Shaker Heights LaunchHouse is off and running

SHAKER HEIGHTS, Ohio - Most longtime Shaker Heights residents knew the old building near the intersection of Lee and Chagrin Roads as a car dealership.

Now, 3558 Lee Road is home to the Shaker LaunchHouse (SLH)--a pre-seed investment fund and business accelerator.

SLH is working to reinvent the economic forefront of city of Shaker Heights through promising startup companies. In fact, they plan to invest in about 15 companies in the next year.

"We're looking to bring some of the supportive entrepreneurial environment and mindset of Silicon Valley to Northeast Ohio," said Todd Goldstein who is one of the founders of SLH.

"Shaker Heights through its history has been known as a residential community...we need to make sure the community now knows that we are open for business," said Shaker Heights Economic Development Director Tania Manasee.

Businessman Keith Pabley visited SLH on Friday. He's looking for a space to locate his company and liked what he saw in Shaker Heights.

"We want a place that we can bring clients to that can see innovation and they can see the excitement and you get that when you come to LaunchHouse...Even though we are a small company you will see people working and it kind of breeds enthusiasm and energy when you walk into the place," he said.

For more information about the Shaker Heights LaunchHouse, visit: www.launchhouse.com .