NorTech

TechLift, a NorTech-led collaborative of the Third Frontier Project’s Entrepreneurial Signature Program dedicated to serving the needs of Northeast Ohio’s technology entrepreneurial companies, today announced the addition of a new member to their team.

Chuck Birchall, will serve as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) with a specialization in information and communication technologies and will provide mentoring support to entrepreneurs and start up companies in the IT and software industry.

“I’m excited to become a part of the TechLift team, using my background in technology, business, finance and management to help aspiring entrepreneurs grow their businesses and improve the region’s economy,” said Birchall.

Chuck becomes a member of the TechLift Team with nearly 20 years of executive, marketing and sales experience. Most recently, he was the CFO of eBlueprint, and played a vital role in its acquisition by the largest blueprinter in the world. Prior to eBlueprint, Chuck ran his own business consulting firm for five years, assisting clients in healthcare and information technology formulate business plans and presentations, raise venture capital, optimize infrastructure and compensation, make appropriate staffing decisions and connect with outside resources. He founded and was the president of AxioMed Spine Corporation where he raised more than $3 million in Series A round venture capital. Chuck designed and managed a number of licensing and royalty agreements that AxioMed made with industry leaders, including Medtronic. 

In the 1990s, Chuck held a variety of marketing, product management and executive positions at AcroMed Corporation, which developed and sold spinal implants. During his tenure at AcroMed, the company sold to DePuy, Inc. for $325 million in cash. Chuck graduated from Kent State University in 1988 with a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration and Masters in Business Administration.  He also is named as the co-inventor on four patents.      

TechLift is focused on supporting, coaching and nurturing Northeast Ohio entrepreneurs in the region’s five technology strengths: advanced materials, electronics, information technology, biosciences and advanced energy. A number of direct services are delivered through Signature Entrepreneurs-in-Residence, who are entrepreneurs and industry experts in those signature technology areas.

Services provided by TechLift include: capital formation and fundraising, strategy and business planning, coaching, connections to partners and customers, grant funding assistance, talent and staffing assistance, the EDGE Minority Entrepreneurship Program, and Entrepreneurial Experts of NEOinc regional incubators. All services are provided to technology entrepreneurs free of charge.

“We’re lucky to have Chuck joining our team of seasoned entrepreneurial coaches and mentors,” said Chris Mather, Director of TechLift and Vice President of NorTech. “Chuck’s experience in managing successful technology start-ups, combined with his financial savvy background in raising capital and creating licensing deals makes him a valuable asset to TechLift. By adding additional talented EIRs to our program, we will be able to provide more value and support to Northeast Ohio technology entrepreneurs.”  

About TechLift:
TechLift is a NorTech-led initiative designed to provide unparalleled services to technology entrepreneurs in Northeast Ohio. It is a collaborative effort between NorTech and Northeast Ohio’s Edison funded incubators. (JumpStart, BioEnterprise, and the five regional incubations that comprise NEOinc: Akron Global Business Accelerator, BrainTree, GLIDE, MAGNET, and Youngstown Business Incubator) and pre-seed investment funds (JumpStart, Glengary, NorthCoast Angel Fund and GLIDE Innovation Fund).

In late 2006, the Third Frontier Project created its Entrepreneurial Signature Program to significantly increase the technology-based entrepreneurial commercialization outcomes. NorTech led the Northeast Ohio effort and received a $15 million grant from the Ohio Third Frontier Project to fund TechLift services and create new programs at JumpStart, BioEnterprise, and the NEOinc incubators. For more information about TechLift, visit: www.techlift.org

About NorTech:
NorTech, the Northeast Ohio Technology Coalition, is a technology-based economic development organization and catalyst for making Northeast Ohio a global leader in technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship. NorTech works closely with regional technology leaders to build a globally-competitive, innovation driven, technology economy by: Leading technology projects that have an impact on the region’s innovation infrastructure; Linking together regional technology leaders and innovation assets to spur collaboration and commercialization; and Leveraging public and private investments to revitalize Northeast Ohio’s economy.