By Will Lucas, Founder & CEO of TolHouse

When I founded TolHouse, I had a vision beyond creating just another social club. I wanted to build a catalyst for Toledo’s transformation – a place where ideas could flourish, connections could form, and businesses could grow. But most importantly, I wanted to show that we don’t need to wait for outside saviors to build the future we want to see.

Here in our region, we often focus on attracting outside businesses, offering tax incentives and highlighting our inexpensive real estate. While there’s nothing wrong with that approach, I think we’ve spent too much time hoping major corporations would sweep in and transform our economy or fill a gap. The truth is, the opportunities in Toledo are too valuable to keep giving away to outsiders. It’s time we built these businesses ourselves.

Every time we pitch Toledo to outside companies, we’re actually highlighting our own golden opportunities. Think about it – our strategic location, manufacturing infrastructure, affordable real estate, talented workforce, and point of view aren’t just selling points for others. They’re advantages we can leverage ourselves.

That’s why, starting January 2025, TolHouse will award full-year Memberships to local entrepreneurs launching new businesses in Toledo. This isn’t just about offering access to our 25,000 sq ft riverfront club – it’s about changing the story. Instead of waiting for outside businesses to recognize Toledo’s potential, we’re helping our own people seize it.

Will Lucas speaking at AfroTech 2024, Houston, Texas. Photo by Jedah McGee for Creadio.

Throughout my journey building businesses – from Creadio to TolHouse, and in my work with AfroTech and Black Tech Green Money – I’ve seen firsthand how communities thrive when they build from within. The strongest economic growth comes from local entrepreneurs who care about their community’s success, not from corporations shopping for the best tax deals.

Our Member community already includes some of Toledo’s most successful business leaders, innovators, and creators – people who saw opportunity here and grabbed it. By bringing emerging entrepreneurs into this ecosystem, we’re not just offering them a workspace. We’re connecting them with people who’ve already succeeded right here in Toledo.

This isn’t charity – it’s an investment in our shared future. Each quarter, we’ll select founders who show us not just solid business plans, but a real commitment to growing roots here, creating local jobs, creating products and getting their ideas out into the wild. These entrepreneurs will get full access to everything TolHouse offers: our Panda Coworking space, boardrooms, conference rooms, networking and professional development programming, and most importantly, our community of Members.

I’ve invested years developing properties along Toledo’s waterfront because I believe in our city’s potential. But more than that, I believe in our people’s potential. We don’t need to import success – we can build it ourselves.

If you see the same opportunities in Toledo that I do, if you’re ready to take the leap into entrepreneurship in 2025, if you’re tired of waiting for others to build the future we want – we’re ready to support your journey.

Applications open December 1, 2024. Click here to learn more and apply.