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 companies, both directly and by working in partnership with its service provider networks. JumpStart employs Entrepreneurs-in-Residence, Venture Partners, Market Research Analysts, Talent professionals and Marketing professionals to provide direct support to tech-based startups through the Northern Ohio ESP Networks and main street businesses through Core City programming.
DIRECT SUPPORT
JumpStart works collaboratively with partner organizations to ensure entrepreneurs across Northern Ohio have access to the programming they need to succeed. To this end, in addition to one-on-one work with entrepreneurs, JumpStart offers free educational workshops on a wide variety of topics. While some of these workshops are targeted towards early-stage tech-based companies (such as the Launch Your MVP Program focused on software products), subjects such as Talent Strategy, Social Media Strategy, and Digital Marketing are open to any business meeting size and growth criteria. For high-potential clients eager for intensive assistance, JumpStart offers the Impact Program, a 12-week business assistance program with an emphasis on financial projections and capital pitches.
In addition to assistance and programming provided by paid JumpStart staff, clients may also be matched with a mentor from the Burton D. Morgan Mentoring Program at JumpStart, where those with experience in entrepreneurship and who are subject matter experts volunteer their time to assist entrepreneurs to validate and grow their companies, or a mentor from the Core City Encore Mentoring Program, which matches individuals (age 50+) who want to give back to their community with entrepreneurs in search of advice to grow their businesses.
NETWORK MANAGEMENT
JumpStart manages networks of entrepreneurial service organizations set-up to assist early-stage, high-tech entrepreneurs across the 39 counties of Northern Ohio (including 21 counties in Northeast Ohio and 18 counties in Northwest Ohio). JumpStart secures partial support for these service organizations from the Ohio Third Frontier, a program of the State of Ohio. As network manager, JumpStart not only manages all invoicing and reporting to the state but brings 14 partner organizations together on a regular basis to assess startup client deal flow and allocate resources using a shared client management system.
Together with the Greater Cleveland Partnership’s Equity and Inclusion division, JumpStart has helped establish a network to provide the same kind of coordinated support to the minority small business community that is available to tech entrepreneurs. With this intention, the Business Growth Collaborative (BGC) and the Business Growth Collaborative Funding Pool were formed, first in Cleveland and then in Toledo. JumpStart provides backbone management support and is a member, working to provide assistance and connections to small business owners.
Access to Capital
JumpStart invests in and supports businesses that are 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 non-tech business owners and more specifically African American and Latinx business owners. The Visible Voice Fund, Core City: Cleveland Award funding, and Impact Loan Fund currently serve as the channels through which JumpStart direct capital to non-tech entrepreneurs.
Since its inception, JumpStart has been providing early-stage capital to tech entrepreneurs. More than half of JumpStart’s investment capital since 2004 has been provided by the Ohio Third Frontier, an unprecedented statewide commitment to create new technology-based companies. All OTF dollars must be matched with a minimum 1:1 from other sources. Through a team of investing professionals, subject matter experts, and outside consultants, JumpStart conducts due diligence, invests, and provides ongoing guidance to early-stage entrepreneurs through its three early-stage funds – JumpStart Evergreen Fund, JumpStart Focus Fund, and JumpStart NEXT Fund.
Where we work
External reviews

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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?
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
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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
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JumpStart, Inc.
Board of directorsas of 02/22/2022
Mr. Gary Shamis
Winding River Consulting
Term: 2019 - 2022
Ray 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 Regelski
Eaton Corporation
John Pigott
ProMedica Innovations
William 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? GuideStar partnered on this section with CHANGE Philanthropy and Equity in the Center.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
No data