Budish shares success of Global Center with Bay Dems

Venture capitalists from around the world will soon meet in Cleveland to hear proposals from 18 startup companies seeking investors, according to County Executive Armond Budish.

Speaking to the Bay Village Democratic Club, Budish said creation of the Global Center for Health Innovations is one of local government's best achievements.

The Center was created largely after it became clear that the former Medical Mart near the new convention center in downtown Cleveland would not be a success. The mart concept failed because medical equipment buyers don’t do business to “warehouse” environments, he said.

A list of businesses, medical centers, universities, non-profits and government agencies recruited the Silicon Valley group, Plug and Play, to come to Cleveland. Plug and Play was behind firms that became PayPal and Google.

The consortium formed the Global Center for Health Innovations where startups in health fields are encouraged to create new companies. More than 200 startups applied for an opportunity to present their plans to investment capitalists. The group was narrowed to 18.

The goal is to get the new firms to remain in Greater Cleveland, said Budish. The Global Center will host start-up presentations to investors about twice yearly, he said.

In other Democratic Club business, members have re-elected Gerald Horning as president, Ann Marie Cronin as vice president, Ann Sartin as treasurer and Julie Cousins as secretary.

And, the club will have an booth at Bay Days. Information on absentee ballots, voter registration and candidates’ handouts will be available.

Dave Sartin

Dave Sartin

Comunications committee chair, Bay Dems

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Volume 10, Issue 12, Posted 9:25 AM, 06.19.2018