YOUNGSTOWN, OH, USA, Feb 16, 2026 – YBI Engine Tech Incubator, in partnership with America Makes and the Youngstown Innovation Hub for Aerospace & Defense, has launched Landing Zone, a free 9-week virtual course designed to help manufacturing innovators enter the U.S. market.
Landing Zone runs from May 5 to July 2, 2026, with virtual meetings held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:45 to 9:00 a.m. ET. The program is open to all domestic and international applicants.
“There are three main reasons YBI Engine stands out and why you should apply to Landing Zone. First, free education from Dr. Scott Shane, a distinguished professor at Case Western Reserve University, ranked 25th in Time Magazine’s 2026 World’s Top Universities. Second, YBI Engine is the premier deep-tech advanced manufacturing incubator in the United States. Third, top performers have the opportunity to join our portfolio, gaining access to 200,000+ square feet of manufacturing space alongside companies like Ursa Major and JuggerBot 3D, plus experts, equipment, and unmatched resources across our six-building campus,” said Chandler Fiffick, Senior Director of YBI Engine.
Manufacturing-Specific Market Entry Training
Manufacturing technology adoption differs fundamentally from software or consumer markets. Generic accelerator programs don’t address these realities. Landing Zone’s curriculum uses the framework of America Makes, the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute, headquartered in Youngstown, ensuring participants work with validated playbooks for qualification paths, readiness levels, and industrial decision-making.
Participants will validate innovations within real manufacturing workflows, build commercialization roadmaps aligned with industrial adoption criteria, connect with supply chain partners and pilot opportunities, and access regional manufacturing assets and expertise.
World-Class Instruction at No Cost
Dr. Scott Shane, YBI Entrepreneur-in-Residence, and A. Malachi Mixon III, Professor of Entrepreneurial Studies at Case Western Reserve University, lead the program. Dr. Shane has published 95 scholarly articles and 15 books and was the 2009 winner of the Global Award for Entrepreneurship Research, the most prestigious award in this academic field. According to a study by John Ioannidis at Stanford University, published in PLoS Biology, Dr. Shane ranks 1,137th among 7 million living scientists in terms of impact.
“This opportunity combines two elements not seen in other programs. The program provides access to real, programmatic assistance in customer discovery, go-to-market strategy, value proposition design, and fundraising without the steep cost of equity (6-7% of the company) charged by startup accelerators. The program provides access to one of the world’s leading ecosystems for advanced manufacturing, helping founders relocate to a place where innovation in advanced manufacturing truly occurs,” said Dr. Shane.
Pathway to Resources and Scale
YBI Engine will review participant progress throughout the program. Participants demonstrating commercial promise may be selected for technology attraction programs, pilot introductions, entrepreneurial residency support, relocation assistance, or acceptance into the YBI Engine Tech Incubator Portfolio and Resources.
Who Should Apply
- Appropriate participants include engineers, manufacturers, scientists, or technologists with a clearly articulated manufacturing-related idea.
- Founders who can describe at least one plausible manufacturing use case.
- Individuals willing to conduct interviews with industrial stakeholders.
- Innovators seeking to understand manufacturing workflows, TRL/MRL readiness, ROI metrics, and qualification requirements.
Applicants must be able to participate in all virtual sessions. Fluent English is required for participation. Participants must commit to pre- and post-course surveys.
Early applicants will have an opportunity to participate in exclusive tutorials from course instructors beginning in March. This does not guarantee acceptance into the course.
Application Information
Applications open HERE. The program runs from May 5 to July 2, 2026.
For more information, visit https://ybi.org/programs/engine/landing-zone/
About YBI
YBI is a globally recognized economic development nonprofit that advances innovation and growth across Ohio and beyond. Through a flexible suite of high-quality entrepreneurial services and resources, YBI supports startups, small businesses, and manufacturers at every stage of development.
The mission of the YBI Engine Tech Incubator is to support technology startups with exactly what they need: expert guidance, commercialization strategy, investor-readiness preparation, meaningful introductions, and flexible assistance that scales alongside their business. We accelerate startup growth without barriers or bureaucracy. For more information, visit ybi.org/engine.
YBI’s Advanced Manufacturing program offers hands-on support to help companies integrate additive manufacturing, adopt emerging technologies, and enhance their production capabilities. YBI is home to the Center of Excellence for Advanced Manufacturing and serves as a lead partner of the Youngstown Innovation Hub for Aerospace & Defense, led by America Makes.
About Youngstown Innovation Hub
The Youngstown, Ohio-based Innovation Hub for Aerospace & Defense serves as a national proving ground for advanced and additive manufacturing, accelerating the transformation of ideas from concept to market with speed and scale. The Hub brings together cutting-edge facilities, world-class talent, and strategic partnerships to revolutionize American manufacturing. Its mission is to strengthen U.S. aerospace and defense supply chains, advance next-generation workforce development, and pioneer innovative manufacturing solutions with global impact. Managed by the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM), in collaboration with America Makes, the Youngstown Innovation Hub is more than a regional resource — it’s a catalyst for national security, global competitiveness, and long-term economic growth. Visit youngstownhub.us to learn more.
About America Makes
America Makes is the nation’s leading public-private partnership for additive manufacturing (AM) technology and education. America Makes members from industry, academia, government, workforce and economic development organizations, work together to accelerate the adoption of AM and the nation’s global manufacturing competitiveness. Founded in 2012 as the Department of Defense’s national manufacturing innovation institute for AM and first of the Manufacturing USA network, America Makes is based in Youngstown, Ohio, and managed by the not-for-profit National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM). For more information, visit americamakes.us.
