Wright State’s Raj Soin College of Business to launch Sandler Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Jonah Sandler, founder of Scene75 Entertainment Center and longtime supporter of Wright State University, is helping launch the Sandler Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the Raj Soin College of Business to support student entrepreneurs and strengthen the region’s innovation ecosystem. (Photos by Erin Pence)

Jonah Sandler grew up in a family of entrepreneurs.

His father, Les Sandler, has been an entrepreneur all of his life, starting his first business at the age of 12. Sandler’s grandmother and two of his uncles also launched their own businesses.

“It was ingrained in the family culture that we’re an entrepreneurial bunch,” Jonah Sandler said.

In 2012, Sandler followed in his family’s footsteps when he opened Scene75 Entertainment Center in Dayton. Since then, Scene75 has expanded to locations in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus and Chicago.

The largest indoor entertainment center in the nation, Scene75 was named top family entertainment center in the world in both 2016 and 2021 by the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions.

“Our industry peers recognized it as being something special,” said Sandler, who sold Scene75 to new owners in 2023.

After selling Scene75, Sandler did extensive soul searching before deciding on his next endeavor. He knew that he had a passion for helping local entrepreneurs and wanted to discover businesses that could benefit from his capital, as well as his operational experience.

Through his new company, Escena Investments, Sandler assists entrepreneurs in making valuable connections and identifies business ideas in which he’d like to invest.

“It’s hard to replace and replicate the passion that I had for Scene75,” said Sandler, “but I’m finding that by doing many things that are of interest, I’m finding that passion again.”

One of Sandler’s newest passions is the creation of the Sandler Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Wright State University’s Raj Soin College of Business.

A gift from Sandler and his parents, Les and Renee Sandler, will enable the college to take the support it provides to aspiring entrepreneurs to the next level.

“Entrepreneurship is about more than just starting a business — it’s about solving problems, creating value and driving regional growth,” said Rachel Sturm, Ph.D., associate dean of the Raj Soin College of Business. “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 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.

“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,” said Sturm. “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.”

As entrepreneur in residence in the Sandler Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Jason Trimbach, left, will mentor Wright State students and encourage students to think with an entrepreneurial mindset.

A dedicated incubator space on the second floor of Rike Hall will be transformed into the Sandler Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, which is expected to open in spring 2026.

The Sandler family gift will enable the college to expand its bachelor’s degree and minor programs in entrepreneurship and hire an entrepreneur in residence, a new staff position to support student entrepreneurs.

“I want to get individuals to realize how much horsepower they actually have internally and how creative their mind can be to get them to a whole other level of success than they ever thought they could achieve,” said Jason Trimbach, entrepreneur in residence.

Like Sandler, Trimbach understands the challenges of owning a business and knows what it takes to be successful. For 22 years, he helped run a family-owned HVAC distribution business.

Trimbach looks forward to connecting students with mentors, helping them make their businesses work and encouraging students to think with an entrepreneurial mindset — whether they launch their own businesses or work in an existing company.

“I see it as an opportunity to have students be more career and job ready when they graduate,” said Trimbach. “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.”

Aeshani Kumar, president of Wright State’s student Entrepreneurship Club, looks forward to the mentorship, resources and connections that the Sandler Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship will provide.

“It will equip students with the tools to transform ideas into ventures that strengthen both our careers and the regional economy, ensuring we are not only learning about entrepreneurship but actively shaping innovation that benefits the region and beyond,” said Kumar.

Sandler envisions the center as a place where all students can benefit, not just business students.

“I hope that students across the campus come in, share their ideas, and explore how entrepreneurship can be a path of great fulfillment,” he said.

While Sandler is not a graduate of Wright State, he has developed a great affinity for the university over the years.

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

“It was a great program. I thoroughly enjoyed it,” said Sandler. “It was one of the highlights every year for me.”

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

Jonah Sandler hopes the Sandler Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship will connect regional businesses with Wright State and its students.

“I always enjoyed how the students here are doing many things, not just from their own studies but from working jobs off campus,” said Sandler. “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. It’s very real world.”

One of his greatest hopes for the Sandler Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship is that it will connect businesses throughout the region to Wright State students.

“The center can be a conduit for other businesses to find what they love about Wright State the same way that I did,” Sandler said. “There are a lot of businesses out there who could benefit from what this college offers, whether it’s additional learning or simply a chance to connect with students. The entrepreneur center will help bring people into the fold of what Wright State can do to help them.”