JumpStart Blog

When then-Apple CEO Steve Jobs introduced the iPad 2 in March 2011, the device and its characteristics weren't the only things dominating the news cycle. In fact, one particular quote from Jobs' speech proved to be somewhat controversial. "It's in Apple's DNA that technology alone is not enough," he said.

Read more...

Thanks to movie characters such as Mr. Miyagi in Karate Kid or Robin Williams' engaging teacher in Dead Poets Society, the prevailing mentor archetype hews closely to the word's dictionary definition: "a wise and trusted counselor or teacher" or "an influential senior sponsor or supporter."

Read more...

Count down to 2013 with this video celebrating some of the recent developments in Northeast Ohio's rapidly evolving startup scene.

Read more...

This fall, entrepreneurs and investors from all over the country gathered in downtown Cleveland for the National Association of Seed and Venture Funds (NASVF) annual conference.

Read more...

When you think of entrepreneurial colleges, places like MIT, Stanford, Harvard and Cal Tech immediately come to mind. But according to Forbes, the school beating them all is Babson College, a small Massachusetts institution with a curriculum dedicated solely to encouraging entrepreneurship. Read more...

Wireless Environment’s energy-efficient, wireless LED lighting systems are one of Northeast Ohio’s brightest success stories. For instance, one of its two product lines, Mr. Beams—a series of motion-sensing lights you can use outdoors or inside the home— is consistently a top seller on Amazon.com, outranking some pretty big brands.

Read more...

For many young companies, especially in the IT space where you can get started with very little capital, there can be many “do or die” moments. Some make it past these challenges if they clearly see convincing evidence for the need to alter direction (to pivot, in startup speak).

Read more...

Northeast Ohio has long been a place where hard-working tech entrepreneurs can thrive and grow. While this can involve sequencing genomes or turning waste products into energy, the entrepreneurs at Darkside Scientific saw an opportunity to make their mark by introducing innovative applications that capitalize on the region’s manufacturing history and infrastructure.

Read more...

When JumpStart or one of our partners decide to provide support to entrepreneurs and their startups, we do so with the hope these companies will enhance this regional innovation economy—by attracting capital, generating revenue and, eventually, creating jobs. In Northeast Ohio, we’re starting to see measurable results.

Read more...

Let’s reflect on the entrepreneurs living and working in Northeast Ohio. On this blog, we’ve highlighted the regional impact of these innovators, which is something national publications have also started noticing; witness Salon’s recent article, “Rust Belt Chic: Declining Midwest cities make a comeback.” What makes these entrepreneurs compelling? Passion.

Read more...

Entrepreneurs are audacious, determined people who can achieve great things. But sometimes their plans are bogged down by a shortage of funding or a lack of facilities that can truly be value-added. Such was the case with medical imaging company FMI Technologies and its CEO and President, William McCroskey. But because of the efforts of partners in the region, this fledgling biomedical company has been able to advance to great success.

Read more...

Northeast Ohio’s entrepreneurial abundance starts with small seeds of opportunity. However, merely finding these seeds isn’t enough. A startup needs to know how and when to capitalize on these small but significant opportunities for dynamic growth. Entrepreneur Moty Avisar, president and co-founder of Surgical Theater, has done exactly that.

Read more...

It's easier to be an entrepreneur in Northeast Ohio now than it was just five years ago. Our region continues to add an array of resources for entrepreneurs. And now, Cuyahoga Community College, in partnership with the Goldman Sachs Foundation, is offering Cleveland area small business owners the opportunity to apply for the upcoming class of 10,000 Small Businesses (10KSB) that begins in September.

Read more...

Computerized tomography (CT) scanners are widely used as alternatives to MRIs. Using X-rays instead of magnets, CT scanners work faster than MRIs and have the advantage of being able to take images of tissue and bone.

Read more...

Even though Mother Nature has been known to toy with Northeast Ohio weather, it’s clear that spring is upon us. How do I know? Simple. Baseball season is here. While out in the “Cactus” and “Grapefruit” leagues the pros are deep in spring training, on a smaller, but no less enthusiastic level, high schools and colleges are getting their bats and gloves ready for another season under the sun.

Read more...