JumpStart Inc.
62 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 6 years ago - ★★★★★ - 1 ratingNews, conversation, educational tools and information from the JumpStart Entrepreneurial Network.
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Episodes
Revealed: Secrets to Small Business Success
November 09, 2017 15:34 - 1 hour - 96.1 MBEvery small business is different. However, there are some basic principles that stay the same no matter who you are or what kind of business you’re trying to grow. In this episode of the JumpStart Podcast, Larry Fulton, Owner of LEFCO Worthington, Constance Hill-Johnson, MPA, Owner and Managing Director of Visiting Angels Living Assistance Services, Lamont Mackley, Principal of Entrepreneurial Services and Investing at JumpStart and Mike Marchetti, Venture Partner at JumpStart reveal thei...
10 Ways To Ruin A Website
October 19, 2017 15:46 - 48 minutes - 66.1 MBYour website should be the hub of all your marketing efforts…so is yours a 24/7 lead generating machine or an out-of-date embarrassment? With years of digital marketing experience, the web gurus at Kiwi Creative—a Cleveland-based marketing studio for B2B software and technology companies—have seen the good, bad and downright ugly of all things website-related. In this episode, Kiwi Creative's Jen Lombardi and Patrick Zangardi share their top 10 picks for things NOT to do when building or...
Using Outside Influencers To Grow Your Businesses
September 25, 2017 13:13 - 43 minutes - 60.3 MBBuilding a brand today requires more than some brochures and the occasional press release. Whether you’re wooing social media influencers on Instagram or pitching reporters in a newsroom, knowing how to find and engage the people who can help get your message to your customers is key. On Wednesday, September 20th, JumpStart welcomed Kate Lienesch, PR coordinator for Hello, a Cleveland engagement agency, for an insightful presentation on how to work with third party influencers to help am...
Scaling Up: Grow Or Die
September 13, 2017 15:07 - 1 hour - 83.8 MBWhen it comes to running a business, time stands still for no one. New competitors, new customers and new industry disruptions add up over time to create one simple truth—If you stop working to stay relevant, your business will inevitably start to decline. In this session of "Scaling Up"—a new JumpStart event series focused on small business growth—a panel of entrepreneurs and small business owners talk about thinking creatively and reaching for the kinds of new opportunities that have hel...
Startup Stories: Living Local, Thinking Global
April 07, 2017 20:46 - 56 minutes - 77.5 MBWhether you live in Cleveland or California, building a world-class startup requires you to think on a global scale. On Thursday, March 30th, JumpStart invited a panel of experienced NEO entrepreneurs to Bottlehouse Brewery, to share real stories and offer real advice about getting the most out of your local resources, while also keeping your eye on the big picture.
IP Workshop with Isaac Molnar
January 30, 2017 20:55 - 58 minutes - 81 MBOn Thursday, January 12, JumpStart hosted an IP workshop with Isaac Molnar, Assistant Attorney General and Intellectual Property Counsel, Business Counsel Unit for the State of Ohio. This program focused on issues unique to web-based/software/app-based (“IT”) companies. The first topic, Intellectual property or IP, refers to trademark, trade secrets, patent and copyright law. Each of these areas has issues unique to IT companies including: scope of trademark protection for SaaS compani...
Candid Conversation: Entrepreneurship & Family Sacrifice
December 08, 2016 15:03 - 1 hour - 92.3 MBEntrepreneurship can be exciting and rewarding. But the long hours and high stress can take a real toll—on you and the people who care about you. On Tuesday, December 6, JumpStart invited entrepreneurs and their families to the Great Lakes Science Center for an honest discussion about the sacrifices they make on a daily basis. Sponsored by Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses initiative in partnership with Cuyahoga Community College.
Using Great Culture To Attract Top Talent
November 30, 2016 17:17 - 43 minutes - 59.6 MBLarge companies have some major advantages over startups when it comes to finding and keeping employees. But small ventures can still compete for great talent when they focus on creating a company culture that supports and inspires people. On November 16, JumpStart held a panel discussion with entrepreneurs and recruiters about using great culture to attract top talent. Featuring: Moderator: Dan Aerni, Director, Entrepreneurial Talent at JumpStart Inc. Charlie Lougheed, Co-Founder, Pr...
Accounting For Growth: How Strong Financial Planning Can Make Or Break A Startup
November 01, 2016 13:59 - 57 minutes - 79.2 MBOn Thursday, October 27 JumpStart hosted a conversation about setting up a strong financial structure that can help attract investors and set up both startups and scaleups for long-term success. The panel experts provided both insight and advice, as well as stories from real entrepreneurs who are leveraging strong financial practices to drive growth.
How The Health-Tech Corridor Can Help Your Startup Grow
October 27, 2016 19:34 - 45 minutes - 62.8 MBRelocating to Cleveland’s reimagined Health-Tech Corridor (HTC) offers tremendous opportunities for innovative biomedical, healthcare and technology companies. On Wednesday, October 19, JumpStart and BioEnterprise hosted a discussion on the opportunities available in the HTC, as well as an overview of the resources and funding available through both organizations.
Building A Blockbuster Personal Brand
September 29, 2016 14:21 - 44 minutes - 61.4 MBOn Wednesday, September 21st, JumpStart hosted Jacquie Chakirelis, Senior Digital Director at Advance Ohio, for a discussion on the foundation of building a strong personal brand. In this podcast, Jacquie examines why the process of cultivating and managing a personal brand is so valuable for both entrepreneurs and business leaders, and also gives tips to help you start separating yourself from the competition immediately.
How To Get Your Next 100 Sales Leads
September 20, 2016 13:55 - 1 hour - 96.2 MBRyan O’Donnell understands that great ideas don’t sell themselves. As co-founder and CEO of Cleveland-based SellHack, a sales prospecting and lead generation tool, he has set out to ensure the profitability of great products and services. On September 14, Ryan led an interactive discussion, How To Get Your Next 100 Sales Leads, where he explained how technology can eliminate time-consuming manual processes—freeing time for entrepreneurs and sales teams to build relationships and close deals.
How To Take Your Business From $2M To $10M
September 06, 2016 15:45 - 45 minutes - 61.9 MBDid you miss this standing-room only session at Startup Scaleup 2016? Did you leave the session looking for even more information? If so, now's your chance to listen to a second edition of “How to Take Your Business From $2M - $10M.” In this podcast, you’ll meet a whole new lineup of experienced entrepreneurs who share stories about growing their own businesses, including the challenges they faced and the resources they found most helpful. Participants include: Sally Schriner (moderato...
The Female Founders’ Guide To Raising Capital
August 24, 2016 16:55 - 1 hour - 99.5 MBRaising capital is hard enough, but did you know that only 2.7 % of venture capital investment goes to female-founded businesses? On Thursday, August 18th, JumpStart hosted an insightful panel discussion examining how female founders are defying the statistics and finding creative paths to funding. This event, sponsored by Fifth Third Bank, featured an all-star line-up of entrepreneurs, investors and change makers including Michelle Murcia (West Capital Advisors), Reka Barabas (Bad Girl ...
Making Sense Of Small Business Certifications: How To Navigate The Certification Maze And Drive Business Growth
May 18, 2016 21:01 - 44 minutes - 61.7 MBOn Wednesday, May 18, JumpStart and the Women’s Business Center of Ohio welcomed a panel of successful business owners for a discussion about women-owned, minority and disadvantaged business certifications. The group explored the pros and cons of each certification type, and talked about how to leverage your certifications to gain additional business. Sponsored by the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses initiative in partnership with Cuyahoga Community College.
The Well-Being Of The Citizen
May 16, 2016 14:41 - 53 minutes - 72.9 MBOn Tuesday, April 19th, Citizens Bank and Growth Opportunity Partners hosted a conversation about the best ways companies can position themselves to become anchor businesses in their community. The discussion, sponsored by Citizens Bank, centered around Cleveland’s historical assets, how those assets have changed throughout the city’s history and how companies can use them as a key driver in business growth.
Over Lunch: The Importance Of Market Research
March 14, 2016 17:32 - 55 minutes - 76.8 MBFrom introducing a new product to entering a new market, a comprehensive approach to market research can help reduce the risks involved in growing your business. On Tuesday, March 8, JumpStart's Market Research Analyst, Jaclyn Sommers, hosted an informative seminar on how to validate product and target market assumptions across varied industries and technologies, and the importance of market research for startups and small businesses. Sponsored by Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses ini...
How To Launch A Content-First Business, Featuring Content Inc.'s Joe Pulizzi
February 23, 2016 22:23 - 1 hour - 101 MBIn this presentation, Joe Pulizzi, author of the new book Content Inc., details how many of today's most successful businesses started, and how they have become some of the fastest growing businesses on the planet. Better yet, the presentation breaks down what you can learn from these companies, and how you can use these strategies to grow your business.
Economic Forecast 2016
February 04, 2016 17:08 - 1 hour - 111 MBOn Tuesday, January 19, Citizens Bank and Growth Opportunity Partners hosted a discussion with Dr. Ken Mayland on economic forcasting in 2016. Dr. Mayland discussed the data and trends related to job growth, impact of a rising interest rate environment, GDP growth and general economic trends, and how the changing economy could influence the financial strategy for your business this year.
Over Lunch: Marketing & Sales
October 13, 2015 13:01 - 51 minutes - 70.5 MBTo take your business to the next level, you need to grow; and to grow you need highly effective marketing and sales strategies to improve your bottom line. Building these kinds of strategies takes a comprehensive understanding of the market, including your customers’ needs and the unique value your product or service brings. With so much on the line, it can sometimes be hard to know where to begin. On Wednesday, May 20, JumpStart hosted an open discussion on how to get started evaluating,...
Predicting The Future: How To Prepare A Financial Forecast, Part 2
December 17, 2014 21:47 - 25 minutes - 34.4 MBFor young businesses, financial forecasting is often an overwhelming undertaking. Learning how to build and present financial projections that attract the attention of bankers and investors without venturing into unrealistic territory can be a difficult task to master. On Wednesday, December 3, JumpStart held a two-part evening seminar aimed at conquering the numbers and helping business owners create a financial roadmap for success. (View Part 1 here.) During the second half of the event,...
Cyber Security: Can Your Company Afford A Breach?
November 20, 2014 16:12 - 56 minutes - 76.9 MBHigh-profile cyber breaches with companies such as Target, Home Depot and JP Morgan Chase have proven how easy it is for hackers to steal information (including credit card numbers, passwords, social security numbers, client records, etc). Small businesses wear the biggest bulls-eye when it comes to being targeted by hackers for many reasons – often small organizations don’t have onsite IT support or are not thinking about prevention when planning. During an evening seminar on Wednesday, No...
Tech Savvy Women: Working For A Startup
November 04, 2014 18:02 - 26 minutes - 36.9 MBOn October 23, JumpStart Inc. partnered with Tech Savvy Women for a sold-out event connecting job candidates with companies currently recruiting new talent. The event, titled Tech Savvy Women: Working for a Startup, featured Jumpstart Senior Recruiter Angie Kilgore, who spoke about what it takes to work at a startup, as well as Tanya Wagener from Big River and Christine Knific from Movable, who shared their personal stories and lessons learned during their time working for Northeast Ohi...
“It’s About The Story”: Prepping A Great Investor Pitch
July 14, 2014 17:52 - 58 minutes - 80.2 MBPresenting to venture capitalists or other early stage investors can be challenging. These investors want to know how your company can make them money with explosive growth, why your solution matters to customers, just enough of your technology to get the “secret sauce,” how you protect your IP and why your team is the one to pull this off. Oh—and you might have to do all of that in 15 minutes. “It’s About The Story!”—a one-hour presentation by Chris Mather, Chief Executive of National I...
Learning The Code: How An Education In Programming Benefits Everyone
June 27, 2014 15:10 - 31 minutes - 43.1 MBAs businesses become increasingly more data-focused, the need for quality IT talent, along with programs that cultivate a passion for technology into a career, is growing exponentially. The ability to understand and use efficient coding languages helps diversify and strengthen job applicants. Two local programs, the Software Craftsmanship Guild and Tech Corps, aim to bridge the gap between traditional classroom education and hands-on tech skills sought by employers to build a new tech workf...
Spring Forward: Tips For Growing Your Small Business
June 06, 2014 19:51 - 53 minutes - 74.1 MBEvery entrepreneur wants to see his/her small business grow. But what does it take to make this happen, especially if you’re a busy business owner with limited resources? In this JumStart panel discussion, three recent graduates of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program frankly discuss how they've navigated these challenges and the valuable insights they've gained as a result. This event was sponsored by the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses initiative in partnership with C...
Attracting Capital Between the Coasts
April 10, 2014 16:17 - 1 hour - 84.3 MBOn April 7 at the 2014 Northeast Ohio Entrepreneur Expo, four seasoned Midwest investors came together for a conversation about the challenges and opportunities companies in the middle of the country face when it comes to funding. The one-hour panel discussion, "Attracting Capital Between the Coasts," explored the changes in VC and angel investing in the U.S., and how these impact entrepreneurs in Ohio and in the Midwest. Topics the investors covered include the advantages of launching start...
VentureOhio: Strength In Numbers
April 02, 2014 15:09 - 50 minutes - 69.1 MBA new trade association is bringing together the groups, organizations, investors and corporations that help Ohio entrepreneurs access the capital they need to grow. VentureOhio plans to work on making Ohio’s increasingly robust entrepreneurial scene more self-sustaining by building a more cohesive network, advocating for entrepreneur- and investor-friendly policies, sharing the State’s story—and ...
Regional Collaboration Is A Two-Way Street
February 25, 2014 20:35 - 44 minutes - 60.9 MBHigh-tech startups are a key driver of job creation and young, entrepreneurial companies can lay claim to creating all net new jobs in the US over the last 30 years. So, it should be no surprise that communities faced with a loss of industry are working to expand their economic development strategies past traditional attraction and retention to include the ability to support the launch and growth of new, tech-based businesses. For most areas of the country, this shift represents both a trem...
Growing Your Business in 2014: A Panel Discussion
February 07, 2014 14:53 - 36 minutes - 49.7 MBEvery entrepreneur wants to see his/her business succeed. But what does it take to create and implement a growth plan, especially if you’re a busy business owner with limited access to capital? In this panel discussion, sponsored by the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses initiative in partnership with Cuyahoga Community College and moderated by JumpStart’ Senior Advisor Lamont Mackley, three recent graduates of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program frankly discuss how they’ve ...
Capturing Capital: A Panel Discussion
January 30, 2014 16:27 - 54 minutes - 74.6 MBEntrepreneurs and small businesses have a variety of funding options available, but figuring out which capital source to pursue—and at what stage of development financing is needed—isn’t always clear. In this “Capturing Capital” panel discussion, sponsored by Charter One and moderated by JumpStart’s Jerry Frantz, listen to panelists Eric Diamond of ECDI, Deborah Perkins of The Presidents' Council, Chris Sklarin of Edison Ventures and Lee Zapis of Zapis Capital Group talk about the different...
Northeast Ohio: A Role Model For Global Entrepreneurship?
January 15, 2014 18:11 - 49 minutes - 67.5 MBWith reports showing that high-tech startups contribute to the vibrancy and diversity of the economy and are a key driver of job creation, regions around the world are interested in becoming innovation hotspots. The reality is that most markets are not venture capital meccas like Silicon Valley. Still, there are creative ways to spur and support entrepreneurial activity and civic and corporate leaders, nonprofit foundations and economic development organizations are experimenting with novel ...
What It Takes To Work At A Startup
December 17, 2013 21:17 - 44 minutes - 61.2 MBAt any given time, JumpStart Inc.'s job board lists 60 to 80 job openings at early stage companies in Greater Cleveland. Clearly, the region's young companies are creating opportunities. But how do cash- and time-strapped entrepreneurial firms identify, recruit and retain the tech talent they need in today’s globally competitive environment? And how do they find skilled workers that are a cultural fit for the fast-paced, constantly changing startup world? In this roundtable moderated by Sam...
Entrepreneurs: The Next Generation
December 04, 2013 05:00 - 43 minutes - 59.3 MBThrough Venture for America, a highly competitive program launched in 2010, some of the nation’s best and the brightest grads have the chance to experience entrepreneurship while making an impact on a young company’s growth. Cleveland was added to the list of Venture for America cities this year. There are eight fellows in town for the next two years, and several JumpStart client companies have added this enthusiastic young talent to their ranks. “Our goal is to continue to funnel smart, ta...
Social Media How And Why: A Fireside Chat
November 05, 2013 20:17 - 43 minutes - 59.2 MBSocial media is one of the most important promotional tools a business can use. However, figuring out what platform to use—and what to share with customers—can be challenging. This fireside chat between Insivia CEO and owner Andy Halko and Renter’s BOOM Founder and CEO Lindsay Sims is an overview of how and why growing companies can benefit from using social media.
Fail Smart: Mistakes To Learn From
October 22, 2013 15:41 - 40 minutes - 55.8 MBAs any entrepreneur knows, despite best-laid plans, nobody is successful 100 percent of the time. Thankfully, most people recognize that mistakes alone can’t define them or deliver a fatal blow—rather, they are an opportunity for growth. In this discussion, part of a series of local meet-ups called Small Talks presented by Turnstone in cities across the U.S., panelists Chris Seper of MedCity Media, Sue Borison and Stephanie Silverman of Your Teen Media, and José Vasquéz of Quez Media Market...
The Benefits of an Entrepreneurial Education
October 04, 2013 18:08 - 46 minutes - 64.5 MBEntrepreneurship education in higher education is exploding with 5,000 colleges and universities offering entrepreneurship courses in 2013, compared to 250 in 1985. That’s according to the Kauffman Foundation, who also reports that more than 500 universities have instituted majors, minors or certificates in entrepreneurship. In this roundtable discussion, JumpStart's Samantha Fryberger sits down with Deborah Hoover, President & CEO, Burton D. Morgan Foundation; Peter Abramo, Director of the...
Human Resources For Startups + Small Businesses: A Panel Discussion
September 24, 2013 04:00 - 49 minutes - 67.8 MBHuman Resources is the backbone of any organization, responsible for structuring and enforcing the hiring process, employee benefits and company culture. Startups and small businesses have unique needs as they grow and add employees—from figuring out the hiring process and determining benefits to creating an engaging workplace and attracting the right talent. This panel discussion moderated by The Nielsen Group owner Lee Nielsen covers designing a benefits plan and compensation package, as ...
How New Healthcare Policies and Laws Affect Small Businesses
September 18, 2013 16:03 - 29 minutes - 40.5 MBOn Wednesday, August 7, JumpStart hosted a half-day Human Resources event that covered topics important to small business—from the hiring process and determining benefits, to creating an engaging workplace. One topic of particular interest to many companies is providing healthcare coverage for their employees. As part of the event, JumpStart welcomed Trish Decensi, Vice President and Assistant General Counsel for Medical Mutual of Ohio, to discuss new policies and laws related to the afforda...
Accessing A Startup Accelerator
August 27, 2013 20:09 - 43 minutes - 59.6 MBTechStars, 500 Startups, Y Combinator…these well-known accelerators work with promising young companies for a limited time, exchanging mentoring and pre-seed funding for equity. With nearly 200 accelerators already in existence and new ones sprouting up all the time, how does an entrepreneur know if a startup launch program is right for him or her? We sat down with Charles Stack and Jennifer Neundorfer from FlashStarts and Dar Caldwell from LaunchHouse—both Northeast Ohio-based accelerators—...
First To File & Patent Law Changes: A Panel Discussion
August 15, 2013 14:57 - 39 minutes - 54.1 MBOn Thursday, July 25, Jumpstart hosted “First To File,” a panel discussion on patent law changes. Moderated by Barbara Morgan and featuring panelists Elyse Ball, Esq. of The University of Akron Research Foundation; Patricia Smith, Esq. of P.A. Smith, LLC; and Daniel J. McMullen, Attorney At Law for Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP; the discussion covered major aspects of the first-to-file system and how it differs from the previous patent process. In addition, the event addressed the implicati...
The Impact of Incubators
July 31, 2013 18:53 - 45 minutes - 62.2 MBIn 2012, there were nearly 1,300 incubators in the United States. The 2012 State of the Business Incubation Industry report revealed that around 93% of those incubators were nonprofit organizations focused on economic development and about 47% of them operated in urban areas. In Greater Cleveland, there are a number of incubators that, while working in their individual communities, are part of a connected Network of entrepreneurial resources—including seed funds, accelerators and mentors—acr...
What Works When It Comes Time To Pitch
July 08, 2013 20:17 - 43 minutes - 59.5 MBIn 2012, 108 Northeast Ohio companies raised $212 million in equity capital from angel and venture capitalists to grow their businesses. Still, the process of raising capital is a struggle for many, if not most, entrepreneurs. Imagine convincing potential investors—especially ones you don’t know—to put money into your company above other opportunities. It requires, among other things, technique, a strong business model and confidence.JumpStart's Samantha Fryberger sat down with a succesful f...
For Entrepreneurs, By Entrepreneurs
June 27, 2013 15:28 - 46 minutes - 64.3 MBGreater Cleveland would not have been thought of as the land of entrepreneurial opportunity or activity 10 or so years ago. The region survived on established industry for quite some time, but found itself coming up short on jobs in the 1980s and 1990s. Over the past decade, the region banded together to get the entrepreneurial ball rolling with seed funds, incubators, accelerators and other key resources. Now Northeast Ohio is flush with an array of programs and startups successfully rais...
Finding Financing: A Panel Discussion
June 20, 2013 15:34 - 1 hour - 84.4 MBEvery business needs capital to grow—but getting that funding in place can be a challenge. In this panel discussion moderated by JumpStart Chief Inclusion Officer Darrin Redus, Charter One Bank President Ken Marblestone, JumpStart President John Dearborn, Economic and Community Development Institute (ECDI) Vice President Eric Diamond and RiverVest Venture Partners Vice President Karen Spilizewski discuss the variety of ways an entrepreneur can finance their business—from bootstrapping to se...
Alliance, Ohio Makes Entrepreneurship Hyper-Local
June 03, 2013 17:05 - 5 minutes - 7.74 MBThe City of Alliance recently became the sixth Northeast Ohio community to launch a hyper-local fund to support tech entrepreneurs, following Akron, Canton, Wooster, Barberton and Cuyahoga County. Listen in and learn more about the excitement around this forward-thinking economic development initiative and hear from the entrepreneurs interested in this new source of early-stage capital.
Perfecting Your Pitch: A Panel Discussion
May 29, 2013 19:09 - 1 hour - 91.3 MBPitching an investor can be one of the most anxiety-inducing things an entrepreneur has to do. On Wednesday, April 17, JumpStart hosted “Perfecting Your Pitch,” a panel discussion about what to do (and not to do) when approaching investors, as well as what makes a compelling pitch that resonates with investors. Moderated by JumpStart Venture Partner Lee Poseidon, the panel included: Dennis Cocco, Director of GLIDE, serial entrepreneur and investor Doug Weintraub, JumpStart Venture Partne...
Charter One Launch100 Leadership Circle
April 30, 2013 19:40 - 5 minutes - 7.29 MBOn Thursday, April 25, nine Northeast Ohio entrepreneurial companies were recognized as new members of the Charter One Launch100 Leadership Circle. The Circle, which was established in 2012, recognizes diverse entrepreneurs committed to turning their business ideas into some of the region’s most impactful companies. The 2013 class joins the members of last year’s inaugural Launch100 Leadership Circle in forming a regional peer network of high-growth minority-and women-led companies.
2013 LaunchTown Entrepreneurship Awards
April 25, 2013 13:25 - 5 minutes - 7.56 MBOn Wednesday, April 17, Northeast Ohio business leaders, investors, college students, faculty and families gathered at the University of Akron's Martin Center for the 7th annual LaunchTown Entrepreneurship Awards. An academic idea competition available to students of any major area of study from Northeast Ohio colleges and universities, LaunchTown seeks to find the best new idea for a business, product or service to create wealth. The winner receives $10,000, courtesy of a Burton D. Morgan F...
Fostering Inclusive Entrepreneurial Ecosystems
April 24, 2013 15:29 - 46 minutes - 63.2 MBAs the US looks to create new jobs, new opportunities and new industries, we're supporting and investing in our regional entrepreneurial ecosystems--which represent the collective of tech-based economic development organizations, entrepreneurial incubators, colleges and universities, venture and angel funds, and other resources dedicated to spurring the creation of a region's high growth entrepreneurs. And yet, we’re not reaching everyone. For example, according to CBInsights, in 2011 only 1...