Accelerate pitch competition funds big ideas aimed at improving Northeast Ohio

Everyday citizens are full of great ideas. They have thoughts on how to improve the lives of people around them, help others in their community, and address inequities where they live.

But a barrier to these ideas becoming a reality is often coming up with the funding behind them. To address that barrier, the Accelerate contest which happens each year here in Cleveland helps turn these big ideas into reality.

Accelerate launched in 2015 by the Cleveland Leadership Center, and promotes innovation across the region. The competition is divided into several categories, with pitches aimed at areas like education, economic prosperity, and quality of life.  

The winners receive thousands of dollars to help fund their ideas - with dozens of ideas having gotten off the ground since the beginning of the contest.  

Today on the show we'll hear from some of this year's winners. They range from improving financial literacy, to create ‘smart parks’ around Cleveland, to the winning idea – how to get more women and  people of color into STEM fields.

Later in the hour, an interview with author and John Carroll philosophy professor Sharon Kaye, about her new book that mixes fact and fiction. It’s aimed at reimagining how to teach tough subjects, and make them more approachable to students.

- Shane Winnyk, Accelerate Winner, “Education and Overall Winner”

- Courtney Smith, Accelerate Winner, “Education and Overall Winner”

- India Hobbs, Accelerate Winner, “Economic Prosperity”

- Amalia Haas, Accelerate Winner, “Health and Well-Being”

- Adam King, Accelerate Winner, Social Change and Technovation

- Sharon Kaye, Professor and Author, “The Paradox Box”

- Drew Maziasz, Producer, Ideastream Public Media