This year at JumpStart Inc., we are marking a milestone: Our 20th anniversary. Since 2004, JumpStart has been empowering entrepreneurs by connecting them to opportunities that take their ideas from concept to creation, grow their businesses and secure necessary funding. Accessing business opportunities can be difficult due to disparities in wealth accumulation. Historically marginalized entrepreneurs often struggle to obtain financing and support services they need to grow their businesses. Studies show that these entrepreneurs are more likely to face systemic barriers that limit their access ..read more

JumpStart is launching the first Trailblazer Software Accelerator this month. During the program, 10 innovative tech startups will receive comprehensive support as they take significant steps toward scaling their startup and preparing for venture capital investment. The accelerator program provides direct access to experienced entrepreneurs and industry-specific advisors, allowing these startups to concentrate on crucial business and product development strategies to validate product-market fit and achieve important go-to-market milestones. There was an overwhelmingly positive response to the ..read more

JumpStart’s Small Business Impact Program is a 12-week business accelerator that provides hands-on advising and industry-specific mentoring to participants. The program focuses on helping these entrepreneurs overcome key business issues, with a significant emphasis on financial projections and capital pitches. Throughout the program, participants will have the opportunity to work closely with the Impact Program team and fellow entrepreneurs to tackle their challenges together. At the end of the program, the graduates take part in an exciting demo day-style competition and have the chance to pi ..read more

Earlier this year, JumpStart Inc. unveiled an expanded suite of entrepreneurial support services for health tech and software startups. As part of these reimagined services, JumpStart launched the Trailblazer Tech Accelerator Program to empower pre-seed and seed-stage tech startups based in Ohio. The 3-month intensive program guides ambitious startup founders through fundamental growth phases, enhancing their readiness for venture capital investment through a proven curriculum, expert access and individualized advising. The program rolled out with the HealthTech Accelerator, designed to help h ..read more

Click here to read this blog in English. Para los dueños de negocios latinos/hispanos que viven en el noreste de Ohio, el apoyo y los servicios a menudo no son tan accesibles ni están diseñados para satisfacer las necesidades únicas de la comunidad hispanohablante. El Programa Impacto es el acelerador de pequeñas empresas de habla hispana de JumpStart que ofrece a los participantes recursos específicos, asesoramiento personalizado y asistencia técnica. Personalizado para crear un espacio seguro para la inspiración y el intercambio de información entre empresarios hispanos, este programa de var ..read more

Haga clic aquí para leer este blog en español. For Latino/Hispanic business owners living in Northeast Ohio, support and services are often not as readily accessible nor designed to meet the unique needs of the Spanish-speaking community. The Impacto Program is JumpStart’s Spanish-language small business accelerator that offers participants targeted resources, one-on-one coaching and technical assistance. Customized to create a safe space for inspiration and information sharing between Hispanic entrepreneurs, this multi-session program empowers entrepreneurs to take their business to the next ..read more

In celebration of JumpStart’s expanded footprint and return to Stark County, we are excited to present the inaugural cohort of the Small Business Impact Program. Designed to elevate local entrepreneurship, the Impact Program is a 12-week accelerator offering hands-on advising and industry-specific mentoring. The program focuses on helping participants overcome key business issues, with a significant emphasis on financial projections and capital pitches. Throughout the program, entrepreneurs will work closely with the Impact Program team and their peers to learn from one another and tackle chal ..read more

It goes without saying that the entrepreneurial journey isn’t easy. Entrepreneurs take bold risks and fight uphill battles to bring their ideas to life. Though difficult, the entrepreneurial spirit is key to innovations that can solve real-world problems and clear the path for entire industries. For Kim Vergottini, a former nurse turned health tech software developer, innovation and problem-solving are at the heart of everything she does. Throughout her extensive career in nursing, she’s been recognized for her big ideas and proactive mindset. “I’ve always believed that you can’t complain abou ..read more

This JumpStart blog guest post is provided by Dr. Christine Izuakor, CEO and Founder of Cyber Pop-up, an on-demand cybersecurity service platform powered by vetted and highly skilled cyber freelancers. Dr. Izuakor is also the author of the “Ultimate Guide to Building a Career in Cybersecurity” available now on Amazon. What small business owners don’t know about cybersecurity can set them up for sudden failure versus sustainable success. Let’s review five cyber security misconceptions that can harm your SMB and ways to get ahead of cyberthreats.   Myth #1: I don’t have the resources to bui ..read more

In America, Black women represent six percent of the population but own just two percent of employer businesses according to a 2022 Goldman Sachs Research report Black Womenomics: Equalizing Entrepreneurship, which explores the barriers to entrepreneurship faced by Black women. In the dynamic landscape of entrepreneurship, support and guidance can be the difference between success and stagnation, especially for underrecognized entrepreneurs such as Black women. Designed to address systemic barriers faced by Black women entrepreneurs head-on, the One Million Black Women: Black in Business progr ..read more