7 Common Startup Myths… 8 Years Later
The year is 2013—your friends probably convinced you to download Instagram by now, you’re finally trying this “Uber” thing to the airport, “startup” is a buzzword, and Shark Tank has taught us all how to pitch. We’re taking our big ideas seriously! (Or at least contemplating it.) Eight years and a pandemic later, we’ve demystified
Meet Cohort Seven Of The Northwest Ohio Small Business Impact Program
Congratulations to the seventh cohort of our Northwest Ohio Small Business Impact Program. This 12-week business accelerator program is designed to help individuals overcome the obstacles of entrepreneurship through hands-on advising and industry-specific mentoring. Over the course of the program, these entrepreneurs worked together alongside JumpStart’s Impact Program team to tackle key business issues, with
Meet Cohort Fourteen Of The Cleveland Small Business Impact Program
Congratulations to the fourteenth Cleveland-based cohort of our Small Business Impact Program. This 12-week business accelerator program is designed to help individuals overcome the obstacles of entrepreneurship through hands-on advising and industry-specific mentoring. Over the course of the program, these entrepreneurs worked together alongside JumpStart’s Impact Program team to tackle key business issues, with significant
Why We Invested: orthobrain
JumpStart’s NEXT II Fund recently invested in orthobrain as part of a $9 million Series A round led by CareCapital. orthobrain empowers dentists to integrate orthodontics into their practice, combining technology, education and comprehensive case management support. Their ground-breaking orthodontics platform is solving a critical need and addressing three market dynamics: The demand for clear aligners is
How Social Media Can Help You Build Customer Relationships
Years ago businesses were considered to be on the cutting edge if they embraced social media. Entrepreneurs, in particular, may not have seen the value upfront. Why spend precious time on social media platforms when the best target customers weren’t using them and the focus needed to be on building a business? Well, all that’s
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