Our Story
About Us
powering the future of entrepreneurship
BRITE is unleashing the energy revolution. BRITE believes anyone, anywhere can be a catalyst for change, that empowering energy tech startups will create opportunity, good jobs and a resilient economy. A non-profit launched in 2011 upon this assertion, the organization hosts signature startup programs and supportive services to enhance energy technology viability and community understanding. Headquartered in Warren, Ohio, BRITE represents the strength of our industrial past and the promise of a decarbonized future. As the only energy technology entrepreneur program in Ohio, BRITE has served more than 600 companies that have created nearly 2,100 jobs and attracted $250 million in investment.
How We Started
Momentum was building for nearly a decade for a place-based incubator to accelerate energy technologies in Northeast Ohio by the economic development community that included The Fund for Our Economic Future, NorTech and Case Western Reserve University. Leadership from the City of Warren and the Mahoning Valley embraced the concept and incorporated a non-profit in late 2010. To learn more about our history, see our interactive story map.
Our Purpose
Our purpose is hosting a signature entrepreneur program to bring viable solutions to energy security challenges from unexpected places. BRITE serves a variety of clients providing solutions to today’s challenges and defining tomorrow’s opportunities. Our clients work on technologies related to energy storage, grid resiliency, and mobility. From reducing carbon emissions, to ensuring people have access to ample and stable electricity, energy tech helps support our society and pushes us towards a better future.
What makes us BRITE
BOLD
We do what is necessary, not just what is expected, for the success of our founders and community.
RESILIENT
We have grit and seize every opportunity to grow from our wins and losses.
What Makes Us BRITE
INCLUSIVE
We actively promote an environment where people of all backgrounds thrive.
TRANSPARENT
We are clear about our expectations, abilities, and impact.
EMPATHETIC
We acknowledge where people are by listening first, cultivating our curiosity and acting without judgement.
Our Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are core to BRITE’s mission and values. As a nonprofit economic development organization, we recognize our unique position as an entity, service provider and physical space located in an under-resourced city for creating dynamic relationships across a diverse community. We intentionally curate a culture and environment that fosters diversity and inclusion for everyone – our employees, clients, partners, suppliers, funders, neighbors, and tenants.
The collective sum of the individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, innovation, self-expression, unique capabilities and talent that our stakeholders invest in their work represents a significant part of not only our culture but our reputation and achievement as well. We embrace and encourage founders’, entrepreneurs’ and the public’s differences in age, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, and other characteristics that make everyone unique.
We are BRITE
Meet the team and board of directors who are devoted to the success of our founders and community.
Rick Stockburger
President/CEO
Sara Daugherty
Chief of Staff
Jing Lyon
Entrepreneur Programs Director
We are BRITE
Meet the team and board of directors who are devoted to the success of our founders and community.
Join the team
Become a catalyst for change and join our team of inspired professionals.
