Dayton Business Journal: Scene75 founder funds new entrepreneurship hub at Wright State’s Raj Soin College of Business

Thanks to support from Jonah Sandler, founder of the Scene75 Entertainment Center chain, and his family, Wright State will launch an entrepreneurship hub in the Raj Soin College of Business.

A gift from a Dayton entrepreneur and his family is set to launch a chapter of innovation at one of the region’s largest universities: an entrepreneurship incubator built to launch the school’s next wave of student startups.

Wright State University’s Raj Soin College of Business announced plans to launch the Sandler Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship by spring 2026.

The university plans to establish a dedicated incubator center on the second floor of Rike Hall, as well as expand its major and minor programs in entrepreneurship.

Rachel Sturm, associate dean of the Raj Soin College of Business, views the Sandler Center as a new hub that will ignite creativity, cultivate entrepreneurial thinking and play a primary role in the region’s entrepreneurship ecosystem.

“Entrepreneurship is about more than just starting a business — it’s about solving problems, creating value and driving regional growth,” Sturm said. “The center seeks to serve as a catalyst for students, entrepreneurs and business leaders to come together, share ideas and build ventures that shape the future of our community.”

The initiative also includes the creation of a new “entrepreneur in residence” staff role to support student entrepreneurs, set to be filled by Jason Trimbach, CEO at 2J Supply Inc.

Trimbach has spent 22 years helping run his family-owned HVAC distribution business, and was featured as a DBJ Executive of the Year finalist in 2021.

“I see it as an opportunity to have students be more career and job ready when they graduate,” Trimbach said. “What is taught needs to be a direct reflection of what the business world needs out of the students. It excites me that it’s just started and I can already see where it’s going to go and how it’s going to help people.”

The initiative has received financial support from Jonah Sandler, founder of the Scene75 Entertainment Center chain, and his family. The specific financial terms of this gift were not disclosed.

“With the incredibly generous support from the Sandler family, this center represents our commitment to helping students and business leaders collaborate in ways that will foster the economic prosperity and innovation capacity of our region,” Sturm said. “By creating a space that blends education with real-world opportunity, the center is committed to fueling Dayton’s entrepreneurial spirit while preparing the next generation of changemakers.”

Although not a graduate of Wright State, Sandler has developed a strong relationship with the university over the years.

He first got involved with the Raj Soin College of Business 12 years ago through the Professional Business Institute. In this summer camp, high school students tackled real-world business challenges provided by Scene75.

Sandler also serves on the Raj Soin College of Business Dean’s Corporate Advisory Board and has been a judge for Wright Venture, which is an entrepreneurial competition for student entrepreneurs.

Following his sale of Scene75, Sandler now assists entrepreneurs in making valuable connections and identifies business ideas in which he’d like to invest through his new company, Escena Investments.

“I always enjoyed how the students here are doing many things, not just from their own studies but from working jobs off campus,” he said. “Some are raising families. Some are trying to do whatever they can with their own entrepreneurial ideas to be able to pay for their tuition… I hope that students across the campus come in, share their ideas and explore how entrepreneurship can be a path of great fulfillment.”

Read the complete article at bizjournals.com/dayton.