What We Do
JumpStart was formed to help accelerate the growth of early-stage ideas and business into venture-ready companies. Our three business lines deliver vital, focused resources:
- JumpStart Exchange: JumpStart's Exchange team creates networking events that enable entrepreneurs and supporters of entrepreneurship to gather and exchange ideas. By promoting and celebrating entrepreneurial success (and failure), we aim to motivate the NEO business community. We facilitate programming across the 21 counties of Northeast Ohio, connecting the entrepreneurial community from Ashtabula to Ashland, Columbiana to Lorain, Canton to Cleveland - and all areas in between! For a current list of available programs, please click here.
- Investments: JumpStart's Investments team advises entrepreneurs interested in applying for funding from JumpStart, works with entrepreneurs to ensure their application is as good as possible, and then makes direct investments in carefully selected companies. On average, we invest $300,000 in our portfolio companies. Individual investments will range from $50,000 to $800,000, depending on a company's needs and how it progresses through mutually determined milestones. About ten to twelve companies per year receive a JumpStart investment.
- Acceleration: Companies interested in presenting to JumpStart receive assistance from the JumpStart Acceleration team, namely the group's team of Entrepreneurs/Executives-in-Residence ("EIRs"). Additionally, each JumpStart portfolio company receives extensive guidance from EIRs, who work with them to hit milestones, advance rapidly through growth stages, and attract follow-on funding. EIRs have deep experience in growing and running businesses, as well as raising various types of funding.