What To Expect In Due Diligence
When looking to raise capital, it’s not uncommon for entrepreneurs to pitch dozens of venture capitalists and angels before finding someone with interest. The reasons for this may vary. Capital is a scarce resource, but angels and VCs also tend to specialize in certain types of businesses and at certain stages of development, which means
What Are The Funding Opportunities For Each Stage Of A Startup?
The funding landscape can be tricky for startups to navigate. Some funders are willing to get behind very early-stage startups, while others are much less inclined to do so. To effectively manage your fundraising efforts, it’s helpful to begin by assessing what stage your startup is currently in. With this information, you can then determine
Understanding The Stages Of A Startup
At JumpStart, we often get a lot of questions from the entrepreneurs that we work with about which specific business stage their startup fits into and what exactly that means for them. Before we attempt to answer this question, we always start with the disclaimer that no two companies, or geographies, are exactly alike. Luckily
Mentoring In A Virtual World
Before I jump into the topic, I would like to address whether you need a mentor or not. The answer is yes. It will always be yes. Elaborate? OK, just a bit. This is coming from the experience I have as an entrepreneur and someone who gets to mentor and witness scores of entrepreneurs being
How to Build Your Startup’s Brand
Few things are as critical to business success as establishing a strong brand. And yet, too many startups get it wrong or even skip startup branding entirely. Whether you’re trying to attract venture capital or just ensure that your fledgling business resonates with its audience, a strong, vibrant brand is absolutely crucial. But how do
5 Keys To Structuring Effective Job Interviews
You can always expect to meet the “very best version” of a candidate during their initial job interview. That’s why it’s critical to have a structured and detailed interview strategy to identify the transferable skills, personality traits and working styles that will align (or conflict) with your company’s culture and overall business goals. Whether you’re
8 Ways To Own Your PIE (Performance, Image and Exposure)
As consumers, we all understand the importance of good branding when it comes to products, services and companies—but what about the importance and value of building a strong personal brand that is uniquely associated with you as an individual? Personal branding has become ever more critical to success—on both a personal and professional front. Let’s
Why Your Startup Needs A Founder’s Agreement
Building a high-growth tech startup is a team sport that requires a variety of people with different skill sets. While most of your core team can be acquired/hired, having one or more co-founders can be very helpful, particularly in the early days of the company. It’s not uncommon to see a founding team made up
[Video] Mondie Gonzales Of Escape In 60 Wins $10,000 Grand Prize At Our Summer 2021 Cleveland Small Business Impact Program Showcase
On Wednesday, September 9, Cleveland Small Business Impact Program participant Mondie Gonzales delivered the winning pitch for her business, Escape In 60, during the program’s culminating entrepreneur showcase—taking home the top prize of $10,000. Escape In 60 is a traditional escape room and teambuilding venue, offering thrill-seekers five fully immersive escape room experiences as well as unique,
[VIDEO] Portfolio Company Spotlight: Inphlu
JumpStart’s Focus Fund recently led Inphlu’s $500K funding round, along with participation from angel investors. Inphlu is a Dayton-based social media management platform that helps marketers automate content creation and posting as well as view real-time analytics. The company was founded by Josh Reid, who ran his own digital marketing agency and knew there was
Meet The Stark County Community Challenge Finalists
Congratulations to the four finalists for our 2021 Stark Community Challenge. The Stark Community Challenge is a six-month, technology-based initiative showcasing homegrown innovation and talent. Each entrepreneur created, or expanded upon, a tech-based solution to a Stark County-based regional challenge in one of four categories: community health, quality places, access to funding, and sports/esports. On
[VIDEO] Cleveland Small Business Impact Program Summer 2021 Entrepreneur Showcase
On Wednesday, September 9, the 12th cohort of the Cleveland Small Business Impact Program participated in a virtual version of their culminating showcase event. This event was an online demo-day-style competition where program participants used their new knowledge and skills to present their pitch to a panel of judges for a chance to take home