A Unique Path to Venture Capital Marketing At Encore Venture Labs, we know that the best insights often come from unexpected career paths. Noura Awad shares how her background in chemical engineering and pharma startups uniquely positions her to help founders tell their stories and grow their brands. Her journey reflects what we value most—bridging technical expertise with strategic marketing to drive real impact. Read the full blog to learn more about her transition into venture capital marketing. 👇🏻LINK IN COMMENTS👇🏻 #VentureCapital #Marketing #Startups #FounderStories #EncoreVentureLabs

This Week at EVL: The Future of Startup Diligence At Encore Venture Labs, we approach due diligence from a different perspective—because what happens when the company you’re evaluating doesn’t even exist yet? In this week’s newsletter, we’re diving into: - How EVL validates early-stage startups before they have revenue - The three key factors we use to assess venture potential - Why Cleveland is a competitive advantage for founders Read the full breakdown on our Blog! 👇 LINK IN COMMENTS!

🚀 Excited to have Abbas Mandviwala representing Encore Venture Labs at the 2025 Canton AI Tech Innovation Summit on March 28th at Malone University! He’ll be sharing insights on how AI and emerging technologies are transforming healthcare and entrepreneurship in Northeast Ohio. At Encore Venture Labs, we believe true innovation happens when talent, technology, and collaboration come together. With world-class hospitals, top-tier research institutions, and a thriving startup ecosystem, our region has the potential to lead in AI-driven healthcare transformation. But it all starts with connecting the right people to drive real impact. Don’t miss this conversation—register online today and be part of the future of AI innovation! 👉 https://lnkd.in/gPu9uanM Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce UH Ventures JumpStart Ventures Bounce Innovation Hub

At Encore Venture Labs, we believe in a future where important things are made in the U.S. again. To make that happen, we focus on four key areas: ⚙️ Advanced manufacturing & automation 💧 Water technology 🔋 Advanced & renewable energy 👷 Talent & workforce development But what should founders actually build? The answer isn’t in a pitch deck—it’s in talking to customers, stress-testing assumptions, and being willing to kill ideas that don’t stick. Michael Nieset breaks down this approach in his latest blog post. Read it here: 👇 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dwB4fQSv #manufacturing #startups #venturebuilding #innovation #customerdiscovery #encoreventurelabs

Great having The Ohio State University Integrated Business and Engineering Honors Program stop by the studio. These students represent the future of reindustrialization in the Midwest and across the country. Our very own Adam Barber and Michael Nieset shared insights on entrepreneurship, innovation, and the evolving startup landscape here in Ohio. Exciting times ahead for the next generation of industry leaders. 🚀

🚀 Building the Future: The Blueprint Launches Next Week! EVL is bringing you inside the minds of the founders, operators, and visionaries shaping the future of American industry—starting right here in Cleveland. Our mission is clear: reindustrialization is the key to driving innovation, economic growth, and a stronger future. This podcast will uncover the people and ideas making it happen. With our upcoming Summit, there’s no better time to highlight the bold ideas and companies driving this movement forward. Follow along, tune in, and be part of the movement. #TheBlueprint #EncoreVentureLabs #Reindustrialize #Cleveland #BuildingTheFuture

Six months in, Encore Venture Labs is proving that reindustrialization happens when world-class builders take action. 🚀 Launched ventures: INTRACT, Aurelia ⚙️ Prototypes in development: BatCo, Import Anything, MediusRX 💰 $1M raised in our first close—next close in April We move with speed, focus, and a commitment to building transformative companies in advanced manufacturing, energy, health tech, and the water economy. The next six months? More ventures, more capital, and more execution at the highest level. Read more from our Managing Partner, Andrew Rising: https://lnkd.in/eGSuZug7 If you're a builder, operator, or investor ready to make an impact—let’s talk. The future won’t wait. #Reindustrialization #VentureStudio #Startups #Innovation

What an incredible night! A huge thank you to everyone who joined us at the Lay of The Land Podcast event—founders, CEOs, investors, and community leaders who are shaping the future of innovation right here in Cleveland. The energy, passion, and ideas in the room were truly inspiring. A special shoutout to Jeffrey Stern for organizing such a fantastic event and creating space for meaningful conversations and connections. Events like this highlight the strength of Cleveland’s entrepreneurial community and the momentum we’re all building together. At Encore Venture Labs, we’re committed to driving the re-industrialization of America by building companies that address real challenges in manufacturing, energy, and workforce development. Our focus is on creating meaningful solutions that fuel growth, innovation, and long-term impact in the industrial sector and the region. If we didn’t get a chance to connect—or if you’re interested in learning more about our work—we’d love to continue the conversation. Feel free to reach out or connect with us directly. Here’s to building the future of American industry—together. 🚀 Andrew Rising Abbas Mandviwala Michael Nieset Adam Barber Carrie Murphy David Boone Jr. Noura Awad William Tavel Maxwell Watters