Outreach
JumpStart’s economic inclusion strategy fundamentally consists of a comprehensive outreach effort to minority groups and women designed to achieve the following:
- Encourage technology-based entrepreneurship among women and minority groups
- Further enlighten leaders and constituent groups on the profile and characteristics of ideas and companies that could become venture-ready businesses
- Encourage a shift in mindset toward building larger businesses that are well capitalized, target growth opportunities and industries, and leverage the benefits of strategic alliances to maximize capacity and infrastructure
- Highlight current successes and profiles of venture-backed minority and women owned businesses to enhance the awareness of these segments
- Encourage partnering among individuals and organizations to bring together entrepreneurial and technical expertise to establish or enhance high growth business opportunities
- Further connect with minority and women stakeholders within the medical, engineering, technical, and science industries to ensure a thorough understanding of available resources for product commercialization
- Encourage the participation, utilization and ongoing development of minority and women angel investors and niche venture funds that target these segments such as those represented by the National Association of Investment Companies (NAIC)
At every opportunity, JumpStart will pursue collaborative outreach efforts which, in part, include forming joint communications and awareness building strategies with such leading national organizations as the following:
Specific programs, studies and reports conducted by the above organizations, such as Kaufmann’s groundbreaking report, MINORITIES AND VENTURE CAPITAL: A New Wave in American Business, will be utilized to profile successful minority businesses and create a broader awareness of the economic vitality of this important business segment.
Additional outreach efforts include:
- Enhancing communications through diverse media outlets
- Incorporating joint communications strategies with regional business support organizations targeting women and minority groups
- Participating in relevant strategic initiatives of other regional organizations whose mission and purpose targets minority and women entrepreneurial stakeholders