Elizabeth Edwards, founder of Metro Innovation and Cincinnati Innovates: I've always been into science and technology, but my work over the past seven years in innovation consulting and venture capital has turned me into even more of a geek. I basically learn about a new technology every week — from how to keep perishable food from spoiling to how sites like LinkedIn and Facebook actually work to how fuel cells work.

Cincy Chic: You founded Metro Innovation in 2009, so tell Cincy Chic readers a little more about how you help fix the present and create the future.

Edwards: Everyone has great ideas. The problem in the Midwest and South, where we have lower levels of entrepreneurship and early stage investment, is that we need more people to act on those ideas and turn them into the companies that are going to propel us into the next century. Cincinnati Innovates is an online regional innovation competition that awards $80,000 in grants to the best ideas, entrepreneurs and innovators in the region. It's open online at CincinnatiInnovates.com until Sept. 1.

Cincy Chic: Beyond Metro Innovation, you also started the Cincinnati Innovates competition, which brought local inventors' ideas to the forefront. So what have been some of the more interesting submissions for you?

Edwards: The goal of Cincinnati Innovates is to highlight the most promising new ideas in the region and stimulate local early stage investment. We've seen some pretty interesting ideas, products, and technologies so far — from a Composting Port-a-Potty to a device called BandLab that allows musicians to play together live over the Internet.

Cincy Chic: This is for our Gadgets and Gizmos issue, so why are all of these technological advancements so important for today's professional woman in Cincinnati?

Edwards: These technological advancements — made here — are going to contribute to the long term economic vitality of our city. It's really important that we create.

Cincy Chic: Outside of your innovations, what do you like to do for fun?

Edwards: Anything on the water — sailing, kayaking, boating, sitting on a dock or a beach. There's nothing more fun and more relaxing.

Cincy Chic: What do you love most about Cincinnati?

Edwards: The people — I think our city is pretty friendly. And our neighborhoods and parks!

PHOTO CREDITS

Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Edwards

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