At JumpStart Ventures, our team strives to create an environment where innovations are nurtured and thrive. We focus on big ideas that have the potential to change the way people live, work, and communicate. We support entrepreneurs with vital resources, such as initial investment capital and strategic guidance from top entrepreneurs. Our goal: To help Northeast Ohio's entrepreneurs build great companies in flourishing industries that create jobs and wealth in our community. President of JumpStart Ventures, Becca Braun, blogs regularly on topics relevant to high growth companies on the IdeaExchange blog.
JumpStart Ventures invests in and forges partnerships with innovative, early-stage Northeast Ohio companies that have the potential to generate $30-$50 million in revenues in five to seven years. JumpStart Ventures helps companies accelerate their time to venture-readiness by bundling guidance from experienced Venture Partners with seed investment capital.
Early-stage investment from JumpStart Ventures, starting at $250K and up to a total of $600K, allows these innovative companies to complete product prototypes, conduct early marketing campaigns, and add key team members. Similarly, the strategic and operational guidance from Venture Partners enables innovation-oriented entrepreneurs to hit key growth milestones, advance through stages of the business, and attract follow-on funding.
JumpStart Ventures team members have extensive experience in growing successful entrepreneurial ventures themselves so once we make the decision to invest, we apply considerable time, energy, and resources to help incoming and existing portfolio companies succeed. The JumpStart Ventures team approaches every new investment opportunity in a pragmatic and results-oriented fashion. We communicate with entrepreneurs in a clear and direct manner, and we work hard, on behalf of our customer, the Northeast Ohio high potential entrepreneur, to live up to our Operating Style each and every day.
JumpStart Ventures Clients
All entrepreneurs who want to work with JumpStart need to meet the initial guidelines for JumpStart clients. In addition to that, companies that qualify for a JumpStart Ventures investment must be high potential and innovation oriented, meaning that the company and its leaders have:
- A clear vision to grow the business to $30-$50 million in revenues.
- A unique, breakthrough and protectable idea.
- A large potential market for their business.
- Leadership that is flexible and committed to growth.
- A desire to raise additional investment capital.
- An “exit” plan for the business.
JumpStart Ventures has a special focus on supporting women and minority entrepreneurs working in the highest growth industries.
If you feel you fulfill the criteria to work with JumpStart, fill out an Advisory Request to get started. A JumpStart associate will contact you.
How Does an Entrepreneur Engage with JumpStart Ventures?
Entrepreneurs go through a continuum of steps that are designed to provide both rigor and assistance. The rigor helps to prepare an entrepreneur for the nearly continuous capital-raising regimen that is a hallmark of innovative, high growth companies. The level of assistance increases with each step in the JumpStart Investment Process.
Following a JumpStart Ventures investment, a Portfolio Company leadership team has access to expert guidance from a Venture Partner. Venture Partners are typically successful entrepreneurs who have started and grown numerous companies, brought new products to market, raised many millions of dollars in capital, and built top teams. In their partnership with a company, they might work with an entrepreneur to:
- Set high growth, yet achievable, budgets and milestones.
- Gain early customers.
- Raise follow-on capital, including angel, venture, and grant capital.
- Form a Board of Advisors or Directors.
- Hire the top team that will help a company enter new markets and grow quickly.
Put simply, Venture Partners have the background that allows them to empathize with an entrepreneur’s struggles and continuously challenge the entrepreneur to excel.
If you have just heard about JumpStart and want to learn more, read about what we do.
JumpStart supports a wide variety of entrepreneurs in Northeast Ohio through its other programs and services including IdeaCrossing, events, and communications.
Still confused about where you fit? Try our FAQs for more information.