2026 NEO Showcase Event Awards!
On Wednesday, June 10, 2026, 60 changemakers, community supporters, and impact-driven founders gathered at MAGNET in Cleveland, Ohio to celebrate the next wave of local Social Enterprises at the 2026 SEA Change Northeast Ohio Showcase event.
The evening featured 11 businesses, inspiring pitches, local food, cake pops, and a little friendly competition for the Crowd Favorite Award and other cash and in-kind awards.
The ecosystem of support for Social Entrepreneurs in Northeast Ohio continues to inspire us every year!
SEA Change Showcase Events are the grand finale of our 14-module accelerator program. Graduating participants and selected Spotlight Presenters pitch their sustainable financial model & measurable social impact to a crowd of supporters.
2026 Event Sponsors
Crowd Favorite Award Winner
208 votes were cast for the NEO Crowd Favorite award. Thanks to 17 donors, a cash prize pot of $550 was built. Every single dollar raised from this event—both online and in-person—went straight into the hands of the venture who received the most votes.
After all the cheers and clicks, the winning business was:
Healing in Color
$550.00
Spotlight Presenter Awards
These five NEO entrepreneurs were are at a point in their journey where it would benefit them to tell more of their story in front of a live audience. Here’s what each was awarded:
SayItBuddy
$7,000 CASH + Access to business workshop series & Coworking Day Passes by Bounce Innovation Hub
The Benevolent Bloom
$5,500 CASH provided by LaunchNET Kent State + The Burton D. Morgan Foundation
Next Steps Elder Care Consulting
$4,000 CASH + Marketing & Brand Building Consultations by Jing
Reasons to Care Healthcare Services
$3,000 CASH + Marketing & Brand Building Consultations by Jing
biocycler
$3,000 CASH
In-kind Awards
Careerlog
Access to business workshop series & Coworking Day Passes by Bounce Innovation Hub
Healing in Color
Access to business workshop series & Coworking Day Passes by Bounce Innovation Hub
We Thrive Together
Media feature: nationwide news story
2026 Partners & Supporters
Thank you attendees!
To the 132 people who registered, voted, and attended this event to support these entrepreneurs… THANK YOU!
