Out of Office with Jessica Sublett: Cooking up Akron’s next chapter of innovation

Sep 4

Jessica Sublett is at the helm of one of Ohio’s most dynamic innovation hubs, and she’s doing it from inside a nine-story former tire factory. As CEO of Bounce Innovation Hub in Akron, Jessica leads a team supporting high-growth startups in software, MedTech, and polymers. But her impact goes far beyond entrepreneurial programming. Under her leadership, Bounce is a convener, connector, and a powerful advocate for the future of Akron's innovation economy.

With a background that spans Fortune 500 companies, city government, and university tech transfer, Jessica brings both strategic experience and deep local knowledge to the table. She earned her J.D. and LL.M. in Intellectual Property from the University of Akron, and has long been passionate about tech, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Her mission: to help Northeast Ohio’s founders and builders realize their full potential.

We caught up with Jessica to talk about Akron’s growing polymer ecosystem, her favorite places to unwind, and why her weekends often include boating, wild game, and America's Test Kitchen.

Where are you based right now?

Akron at Bounce’s downtown 300,000-square-foot building that was once part of the BF Goodrich tire factory. There’s real history here. Our building represents Akron’s industrial legacy, but also its future. We operate all nine stories, not just coworking. We have artist studios, hydroponic farms, chemistry labs, and even light manufacturing. You can walk from a startup pitch meeting into a chemistry lab or past a room full of artists. It’s like Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory. You never know what you're going to find when you open a door.

What’s exciting you most at Bounce right now?

We’ve been fortunate to play a leading role in Akron’s designation as both an Ohio Innovation Hub and one of just 12 federally funded tech hubs in the U.S. (and the only one in Ohio). These designations put Akron on the national stage. They recognize our capacity to lead in advanced materials and polymers.

As part of this effort, we recently launched Synthe6 Materials Accelerator, a new accelerator focused on materials companies. It’s a year-long program designed to help early-stage ventures advance their technology readiness, investment readiness, and manufacturing readiness. We’re surrounding them with industry advisors, technical support, and business strategy so they’re aligned with what the polymer industry actually needs.

Polymers are Akron’s legacy, but this isn’t about just tires and rubber anymore. It’s about coatings, adhesives, MedTech, and sustainability. There’s a real opportunity to lead the world in circular materials, and Akron has the expertise and infrastructure to do it.

What do people still not know about Bounce?

We still hear, “Bounce is Akron’s best-kept secret.” And we’re trying to change that. Earlier this year, we launched a new strategic plan that organizes our work around three pillars: programming, place, and convening.

People usually know about our startup support programs, and many are familiar with our coworking space. But not as many know that we manage the entire building, including light manufacturing, a third-floor hydroponic farm, and chemistry labs on the upper levels.

We also lead a lot of behind-the-scenes work on regional entrepreneurial ecosystem development. We're a key partner in Elevate Greater Akron, which is the region’s broader economic development initiative.

How do you unplug after a busy week?

In the summer, it’s all about the water. We love boating. We’ll head to Vermilion, cruise around Kelley’s Island, Put-in-Bay, and Middle Bass, or spend time at our family place on Pelee Island in Canada. We’re planning a longer trip this summer that will take us up the St. Lawrence Seaway through Ottawa and Montreal. It’s a great way to disconnect, reset, and be fully present with family.

When we're not on the water, we love to hike, especially in the fall. Northeast Ohio has an incredible trail system. It’s our favorite way to decompress, especially after a big event or a long week.

You mentioned cooking… tell us more.

My husband and I love to cook. It's one of our shared hobbies and our way of unwinding together. We’re total America’s Test Kitchen nerds. We’ll spend the weekend experimenting with new recipes from their app, trying new techniques, and creating great meals (and pairing them with a craft cocktail or two).

We also cook a lot of wild game. My husband is an avid outdoorsman, so we’re always looking for creative ways to cook venison or wild turkey. It adds another layer of intention to our meals, and it's fun to experiment with new recipes and ingredients.

Coffee or tea?

Definitely coffee. Akron has some fantastic local coffee shops, and I try to support them as much as possible. Akron Coffee Roasters is a particular favorite and they just opened up shop at Bounce.

What's one thing Ohio’s tech community should be paying more attention to?

Sustainability in materials science. Our region, and Ohio more broadly, is positioned to lead the country in advanced materials innovation. That includes everything from bio-based polymers to circular economy solutions for end-of-life products. Companies like Goodyear and Bridgestone are here, but they can’t solve these problems alone. That’s where startups, universities, and innovation hubs like Bounce can step in.

It’s not just an opportunity, it’s a responsibility. If we do this right, there is a major opportunity for Akron and Ohio.

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