Mentoring Minute: A Conversation with Mark Hoersten
The Entrepreneurship Education Consortium (EEC) is ramping up for its Spring 2023 Tech Side Hustle. Offered each semester to member colleges and universities in Northeast Ohio, Tech Side Hustle is an extracurricular program designed to attract, coach, and fund student entrepreneurs. Participating student cohorts are paired with experienced local mentors like Mark Hoersten, who guide
Black History Perspective on Confronting Disparities in Tech
As a Black American, Black History Month brings forth many mixed emotions. For me, there are feelings of pride and inspiration as I dive into our country’s rich heritage and the foundational role Black people played in nearly every aspect of American history. But there’s also a sense of frustration with the influx of performative
Celebrating the Dream of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
As the nation comes together to honor the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, I am taken back to a moment in history that helped shape my life and my purpose. I was ten years old living in Arlington, Virginia on August 28, 1963 when Dr. King marched in Washington D.C. and delivered
What (or Who) Will It Take to Build a Thriving Entrepreneurial Ecosystem?
Earlier this year, the White House delivered a proclamation designating November National Entrepreneurship Month. I wholeheartedly believe in the power of entrepreneurship to transform communities. Reflecting on nearly 20 years as CEO of JumpStart, a nationally recognized entrepreneurial support organization, I’ve experienced first-hand the impact entrepreneurs have on the cities and regions they call home. Startups
JumpStart Launches Year-End Giving Campaign To Help Tech Startups And Small Businesses Go Further, Faster
JumpStart is kicking-off its year-end giving campaign to expand entrepreneurial support services to tech founders, innovators and small business owners across Northern Ohio. As a venture development organization, JumpStart unlocks the power of entrepreneurship to transform communities, helping entrepreneurs grow, researchers commercialize and corporations innovate. When startups and small businesses face roadblocks, JumpStart helps move
Takeaways from Black Tech Week 2022: The Power of Community
Black Tech Week (BTW 22) was an essential vibe for Black founders in all walks of entrepreneurship. The 5-day conference hosted by Lightship Foundation took place in Cincinnati, Ohio July 18-22. This multi-day festival brought in over 50 tech influencer speakers including investor and tennis legend, Serena Williams. Inspiration and empowerment were in the atmosphere
[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 Cohort Twelve Of The Cleveland Small Business Impact Program
Congratulations to the graduates of the twelfth 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,
4 Things Startups Need To Know About Social Media Measurement
Social media has given startups and small businesses an incredible opportunity to reach and engage with their consumers directly. But understanding how to measure social media’s impact leaves many startups scratching their heads. In fact, even large companies often struggle with the fact that each new channel has its own terms and analytics platforms that
WOVU JumpStart Fridays, Episode 31: Impact Program Entrepreneur Spotlight – Eduardo Rodriguez
JumpStart and WOVU 95.9FM have partnered to bring you JumpStart Fridays, a show focused on supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs in Cleveland. Over the coming weeks, you’ll hear from local business owners, business assistance and funding experts, community organizations and more as we dive into live and honest conversations about entrepreneurship. In this episode, Eduardo Rodriguez, owner and founder of Café Social LatinoAmericano
JumpStart Makes Investments in 4 Innovative Tech Companies
JumpStart recently made investments into four Ohio-based tech companies, adding new technologies to our diverse and growing portfolio. These innovative startups offer platforms which seek to solve unique challenges within their sectors. Learn more about the four companies joining our portfolio below. Inphlu Inphlu is an Ohio-based social media automation platform, with offices in
[PODCAST] Founders Unfiltered: A Conversation with Amy Husted
The recently revived Founders Unfiltered interview series has returned as JumpStart’s Freddie Coffey sits down for a candid conversation with Amy Husted, Chief Commercial Officer at Cleveland-based startup smallTalk. Prior to joining smallTalk, Amy co-founded Komae, a Northeast Ohio startup that exited in 2019. Hear Amy’s personal story and find out how her journey from