Members of the JumpStart Entrepreneurial Network are Northeast Ohio entrepreneurial service and funding entities, supported by Ohio Third Frontier. Individually, they provide entrepreneurs with vital resources for companies at varying stages of company growth and in various industry sectors. Together, they create an efficient continuum of support that helps make Northeast Ohio one of the best and easiest places to start a company in the country.
Incubators and Accelerators:
Akron Global Business Accelerator - The Akron Global Business Accelerator (AGBA) offers upscale office, lab and manufacturing space with state of the art conferencing facilities and IT services. The Accelerator offers support and counseling services including: cash flow management, financing, marketing and sales, business plan development and much more. Attention is given to assisting new companies commercializing advanced materials, electronics and instrumentation, and information technologies.
BioEnterprise - BioEnterprise is a business formation, recruitment, and acceleration initiative designed to grow health care companies and commercialize bioscience technologies. They offer a full range of services to support the development and growth of healthcare businesses, such as management support, clinical collaborations, investment capital and other start-up funding, business development, and a network of regional resources. In addition to the grant assistance provided by the JumpStart Entrepreneurial Network, BioEnterprise is a member providing grant assistance resources.
Braintree Center for Business Innovation - Braintree is a non-profit business incubator that assists business start-ups and emerging companies in North Central Ohio. They offer counseling, customer referral, access to capital, and training opportunities. Tenants are offered a series of services including a support system of successful entrepreneurs, flexible space, links to accounting, financial and legal professionals, one-on-one business consulting, and networking opportunities with other small businesses.
Great Lakes Innovation and Development Enterprise - GLIDE is a comprehensive regional innovation center, resource hub, and business incubator that assists entrepreneurs in growing their business at all stages. Their services include business and idea assessments, technology and staffing support, access to legal counsel, educational resources, business management mentoring, access to capital, and strategic business guidance.
The Incubator at MAGNET - The Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network acts as the voice for and to the region’s manufacturers, as well as the “one stop shop” for public and private resources needed by those companies in order to compete around the world. MAGNET’s consulting services consist of industry experts who assist manufacturers of all sizes and segments to become more productive, profitable, and innovative every day.
Youngstown Business Incubator - The Youngstown Business Incubator is a non-profit corporation that accelerates the start-up and growth rates of scalable technology-based businesses in the greater Mahoning Valley. The YBI’s current focus is on developing business to business software application companies, although they will work with firms possessing a broad range of proprietary technologies.
Pre-Seed and Seed Funds:
Akron BioInvestments Funds - These funds are designated for companies focused on orthopedics, wound healing, cardiovascular science, the use of biomaterials, the use of medical information technology, and the development of medical devices. All companies receiving investment must commit to maintain an Akron headquarters, or plan to establish a material presence in Akron. The Akron BioInvestments Funds is composed of two parts:
- The Rapid Commercialization Loan Fund supports the commercialization of high potential biomedical early-stage technologies by providing low-interest loans to companies that are close to commercialization, will create at least ten jobs in Akron within three years, and will commit to a long term presence in Akron. The main emphasis here will be on companies that are closer to commercialization, which will accelerate job creation and fits with the State's new strategy. Apply here.
- The Product Development Fund supports the demonstration and validation of high-potential local biomedical start-up companies by providing funds for proof of concept, prototyping, market assessment and business plan development, among other things.
Appleseed Microfinance - Appleseed Microfinance, based at the Braintree Business Development Center in Mansfield, provides small capital for small businesses. Loans of up to $35,000 are available for eligible Northeast Ohio businesses with annual revenues of less than $1,000,000. Loan fund uses and loan terms are flexible to meet business needs, however some owner investment is required. Loan applications come with free business counseling that’s available by appointment.
Barberton Growth Fund - The Barberton Growth Fund recognizes that a little capital at the right time can make all the difference. Developed by the Barberton Community Development Corporation with a significant investment from the Barberton Community Foundation, the loan fund supports entrepreneurs interested in growing their big ideas into big companies in the City of Barberton by offering payment-deferred, low interest loans of up to $50,000. Early stage companies in search of money to prove their technologies are invited to submit business plans by following the application form on this site.
Canton Entrepreneur Launch - Canton Entrepreneur Launch provides grants to entrepreneurs who plan to locate new, high growth business ventures in the city of Canton. It’s designed to create organic business growth by providing grants to startup businesses with the potential to attract additional growth capital, create substantial economic impact and develop job opportunities within the Canton community.
Glengary LLC - Glengary LLC is a venture catalyst enterprise – a new breed of venture capital organization – combining an unparalleled network of support services with merchant banking and investment capital. Innovation Fund founded by Lorain County Community College Foundation – The Innovation Fund is a regional fund focused on supporting technology-based entrepreneurial endeavors and emerging technology-based businesses, with support from the Ohio Third Frontier Pre-Seed Initiative.
Innovation Fund of the Lorain County Community College Foundation - The Innovation Fund is a regional fund focused on financially supporting technology-based entrepreneurial endeavors and emerging technology-based businesses in Northeast Ohio. Watch a video to learn more about the Innovation Fund.
JumpStart - JumpStart's investment team guides Northeast entrepreneurs with high potential businesses down the path toward wealth creation by providing seed capital, experienced advisors, and a network of vital resources. It invests in innovative, Northeast Ohio-based, early-stage companies that are positioned to excel in high opportunity markets.
North Coast Opportunities Technology Fund of Cuyahoga County - Developed by the Cuyahoga County Department of Development in connection with the Cuyahoga Next Advisor Task Force and in collaboration with the JumpStart Entrepreneurial Network, the new NCO Tech Fund will help capitalize and support early-stage, high potential/high-growth technology companies in Cuyahoga County.
Wooster Opportunity Loan Fund - The Wooster Opportunities Fund provides payment-deferred, low-interest loans of as much as $35,000 to early-stage, high potential/high-growth companies located in or willing to relocate to Wooster. The Fund was developed by the City of Wooster and the Wooster Growth Corporation, in collaboration with the JumpStart Entrepreneurial Network and with support from the Wooster Area Chamber of Commerce, Wooster Community Hospital and the Wayne Economic Development Council. Watch the video on what this new source of capital has to offer entrepreneurs.
Venture Capital and Angel Funds:
Concept Capital - Concept Capital was started to help young people (Northeast Ohio college students or recent college graduates) with long term, viable business models get their start. Concept Capital is looking for an innovative product or service businesses that can be deployed on a larger scale. In addition to investing in these companies, in some cases Concept Capital will offer a physical office/lab/incubator and even housing space, mentoring and introductions to additional investors.
North Coast Angel Fund - The North Coast Angel Fund is a contributed capital and "sidecar" pre-seed investment fund with a focus on early-stage technology investments. Targeted industries include biosciences, advanced materials, electronics and controls, information technology, and energy and power/propulsion. NCAF is interested in investments where there is an opportunity and a willingness to leverage the members' significant experience and expertise.
Educators:
JumpStart Higher Education Collaboration Council - The JumpStart Higher Education Collaboration Council is one of the country's first organized collaborations of 22 Northeast Ohio - based higher education institutions and community members. The objective of the Council is to create a connected communication network between the higher education institutions and their communities, JumpStart, and the Northeast Ohio entrepreneurial community, allowing the region's education and entrepreneurial resources to be more visible and more accessible to students, alumni, faculty, entrepreneurs, and community members alike.
Minority and Women-Owned Business Support Organizations:
JumpStart - JumpStart's inclusion team guides high impact minority and women-owned businesses seeking to raise capital from private investors in order to become larger scale national and international firms. It also assists high impact businesses situated in the urban centers of Northeast Ohio, whose businesses directly impact minority populations. By providing intensive hands-on guidance and strategic planning, it enables these high impact entrepreneurs to articulate high growth plans, access investment funds, and move their businesses toward key milestones.
JumpStart Launch100 Initiative - Formed by the Ohio Department of Development Minority Business Enterprise Division and JumpStart Inclusion Advisors, the JumpStart Launch100 Initiative is a collaborative statewide initiative to create a pipeline of 100 high potential minority and inner-city based businesses in Ohio over the next five years. It provides intensive business assistance and direct access to growth capital from a network of seasoned advisors with specific experience in growing larger scale firms.
Specialized Support Organizations:
JumpStart Ventures Talent Initiative - The JumpStart Ventures Talent Initiative guides young, high growth, equity-backed companies in Northeast Ohio to create new jobs and match those jobs with the skilled people who will help the companies succeed.
Other Service Providers:
IdeaCrossing - IdeaCrossing is a free online community that connects entrepreneurs with the resources necessary to turn innovative ideas into viable businesses. It matches entrepreneurs to investors and mentors and includes a service provider directory and access to resources such as news, articles, and events of entrepreneurial interest.
NorTech - NorTech is the champion for growing Northeast Ohio's high tech economy. NorTech is the only organization that focuses solely on our high tech economy, across all sectors. Its unwavering purpose is to invigorate growth in Northeast Ohio's high tech economy and broadcast our successes. NorTech does this by building industries from technology areas where it has the best opportunities to be successful and by marshaling the resources and forging collaborations to put Northeast Ohio's high tech economy on the fast- track.
Ohio Aerospace Institute - OAI's mission is to help build Ohio's aerospace economy through research and technology development, education and training, and networking and information exchange. OAI isfocused on bringing together the best companies, universities and governmental entities and providing educational and training programs that fill gaps in today's aerospace workforce. In addtion to the grant assistance provided by the JumpStart Entrepreneurial Network, OAI is a member providing grant assistance resources.
The JumpStart Entrepreneurial Network is facilitated and managed by JumpStart Inc., the non-profit organization transforming the economic impact of entrepreneurial ventures and the ecosystems supporting their growth. JumpStart has a team of Investment Associates and Entrepreneurs-in-Residence who connect entrepreneurs to the Network and provide technical assistance. The JumpStart Entrepreneurial Network is operationally managed through a joint collaboration between JumpStart and GLIDE with Dennis Cocco, Co-Director of the Great Lakes Innovation and Development Enterprise (GLIDE) and a manager of the Innovation Fund of the Lorain County Community College Foundation, providing day-to-day, operational management.
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