Raising capital is never easy, but there are different funding options depending on the size, stage and growth rate of your startup. From crowdfunding and angel investors to venture-debt and traditional equity-based funding—there are many potential paths to startup success.

Join three local entrepreneurs who have been through successful fundraising rounds for a candid conversation about what it really takes to secure capital for your Northeast Ohio startup.

Startup Stories is a new JumpStart event series that examines what it takes to be tech entrepreneur from the perspective of those who have already been there. Meet and mingle with some of the best and brightest NEO entrepreneurs, while exploring topics such as fundraising, teambuilding, investor relations, customer discovery and more.

This event is co-hosted by JumpStart, The Bit Factory and Akron Global Business Accelerator. 

Panelists include:

Parag Jagdale, Co-Founder & CTO, Revenue Conduit
Parag Jagdale is passionate about building software products that solve real world problems. He is also getting better at building and leading teams.

As the co-founder and CTO of Revenue Conduit, he has to make sure the team is organized, has everything they need to succeed and fill in any gaps when they are discovered. He is constantly thinking about how to build software faster, better and more cost-effectively, but knows that it’s always a balance. He listens to technology, business and history podcasts for continued learning.

Elyse Ball, CFO, Akron Ascent Innovations
As Assistant Counsel for the University of Akron Research Foundation, Elyse Ball works on technology licensing and supporting startup companies in the polymer science and biomedical fields. She is currently a board member and/or officer for five early-stage Akron companies. Ms. Ball leads UA’s NSF I-Corps Site.

Elyse is a licensed attorney, an instructor at UA, and the co-author of How to Invent and Protect Your Invention: A Guide to Patents for Scientists and Engineers. Prior to joining UARF, Ms. Ball worked for health care policy organizations and an Akron-based law firm.

Moderated by:

Audrey Wallace, Co-Founder, Komae
Audrey Wallace is co-founder of Komae, an Akron tech startup that combines service sharing with child care, empowering parents to exchange unlimited free babysitting with trusted friends.

Komae was born out of a need of her own life to find affordable, trustworthy, convenient, and guilt-free care for her family. After locking arms with co-founder, Amy Husted, Komae was established in April 2015 and is currently live in the app store. Audrey earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Communications at Baldwin Wallace University in 2004.

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