Noblewins founder and CEO Brian Donahue, sitting on the eight-foot-long 'Cuyahoga' bench that he gifted to Jumpstart and Greater Cleveland Partnership.Earlier this summer, Greater Cleveland Partnership’s (GCP) and the Council of Smaller Enterprises (COSE), in collaboration with JumpStart Inc., announced the winners of the ninth season of Cleveland Chain Reaction, the small business pitch competition.

First place and a $40,000 award went to Noblewins LLC, a business that creates functional public art from retired wind turbine blades. Specifically, the company creates unique benches.

“I think anyone with an idea in Cleveland and starting a business should find programs like this,” says Noblewins founder and CEO Brian Donahue. “Win, lose, or draw, you gain knowledge for your business.”

This year’s competition saw 21 semifinalists, chosen from a pool of 90 applicants, who competed for cash prizes and business support.

Winning pitches
Following Noblewins grand prize, the second-place $20,000 prize was awarded to Engineered 2 Entertain, a custom design and fabrication shop that builds props, mascot gear, and promotional items for professional sports teams and large entertainment venues.

Second place winner Engineered to Entertain specializes in custom props, fan-engagement experiences and entertainment elements for professional sports organizationsMouma’s, a maker of easy-to-make Indian lentil meal kits, won the $10,000 third-place award.

A special $5,000 fourth-place award this year went to Jam by Josh. Sixteen-year-old Josh Friedlander is the successful founder and CEO of his premium fruit spread company, which he started in 2020 as a pandemic project.

The 17 remaining semifinalists received $2,000 grants funded by competition partners Medical Mutual, COSE Benefit Plan, Minutemen Workforce Solutions and MAGNET, along with discounted advertising from “Mimi Magazine” and “FreshWater Cleveland.”

COSE executive director Megan Kim-McGinty says that the success of these businesses strengthens Cleveland’s neighborhoods and the region as a whole.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our local economy, and Cleveland Chain Reaction is designed to help them reach the next stage of growth,” she says. “By connecting entrepreneurs with capital, mentorship, and business expertise, we’re helping them build stronger companies, create jobs and generate lasting economic impact throughout Greater Cleveland.”

A new life for old blades
Throughout his seven-year career in the renewable energy industry, Donahue says he never would have guessed that he would switch gears to furniture-making.

As a commodity trader at a wind farm, Donahue says he noticed discarded wind turbine blades piling up, day after day. He recalls that, aside from chopping the turbine blades up, nobody knew what to do with these retired parts.

One day, it hit Donahue: Parts of these blades could be repurposed and made into usable works of art. In August 2024, Donahue launched Noblewins and started transforming the used wind turbine blades into innovative benches.

“It really just came from looking at a problem kind of differently than anybody else had,” he recalls.

Crafting a new concept
To make the benches, Noblewins employees cut the thick fiberglass blades using a saw designed to cut marble and granite countertops. Once the parts are cut to the correct dimensions, the rough spots are sanded down. Depending on the style of bench, bases are attached before the benches are fabricated from recycled lumber.

Noblewins benches have many design and feature options, including a swing feature.Noblewins’ shaded bench designs are built so that the bench sits inside the circular part of a wind turbine blade—shading the sitting person from the elements. Additionally, the 360-degree frame is perfect for fun artistic touches that convert these benches into showstopping public art installations.

Other bench styles include benches that rest inside or on top of the half-blade, which are perfect for athletic field sidelines or along park pathways.

Just two years after its launch, Noblewins has sold just under $1 million in product, with about $2 million worth of products on order. Donahue says that with new investors and the publicity gained by competing in Chain Reaction, the company is on the road to success.

The Noblewins offices are on Madison Avenue in Lakewood, and the manufacturing facility is on Morgan Avenue in Slavic Village. Although he is not originally from Cleveland, Donahue’s appreciation for the city is apparent—affectionately calling Cleveland a “big little city.”

“I grew up right outside of Manhattan, so I know the dichotomy of it,” he says, comparing New York to Cleveland. “You don't know anyone. You're not connected to anyone, and in Cleveland, you are.”

Making connections
Connections in Cleveland have taken Noblewins far, especially those made on Cleveland Chain Reaction.

In fact, Donahue notes that his temporary marketing employee was the one who submitted Noblewins’ application to Cleveland Chain Reaction. With busy days filling orders and readying the facility for operations, Donahue says he was surprised to get an email saying that his company was selected to participate in the ninth season of Cleveland Chain Reaction.

He made it through the four-week JumpStart bootcamp, heard lessons and advice from guest speakers, and made his final pitch after a live pitch showcase on Fox 8 News' “Kickin' It with Kenny.” Donahue was thoroughly impressed by how well-run and impactful Cleveland Chain Reaction was.

“I think winning the money or not, everybody, including Noblewins, left there with a lot more knowledge about how to do certain things when it comes to their business,” says Donahue.

Season Nine Cleveland Chain Reaction winnersGrowing one small business at a time
With the $40,000 award, Donahue says he plans to upgrade various pieces of equipment and continue advertising efforts at international conferences.

Every year, the previous winners of Cleveland Chain Reaction play an active role in the competition. Donahue says he can’t wait to share the story of Noblewins with the upcoming 2027 contestants.

“Anytime we can foster an idea and help it grow, I'm on board,” affirms Donahue.