Dr. Anthony J. Margida, Ph.D., Founder & CEO, visionary and accomplished entrepreneurial ecosystem architect, brings energy and expertise to customizing startup programing for communities, universities, and corporations. His depth of experience spans business accelerator design, equity investment, private/public partnerships, company formation, and organization sustainability. As CEO of Akron Global Business Accelerator, he envisioned and spearheaded its transformation into an entrepreneurial super-hub creating 450 new jobs and securing $75 M in equity investment while winning $10M in grant funding to ensure multi-year operations. His career in innovation has focused on developing/commercializing new technologies and the creation of companies spanning the specialty chemical, advanced material, cleantech/energy, nano-tech, IT and medical device industries. As Director of Technology at HB Fuller he led development and global commercialization of a waterbased footwear adhesive offering an alternative to a highly abused toluene based staple. His Magnetorheological Fluid (MR) patents are widely cited and are core to GM’s Magneride suspensions on over one million vehicles. A nationally recognized thought leader, Dr. Margida serves on the US Council on Competitiveness, a non-partisan recommending organization for US policy, where he is currently working on recommendations for a national innovation process. 
He is President of LaunchTown Experience™, an organization designed to promote entrepreneurship for college and university students. He has served on the Akron ARCHAngels Deal Flow Committee and the University of Akron Research Foundation Spark Fund Board focusing on investment of University technologies. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the College of Wooster, Dr. Margida received a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of Akron and his business education from the University of North Carolina's Kenan-Flagler Business School.

Building a region of innovation to launch startups and address community challenges through instilling the entrepreneurial mindset and utilizing the human-centered approach to innovation.

LaunchTownEXP™ and Leadership Team is committed to fostering the entrepreneurial spirit in the university and college student population. Our mission is to create an enhanced awareness of the importance and potential of robust entrepreneurial activity, and to celebrate extraordinary creative talent. With the support of LaunchTownEXP™ “Startup Competitions and our connections to professional, technological and financial collaborators, this entrepreneurial experience will lead to new business creation. Ultimately, through this collaboration we seek to retain our best young talent in the region, build a more vibrant economy and enhance the real-world education for our most innovative and entrepreneurial students.

Designed, implemented, and secured funding for the creation of Akron Ohio's software accelerator program, The Bit Factory. Its differentiating features include intensive consultation, negotiable investment terms, rolling admission, and a open community collaborative workspace environment. The initiative led to the creation of dozens of new jobs and a portfolio worth over $20M within two years.

Designed / launched multiple programs at the Akron Global Business Accelerator converting it into a nationally acclaimed entrepreneurial super-hub - now called Bounce. Programs added include Technology Company Acceleration(tm) hybrid incubation program, The Bit Factory software accelerator, The Software Guild (WSJ best in nation), artist co-working/gallery, makerspace, cafe and multiple partnerships (e.g. NSF I-Corps, PTAC, women's network, micro-finance, Ohio's ESP program etc.).Over 50 companies launched, 450 jobs created, and $75M in investment secured.

Coached/mentored dozens of startup companies with business development guidance including investment (over $5M in seed funding secured), business modeling/planning, strategic alliances, market research, and management team building.

AKA CleanTech Holdings is a Northeastern Ohio-based venture firm that manages private funds for individual and institutional investors and invests in clean and green technology companies. AKA's objective is to achieve superior investment returns through long-term capital appreciation by: - Identifying promising investment opportunities - Successfully negotiating and structuring initial and follow-on investment transactions - Enhancing the value of portfolio companies through the active involvement of the firm's experienced professionals.

Served as Executive Director of Business Development Group attracting and enabling new technology businesses for Akron, Ohio. • Managed an international client base to commercialize, secure investment and operate in Ohio.

Designed and implemented Emergent™ Services NASA company formation initiative. • Identified venture-able NASA technologies, subsequent alignment with management teams and complimentary business relationships, development of business plan, and identification of initial funding. • Authored Battelle’s three-phase process for company formation. • Advised over 30 Ohio technology start-ups companies and facilitating the formation of six. • Performed strategic planning, market research, business model development, technology development, business plan writing, and market development with customer identification and contact. • Angel fund-raising guidance has led to over $3,300,000 raised.

Designed and led a newly created department charged with the responsibility for inventing and/or discovering new materials that would enhance the company’s intellectual property and economic performance. Reported to the Chief Technology Officer and managed 14 scientists and technicians.

Co-leader technology and commercial development of an initiative to create Magnetorheological (MR) Fluid business division. Holds three MR patents (widely cited) which enabled the introduction into the automotive markets where they are core to high end GM suspensions installed on over one million vehicles.