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
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,
[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
Five Questions with Leatron Twitty of My Smart Home Ohio
My Smart Home Ohio is a company that specializes in the installation, sale and service of smart home and business technology, including security, energy-saving and comfort devices. How did you get the idea for your business? My uncle needed some security cameras installed at his residence. His friend offered to pay me to install
Five Questions with Amy Witzigreuter of Witzi’s Raw Granola
Witzi’s Raw Granola produces grain and gluten-free granolas made with organic ingredients. The Witzi’s brand offers handmade granola in a variety of flavors and is available in stores across Ohio. How did you get the concept for your business? I was inspired to find granola to meet the dietary needs of my son. Once
Video: Cleveland Small Business Impact Program Spring 2021 Entrepreneur Showcase
On Wednesday, May 19, the eleventh 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
Five Questions With Sharia Livingston of Living Rich
Living Rich apparel is a unisex, high-quality streetwear brand that prides itself on high-end quality and affordable prices, highlighting the idea that value is determined by self—not a price tag. How did you get your idea or concept for your business? The idea behind Living Rich literally came from a combination of my daughter
Five Questions with Mary Johnson of Vitiman Kandie
Inspired by her own fitness journey, Mary launched Vitiman Kandie to provide an innovative line of natural herbs and juices for hopeful spirits in pursuit of improving their personal health. Her flagship cafes offer fresh cold-pressed juices, herbal supplements and healthy meals. How did you get the idea for your business? After losing 120lbs