Listen to SSTI's Interview with Ray Leach of JumpStart
Listen to Ray Leach's response to the following questions in this clip (approximately 14 minutes):
- How do you prepare your portfolio companies to grow and pursue additional investment?
- JumpStart has accomplished tremendous success working with regional organizations and philanthropic institutions. What has made this possible?
- What lessons had you learned since JumpStart began assisting companies? What advice would you give an organization trying to achieve similar results?
About JumpStart
Established in 2004, JumpStart is a nationally recognized nonprofit organization creating economic transformation in Northeast Ohio by securing and providing resources to entrepreneurs leading high potential, early-stage companies. Through an investment arm called JumpStart Ventures, the organization also invests in the most promising of companies, with an average investment of $250,000; to date JumpStart Ventures has invested $16.3 million in 47 companies. All of JumpStart's client companies have raised over $202 million in external funding. JumpStart has had a $267 million economic impact on Northeast Ohio and helped create and retain 664 jobs.
About the Excellence in TBED Awards
The SSTI Excellence in TBED Awards recognize
exceptional achievement in addressing elements that have been found in
successful tech-based economies. These include a research base that
generates new knowledge, mechanisms for transferring knowledge into the
marketplace, an entrepreneurial culture, sources of risk capital, and a
technically skilled workforce.
For more information about the SSTI Excellence in TBED Awards, visit http://www.sstiawards.org.