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

For early-stage technology startups, the concept of failing fast as a prerequisite for future success is widely known. Startup founders must be prepared to learn from mistakes quickly and iterate rapidly to adapt to changes in the market, technology or user needs. Tosan Ugbeye, a registered clinician, certified anesthetist and the founder and CEO of ScopeMed, was working at a Level 1 trauma center at the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and felt the shock to the system of respiratory care protocols. “There was a sudden, huge concern about how providers were going to safely care for their pati ..read more

For centuries, systemic and structural racism has restricted economic progress for Black Americans, exacerbated the U.S.’s Black-white wealth gap and perpetuated fundamental racial injustice. Black History Month allows us to revisit the struggles and efforts to right the wrongs of racism while recommitting to our organizational objectives. JumpStart works to provide inclusive, accessible business growth resources to Black, Latino/Hispanic and women–led companies that help bridge disparity gaps and amplify the impact these entrepreneurs have on their communities. We believe key drivers to this ..read more

As JumpStart enters our 20th year, we remain steadfast in our mission of unlocking the full potential of entrepreneurship to transform our communities. Launched in 2016, JumpStart’s flagship Small Business Impact Program is the region’s leading business accelerator that provides hands-on advising and industry-specific mentoring to local entrepreneurs. The 12-week program focuses on helping participants overcome key business challenges, prepare financial projections and set appropriate milestones. Seven years and 19 cohorts later, JumpStart is proud to announce the participants of our 20th Impa ..read more