What is Scalerator NEO?
Scalerator NEO is a seven-month growth program designed to help established Northeast Ohio companies scale more quickly and sustainably.
CEOs participate alongside members of their leadership teams, working with experienced faculty and a cohort of fellow business leaders to identify barriers to growth, challenge existing assumptions and put practical strategies to work in their companies.
The program is designed for businesses with approximately $3 million to $15 million in annual revenue and a strong ambition to grow.
Focused on the 3 Cs of Growth
Scalerator centers on three critical drivers of business growth:
Customers. Capacity. Cash.
Through hands-on workshops, peer learning, practical assignments and faculty guidance, participating teams examine opportunities and challenges in each of these areas and develop strategies they can apply directly to their businesses.
The goal is not growth through a one-time acquisition or isolated opportunity, but the ability to build repeatable, sustainable growth.
Built for Growth-Minded Leadership Teams
Scalerator is designed for companies whose leaders are ready to think differently about growth and actively engage in the process.
CEOs participate with members of their leadership teams, creating an opportunity to develop shared approaches and bring new strategies back to the company together.
The Scalerator experience includes:
- Interactive, faculty-led sessions
- Peer-to-peer learning with leaders from other growing companies
- Practical assignments focused on each participant's business
- Individual guidance from experienced faculty
- Opportunities to build lasting relationships within the Scalerator community
Companies from all industries are encouraged to apply. Diverse cohorts bring together leaders with different experiences and perspectives while allowing them to learn from the common challenges of scaling an established business.
Proven Impact
Since Scalerator NEO launched in 2017, more than 100 Northeast Ohio companies have completed the program.
Research examining the long-term impact of Scalerator NEO found that five years after participating, companies experienced:
- Employment growth 43 percentage points higher than comparable businesses
- Sales growth 23 percentage points higher than comparable businesses
The growth associated with Scalerator NEO has supported an estimated 2,830 jobs and generated nearly $178 million in economic activity across Ohio.
The results demonstrate that the impact of Scalerator extends well beyond the six-month program, helping participating companies build capacity for continued growth.
Experienced Faculty. Real-World Perspective.
Scalerator was created by Daniel Isenberg, an internationally recognized expert on entrepreneurship and scaleup ecosystems and former Harvard Business School professor. He leads an experienced faculty team whose members bring decades of experience building, leading, advising and teaching growing companies.
Scalerator programs have been delivered to hundreds of companies in communities around the world, creating a proven model for helping established businesses unlock new growth.
Fully Funded for Participating Companies
There is no participation fee for companies selected for Scalerator NEO.
The program is fully funded by Burton D. Morgan Foundation with support from the Fasenmyer Fund, reflecting a shared commitment to helping established companies grow and strengthening Northeast Ohio's entrepreneurial economy.
Could Scalerator NEO Be Right for Your Company?
Scalerator may be a fit if your company:
- Generates approximately $3 million to $15 million in annual revenue
- Has an established business model and customer base
- Has strong ambitions for continued growth
- Is ready to pursue repeatable, sustainable growth strategies
- Has a CEO and leadership team willing to actively engage in the program
Is open to learning alongside leaders from other industries and companies
Join the 2027 Cohort
Recruitment is underway for the 2027 Scalerator NEO cohort, beginning in January.
If you're ready to challenge how you think about growth and explore what's possible for your company, we invite you to apply.