JumpStart, Inc.
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Business Assistance
JumpStart provides business assistance to a broad range of tech startups and small businesses through Entrepreneurs-in-Residence, Venture Partners, Analysts, and more. JumpStart offers free workshops on a variety of topics and for select small businesses, the 12-week intensive Impact Program. JumpStart also provides connections to subject matter experts and experienced entrepreneurs through the Burton D. Morgan Mentoring Program and Encore Mentoring Program.
JumpStart works with partners to ensure all have access to entrepreneurial support. JumpStart manages networks of support organizations across Northern Ohio to connect tech entrepreneurs to space, capital, and advice. All organizations, including JumpStart, receive funding from the Ohio Third Frontier. Together with Greater Cleveland Partnership, JumpStart established the Business Growth Collaborative to provide the same coordinated support to the minority small business community. The BGC is now active in Cleveland and Toledo.
Access to Capital
JumpStart invests in and supports businesses playing an important role in the revitalization of their communities by converting capital into localized commercial activity. JumpStart, along with many partners, is working to address access to capital for small business owners and more specifically African American and Hispanic/Latino/a business owners. The Visible Voice Fund, Impact Program, and Impact Loan Fund currently serve as the channels by which JumpStart directs capital to small businesses.
Since inception, JumpStart has provided early-stage capital to tech entrepreneurs. More than half of JumpStart’s investment capital has come from the Ohio Third Frontier, a statewide commitment to create new tech-based companies. All OTF dollars must be matched with a min. 1:1 from other sources. JumpStart conducts due diligence, invests, and provides ongoing guidance through the JumpStart Evergreen Fund, JumpStart Focus Fund, JumpStart NEXT Fund, and the Healthcare Collaboration Fund.
Where we work
External reviews

Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Evaluation documents
Download evaluation reportsTotal dollars loaned to businesses
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults, Self-employed people, Women, People of African descent, People of Latin American descent
Related Program
Access to Capital
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
To date, JumpStart has invested more than $61M into 125 Ohio tech startups. 44% of our total investment capital has been deployed into companies led by women and people of color.
Number of companies who have engaged in JumpStart business assistance programs
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Women, Self-employed people, Adults, People of African descent, People of Latin American descent
Related Program
Business Assistance
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Since our inception, JumpStart has engaged more than 6,500+ companies. In 2019 alone, JumpStart engaged 1,150 companies. 51% were led by women and 42% were led by people of color.
Total dollar amount of grants awarded
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults, Women, Self-employed people, People of African descent, People of Latin American descent
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
JumpStart grants funding to partners in the Northeast Ohio Startup Network on behalf of the Ohio Third Frontier.
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
JumpStart, in collaboration with its partners, will generate dramatically improved and inclusive economic outcomes by supporting diverse entrepreneurs, optimizing entrepreneurial ecosystems, and accelerating innovation.
From FY21 to FY23, JumpStart’s performance commitments are as follows:
1. 2,000 jobs created, with 1,000 (50%) jobs created by client and portfolio companies led by women, Black, or Latinx entrepreneurs
2. 225 client and portfolio companies will raise at least $250K in investment capital, 50% led by women, Black or Latinx entrepreneurs. 60 small businesses will raise at least $25K in grants or loans, 80% led by Black or Latinx entrepreneurs
3. 70% of engaged JumpStart client and portfolio companies are using milestone-based performance management
4. Raise $150M+ for venture funds and deploy $30M+ in capital
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
1. Cultivate and accelerate the growth of diverse, highest potential entrepreneurs or attract them to Ohio via evolving, high impact services and access to capital.
2. Leverage our startup tech equity investing track record and the Cleveland Innovation Project (CIP) to raise $150M+ 150M+* to invest in startups in both current and new geographies desired by LPs; continue efforts to increase sources of grant/debt capital deployed in communities we serve.
3. Proactively seek and evolve long term partnerships with the State, corporations, institutions, and our economic development partners to build proprietary deal flow, raise and invest funds, accelerate venture development, and secure $1M+ annually (by 2023) in new, sustainable revenue for
4. Make progress towards racial and gender equity in entrepreneurship and related workforce efforts via our work as an intermediary and leader.
5. Play significant leadership role in Cleveland Innovation Project, Midtown Innovation Community, and other civic, entrepreneurship and/or innovation initiatives in markets we serve.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback, The people we serve tell us they find data collection burdensome
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
JumpStart, Inc.
Board of directorsas of 06/29/2023
Ms. Jeanne Coughlin
The Coughlin Group, Inc.
Term: 2021 - 2024
Ray T. Leach
JumpStart, Inc.
Kate Asbeck
The Cleveland Foundation
Karim Botros
Echo Health Ventures
Anthony Campana
Campana Capital
Carol Caruso
Caruso Public Affairs, LLC
Jeanne Coughlin
The Coughlin Group, Inc.
Romona Davis
Huntington National Bank
JJ DiGeronimo
Tech Savvy Women
Stephen Dull
Eric Fiala
KeyBank
Stephen Fry
SRF Consulting
Larry Goodman
Goodman Beverage Corporation
Brian Hall
The Greater Cleveland Partnership
Thomas Hopkins
Sherwin Williams
Joseph Jankowski
Case Western Reserve University
Stephen McHale
Explorys
Darrell McNair
MVP Plastics, Inc.
Nancy Mendez
United Way of Greater Cleveland
Barbara Paynter
Paynter Communications
Michael R. Regelski
Eaton Corporation
John Pigott
ProMedica Innovations
William R. Seelbach
The Riverside Company
Cindy Torres Essell
Heinen's, Inc.
Sharon Toerek
Toerek Law
Jose Vasquez
Quéz Media Marketing
Mark Samolczyk
Stark Community Foundation
Ann Hamilton
The Cleveland Clinic
Larry Fulton
LEFCO Worthington
Odell Coleman
ColemanWick
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
No data