Cintrifuse brings a hospitality mindset to Ohio startups

Cincinnati was having a cold snap, but inside Union Hall, things were heating up. 

Union Hall sits on a well-trafficked corner of Vine Street in downtown Cincinnati. With 38,000 square feet, the building's bones tell stories of union meetings, dance recitals, underground tunnels, and prohibition-era beer storage. 

Today, it holds a new kind of energy—and not just because of the startups working out of second-floor offices.

The building is home to Cintrifuse, a nonprofit and venture capital hybrid that exists to grow Cincinnati's startup ecosystem. But it's also more than that. It's where first-time founders casually bump into investors. It’s where demo nights become launchpads. It’s where hospitality makes magic.

David Walters, Community Operations and Experience Manager, is the person quietly stitching it all together. But he’ll be the first to tell you he’s not the story.

A bartender's instinct with a community builder's heart

Before stepping into the world of startups, David spent a decade behind bars—the kind that serve drinks and conversations.

"I was a general manager at a bar and grill here in Cincinnati for five years," he said. "Before that, I bartended, served, managed. That whole industry taught me everything I know about people."

Now, as the GM of Union Hall, that experience fuels his approach.

"Hospitality is a dying skill," he says. "There are a lot of mean people out there. But in this job, going the extra mile still matters."

At Union Hall, David and his team (three interns and an events lead) manage everything from coworking memberships to private office relationships, event logistics to property emergencies. "If the restaurant tenant next door has an issue, I might be the guy to fix it," he says. "It's all part of the job."

When walk-ins pitch at the front desk

Cincinnati might not be Silicon Valley, but it’s not trying to be. What it is building is a place where entrepreneurs feel welcome to begin.

"There are countless times every month where someone just walks in off the street and says, 'I heard about this place. Can I pitch you something?'" David shares. "I'm not the guy to give you an investment, but I can connect you to someone who might be."

The whole city shows up one week a year 

While Cintrifuse operates year-round, October is their Super Bowl. That's when StartupCincy Week takes over all four floors of Union Hall.

"We build each day around a theme, like food and beverage, AI, health tech," David says. "And then founders, investors, community builders share what’s worked for them. What hasn’t. It gets real."

The programming is collaborative. The energy is contagious. And the numbers are growing: attendance, partnerships, social engagement. All on an upward climb.

"This last year was our biggest one yet," David notes. "The support from the city was massive. Organizations were quick to sponsor or send speakers. It felt like all of Cincinnati showed up."

Demo nights that spark curiosity

StartupCincy Week is a high note, but it’s not the only tune playing. Cintrifuse also hosts monthly demo nights featuring four startups per event, curated around themes like fintech or healthtech.

"We tell them: no slide decks. Just pitch. Let people feel what you’re building," says David.

These aren’t investor-only showcases. They’re for the whole community. Founders get face time with potential collaborators. Neighbors get inspired. And sometimes, something bigger gets sparked.

"We had a guy who created a wristband for kids with special needs. So if a police officer sees them behaving in a certain way, they know this person might be autistic. That was powerful. That kind of stuff gets people talking."

Where startups work, party, and collide

Union Hall doesn’t just support startups. It houses them. As part of Cintrifuse Capital’s portfolio, startups receive access to the coworking and event spaces as part of the package.

"It’s one of those soft perks," David explains. "Being a portfolio company gets you a desk, sure. But it also gets you into the mix. You bump into people. You hear about events. You get invited into the conversation."

And sometimes, that conversation looks like hot chocolate bars, catered sliders, and hallway chats.

"We throw a Vine Street Holiday Jam every December," he says. "It’s our big year-end party. About 115 people came this year. We had mac and cheese, pizza, a whole hot chocolate bar. It was amazing."

Operations is just hospitality with better software

When it comes to coworking management, David relies on software for booking, invoicing, and reporting—but not without a few caveats.

"The booking tools are solid. I like how easy it is to invoice or apply discounts," he says.

David Walters isn’t trying to be the hero. He’s more like the person making sure the lights are on, the chairs are out, and the people feel welcome.

"I'm just a small piece of this place," he says. "But it's fun to be part of something that's really working."

His job is messy and multi-faceted—from scheduling demo nights to helping a taco vendor set up at an event. But the through line is simple: connection.

"People aren’t always patient. But the ones who are? They’re always worth going the extra mile for."

That’s the heartbeat of Union Hall. And it’s beating strong.