Vince Lewis remembers a literal ray of light cutting through the dust of the decades-abandoned Dayton Arcade. He was with Scott Koorndyk of The Entrepreneurs Center, standing in the quiet, empty space dreaming a vision: could a university and a startup engine create a massive innovation hub?
Five years later, The Hub Powered by PNC marks its anniversary with warm wood floors, modern fixtures and the steady hum of 200 businesses and 550 university students. At more than 100,000 square feet, it is now the largest university-anchored innovation hub in the country.
“When I walk through The Hub today and see our students landing internships steps from their classrooms or our art and design labs filled with creativity, I’m reminded of why this partnership matters,” said University of Dayton President Eric F. Spina.
The impact goes beyond the architecture; it’s about career-defining connections. Megan Yoder, once a student navigating these halls, is now a full-time employee with a venture fund related to the Entrepreneurs Center. Undergraduate Max Cressy found his professional footing here as well, leveraging the Hub’s network to land a high-impact internship with The Entrepreneurs Center. Alumni Hank Veeneman and Brayden Shepard got the support they needed to adapt research lab technology to create a business they are building after graduation.
“Looking back at how far we’ve come, what stands out most is not just what was built, but the community that brought it to life,” Koorndyk said.
For Lewis, president of the Hub and UD’s VP for entrepreneurial initiatives, the mission remains as clear as that first ray of light: "We’re no longer just dreaming about what’s possible for Dayton. We're watching it happen every day."