Emma Scharfenberger Off, once lauded as an Ohio top mergers and acquisitions attorney, has shifted her career trajectory from Thompson Hine law firm to lead venture capital firm CincyTech, a company that's supporting more than just big business deals. The unexpected phone call that initiated this journey came from a board member who believed Off's unique skill set was a perfect match to helm the firm as president & CEO.
With an investment track record of early funding in 90 technologies and the creation and retention of over 1,600 jobs in Ohio, the firm has certainly made its mark on the state's innovation landscape. Off, reflecting on the momentous decision, told the University of Cincinnati, while still enjoying her legal career, "But these opportunities don’t come around that much. I thought, what do I have to lose by doing this?" It was this blend of opportunity and potential growth for CincyTech that drew her in, showing how an impactful position was presented to her, just as much as she took it.
Her connection with the University of Cincinnati, a founding partner of CincyTech, and her relationship with Ryan Hays, UC’s chief innovation & strategy officer, added an academic halo to this professional venture. In a role that marries legal know-how with startup strategy, Off is now applying her private practice skills in this new setting that includes handling policy aspects she has always found inviting. "Many of the skills I learned in private practice are very applicable to our work at CincyTech," she said in an interview with the University of Cincinnati.
Significant to Ohio's tech sphere, CincyTech’s focus spans from data management to gene therapy, revealing the company's investment in diverse, high-tech sectors. With nearly half of their $92 million direct investments concentrated in Cincinnati-based companies, Off's strategies for growth will likely impact the region's economy. CincyTech's reach, coupled with $1.9 billion co-investment dollars, places Off squarely at the crossroads of innovation and enterprise. "I’m a builder. I like building things, growing things," according to UC News, Off declared with a view of the future, as she navigates guiding a key player in Ohio's burgeoning tech scene.
