Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Lt. Governor Jon Husted and the Ohio Department of Development have made a landmark investment in Ohio’s tech economy by announcing $86 million in funding awarded to venture capital funds across the state. JumpStart and JumpStart Ventures received $35 million, which will catalyze over $70 million in funding for innovative startups when leveraged against privately raised match capital. “The opportunity this federal funding provided is unique, and I am so grateful to the State of Ohio that they have recognized JumpStart’s value by awarding these funds to our management ..read more

Most companies go through several funding rounds in their journey. Different business models and industries require different capital structures. In this episode of Demystifying Investing, let’s talk about what are some of these stages and how you can navigate them effectively.     In the venture capital world you would often see capital getting raised by the following stages: Pre-Seed Seed and Seed Plus Series A Series B and beyond And typically, the capital raised by stage would be Pre-Seed – $500k Seed and Seed Plus – $2M-$3M Series A – $5M-$7M Series B and beyond – $10M Thes ..read more

ActionStreamer, the market-leading media streaming platform for IoT devices announced today the close of its $2.4M Series A funding round, led by JumpStart Ventures through the Advanced Manufacturing Fund, managed with support from MAGNET. The Castellini Management Company, owners of the Cincinnati Reds, also co-invested in the round. With the successful completion of Series A financing, ActionStreamer is poised to strategically deploy capital to accelerate the development of its patented comprehensive technology platform. The platform encompasses a robust API and SDK offering, reference hardw ..read more

In 2023, JumpStart Ventures set a new record, surpassing 100 active companies and investing over $12.5M in 30+ companies in our portfolio. These milestones are a testament to our unwavering commitment to fostering growth and innovation across Ohio. We are excited to partner with these startups as they strive to grow and make a positive impact in their respective industries. This year has been challenging for venture-backed tech startups due to significant changes in macroeconomic conditions. Startup founders are finding it tougher to secure funding from VCs, and investors have become more sele ..read more

Ohio VC Fest brought together more than 500 entrepreneurs, investors and business leaders to build a connected, collaborative VC ecosystem in the Midwest. Amidst all of the curated investor-founder meetups, valuable networking opportunities and insightful presentations, it was also a whole lot of fun! The PopCam lounge, featuring an interactive photo booth, allowed attendees to take professional headshots and capture some more candid moments. Check out a few of our favorite snapshots from the photo reel below. The post Ohio VC Fest ’23: PopCam Can ..read more

Ohio VC Fest ‘23 brought together entrepreneurs, investors and business leaders from across the Buckeye State and beyond to celebrate the region’s growing technology ecosystem. More than 500 guests attended the inaugural event that focused on empowering Midwest-based founders with the essential resources they need to succeed, including access to capital and investor connections. Over the course of two days, there was a remarkable exchange of ideas, insights and experiences. The energy was palpable; the immense, positive response is a testament to the statewide excitement for building a conne ..read more

In the fast-paced world of B2B startups, effective lead generation and conversion are crucial for sustained growth. To stand out in a competitive market, your marketing strategy must be compelling enough to resonate with your target audience. Starting a new business is an exhilarating journey, but it comes with its fair share of challenges. One of the biggest challenges startups face is getting their products or services in front of potential customers. This is where a comprehensive marketing strategy becomes paramount. Whether you are an early-stage startup looking to make a splash in the mar ..read more

A customer relationship management (CRM) platform is essential for managing and growing the customer base for all B2B and tech SaaS startups. It can help you manage and nurture customer relationships, improve sales efficiency and gain valuable insights about customers. With a CRM system in place, you can focus on growing your business and achieving your goals. CRM is vital for tech SaaS startups for the following reasons: Centralized Customer Data A CRM system allows you to store all your customer data in one central location. This includes information such as contact details, purchase hi ..read more

JumpStart Ventures is thrilled to host Ohio VC Fest, a two-day summit bringing together tech founders, investors, corporate leaders, and entrepreneurs Oct. 11-12 in downtown Cleveland. Ohio VC Fest is a groundbreaking event in the state, offering Ohio-based founders unprecedented access to capital and client connections while facilitating deal flow for institutional and corporate investors. “As innovation hubs nationwide continue to grow and gain momentum, Ohio is at a critical turning point,” said Hardik Desai, Managing Partner at Jumpstart Ventures. “Ohio VC Fest unites key players, facilita ..read more

Bezlio, an Akron-based software developer, said it has closed on a $4.5 million seed funding round featuring investments by JumpStart Ventures and Louisiana venture investor Advantage Capital. Advantage said it invested $2.5 million in the round, which was led by JumpStart in partnership with JobsOhio. Bezlio provides “enterprise resource planning (ERP) integrations to enhance manufacturing operations,” according to the company. It further describes itself as a “low/no-code software development platform that provides shop floor personnel, field workers, installers, engineers, salespeople and o ..read more