Cincy Entrepreneur Hall of Fame 2018

The Cincy Entrepreneur Hall of Fame was created to showcase and honor the Tristate’s pioneering entrepreneurs and their supporting organizations.

Presented by Cincy Magazine and a collective of leading business organizations in the region, the inaugural Hall of Fame event, held Aug. 22 at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, was a place to learn about, participate with and demonstrate how much attendees care about our inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The event was sponsored by Flagel Huber Flagel, AT&T, KMK Law and Gateway Community & Technical College. Republic Bank was a table sponsor.

The community partners were UpTech, Ocean, EO Cincinnati and HCDC Business Center. The nonprofit beneficiary was DePaul Cristo Rey.

By the Editors

Mahendra Vora VOR A VENTURES

When Indian-born Mahendra Vora, chairman and managing director of Vora Ventures and Cincy Entrepreneur Hall of Fame honoree, moved to Cincinnati in 1988 to join a friend who was starting a business, Vora found a calling and a city to call home.

His company, Vora Ventures, is now parent company to many platforms like AssureCare, Aquiire, Zakta, CenterGrid, Ascendum, TalentNow and ShakeDeal.

“We have worked hard to create thousands of jobs by building high-tech, innovative companies that have generated tremendous returns for our partners, investors, customers and employees. Our belief is that when we support the budding entrepreneurship ecosystem in Cincinnati, everyone wins,” he says.

Vora’s companies employ more than 2,100 people, who Vora says are the key to having a successful business.

“Don’t say, ‘As soon as I have some more money, I will get better people.’ The first 10 people you hire should be the people who can own entire departments in the company and navigate ambiguity. Your team should be energized, aligned and motivated to accomplish the same goals,” he says.

Even after 30 years as an entrepreneur, Vora says he still is still learning and improving. His advice for those just starting out: Be an entrepreneur for the right reasons, build a product that solves a specific pain point and invest in awesome people.

“Entrepreneurship is not just a pathway in the world of business, it is a way of life,” says Vora.

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Patty Brisben PURE ROMANCE

Patty Brisben, founder and chairwoman of Pure Romance, was inducted into the Cincy Entrepreneur Hall of Fame for the success she’s had with her company, but the endeavor began as a very small operation.

In 1983, a feature on The Phil Donahue Show that showcased in-home parties focused on intimacy products inspired Brisben. Ten years later, she launched Pure Romance from her basement.

Since then, Brisben has worked hard to make Pure Romance a place where women could take control of their financial future while raising their children. “I started a business that I think so many other people would have been afraid to start,” Brisben says. “I don’t think it was on anybody’s radar.”

Brisben felt it was important to incorporate an education piece to her company alongside the products, something that had not been done by previous companies. “This really defined where this company was going along with the leadership of the company,” Brisben says.

Since forming her business, Brisben has given advice to entrepreneurs just starting off. “Just stay focused,” Brisben says. “There are highs and lows to everything that we do. Just stick to it.”

Brisben also has become passionate about women’s sexual health. “I really do believe women have allowed themselves to be placed on the back burner,” Brisben says. “I think it’s time for all of us to become aware of sexual health.”

In the future, Brisben hopes to bring the importance of sexual health to the forefront. “We need more research,” Brisben says. “Our physicians need more research. I really truly do believe that sexual health matters.”

– Madison Rodgers

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Neil Bortz TOWNE PROPERTIES

Neil Bortz has some advice for new entrepreneurs: First and foremost have a true passion for whatever it is you want to do. That’s because it’s going to be a lot of hard work and there are going to be a lot of setbacks and disappointments, he says.

“You’ll have to restart a number of times, maybe rethink your concept,” Bortz says.

“So you’ve really got to stick to it and you’ve got to have faith that what you’re doing is going to work out.”

Bortz, who founded Towne Properties in 1961 along with Lamber Agin and Marvin Rosenberg, certainly had faith that what he was doing would work. It started with the renovation of buildings that led to the renaissance of Cincinnati’s Mt. Adams neighborhood—at that time a declining, inner-city neighborhood adjacent to downtown with great views—and has continued with the creation of apartment communities, offices and retail space throughout the Greater Cincinnati region.

“I do believe we’re creating great places to live, work, shop and play and that it’s really making people’s lives more enjoyable, more fulfilled,” he says.

It’s a passion that’s never left his soul.

“What gets me out of bed every day is I still really love what I do,” says Bortz. “I never considered it work.”

—Eric Spangler

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Tim Metzner

OCEAN ACCELER ATOR AND DIFFERENTIAL Before Tim Metzner takes the stage for a big speech he always repeats a mantra reminding himself of his purpose: “Not on my power, not to my glory.”

Metzner’s Christian faith has played a large role in his life and his success and the mantra reminds him that all the work is for God and keeps him grounded and focused.

Honored as the emerging entrepreneur at this year’s Cincy Magazine Entrepreneur Hall of Fame, Metzner spoke about his work and passion for his faith and his family to the crowd gathered at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, saying it was a great honor to be mentioned alongside the other nominees.

“It’s always nice to get some recognition,” Metzner says.

With two burgeoning companies, Metzner has received no shortage of recognition for his work and is helping others make a name for themselves with his businesses: Ocean Accelerator and Differential.

Differential is a digital innovation agency that helps partners invent, test and build digital products that drive growth and keep them ahead on the innovation curve.

Ocean Accelerator draws on his strong commitment to faith through a funding partnership with Crossroads church.

Each year the accelerator accepts up to 10 high-tech start-up companies to transform their business and spiritual life through a five-month intensive program that allows their ideas to become reality through $50,000 of seed money and access to an elite team of mentors, business professionals and faith leadership.

Ocean will hold its annual conference Oct. 11 and 12, which will feature inspirational speakers from around the country and is expected to draw over 1,000 attendees.

Metzner is obviously a busy man but by careful scheduling is able to balance his business and family life, he says.

“We have to balance things for sure, making sure the same way we schedule business meetings, we schedule dinner with family,” he says. “The key is having great partners in all of that.”

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