Early-stage - Articles
May 14, 2019
Pipeline Angels: Driving change in Detroit’s angel investor community
Kerry Ann Rockquemore and Pipeline Angels bring needed guidance to help young entrepreneurs shape their vision and target markets that offer a better chance for success....
By Mark Scott
May 10, 2019
Wisr's Kate Volzer: Networking Makes Anything Possible For Your Startup
Kate Volzer, co-founder and CEO at Wisr, talks about her entrepreneurial journey that began as a student at the University of Chicago....
By Mark Scott
May 3, 2019
Steven Santamaria: Getting To 'No' And Other Startup Secrets
The serial entrepreneur and CEO of Folio Photonics shares lessons learned from the business deals he’s made and explains why starting a business is a lot like going on vacation....
By Mark Scott
May 1, 2019
Jim Grote opens EDGE Innovation Hub
The EDGE Innovation Hub, founded by Donatos founder Jim Grote, hosted its grand opening, the Columbus Dispatch reports....
By Jayne Gest
May 1, 2019
Joe DeLoss nearly got burned before making Hot Chicken Takeover a success
From nearly missing payroll to expanding too quick, the founder survived missteps on the way to building one of the area's hottest fast-casual restaurant chains....
By Jayne Gest
April 25, 2019
JumpStart's Cathy Belk: Plan Your Exit Before You Start Your Business
You can’t start a business these days without planning your way out.For early-stage entrepreneurs, thinking about a potential exit from the business starts before the company is even launched.“Many of...
By Mark Scott
April 23, 2019
Honeycomb Credit expands crowd financing model beyond Pittsburgh
How CEO George Cook is blending crowd funding and community banking to change the way small businesses get loans....
By Jayne Gest
April 19, 2019
Chris Rizik: Honesty Is The Best Policy When Pitching VCs
Chris Rizik shares his insight on how to make a better pitch to investors, as well as the growth opportunities that exist in Detroit’s VC community....
By Mark Scott
April 18, 2019
Female founders on rise, as women-focused angel group disbands
Although X-Squared Angels disbanded at the end of last year as membership fizzled, early-stage and startup female founders appear to be on the rise. We talk to Cindi Englefield and Mary McCarthy of the Women’s Small Business Accelerator....
By Jayne Gest
April 9, 2019
Corporates join VCs to fill pipeline for Pittsburgh tech investment
Pittsburgh’s tech startups attract the lion’s share of funding and attention, says Innovation Works’ Gary Glausser. We spoke with him about trends in tech investing, including highlights from Investment in Pittsburgh’s technology sector report, and the upcoming the AI & Robotics Venture Fair....
By Jayne Gest
April 5, 2019
Rev1 Ventures hits $2B in economic impact in 6 years
In 2018 alone, Rev1 clients generated more than $123 million in revenue and attracted more than $157 million in capital to the region....
By Jayne Gest
April 3, 2019
MentorcliQ’s Phil George
CEO Phil George shares MentorcliQ’s growth story – which includes raising $5 million in capital — and offers his advice for other founders....
By Jayne Gest
March 15, 2019
Venture for America taps Cleveland for accelerator
Venture for America has selected Cleveland to host its national business accelerator targeting entrepreneurs that are recent college graduates, netting out competing proposals from Columbus and...
By Michael Marzec
March 8, 2019
UH Ventures seeks every opportunity for innovation
Through UH Ventures, University Hospitals Health System hopes it can become a powerful force to enable the next generation of health care....
By Mark Scott
March 6, 2019
Startup future is bright — and diverse
Tom Walker talks about the startup climate and how Rev1 is encouraging startup diversity....
By Jayne Gest
March 6, 2019
Gilbert part of Detroit's first angel investor group
Membership in Woodward Angels requires a minimum investment of $25,000 per calendar year in Detroit-area startups....
By Adam Burroughs
February 6, 2019
The rise of corporate venture funding
Pittsburgh’s old industrial companies are paying attention to startups and Idea Foundry CEO Mike Matesic thinks the surge in corporate venture funding bodes well for local M&A activity. We spoke with Matesic about how corporations and startups are working together to grow Pittsburgh’s economy....
By Jayne Gest
February 5, 2019
You can’t fake passion
Passion is an authentic emotion. That’s why it’s the first trait Pete Martin looks for in Votem Corp. employees. Martin talks about building on market opportunities, the role of resilience and going all in on your vision....
By Mark Scott
January 17, 2019
JumpStart’s Jerry Frantz
JumpStart’s Jerry Frantz knows he’s in a risky business. “Any way you cut it, deploying capital into young companies is an inherently risky proposition,” he says. Frantz talks about the role of early-stage capital in economic health and managing risk as a startup investor....
By Mark Scott
January 3, 2019
StartInCLE’s Ed Buchholz
Ed Buchholz about some of the challenges faced by Cleveland’s startup community and how the region can attract and empower quality startups....
By Mark Scott
December 6, 2018
North Coast Angel Fund’s Todd Federman
The angel investor talks about common mistakes entrepreneurs need to avoid to beat the odds and monetize their ideas....
By Mark Scott
November 20, 2018
TechGrit’s Anthony Margida
Anthony Margida talks about key differences between business accelerators in Ohio and Silicon Valley and his thoughts on speeding up the flow of funding for startups....
By Mark Scott
November 2, 2018
LaunchHouse’s Todd Goldstein
LaunchHouse' s Todd Goldstein talks about the evolution of Cleveland’s entrepreneurial community and the value of looking at a deal from different points of view....
By Mark Scott
August 3, 2018
Flashstarts’ Charles Stack
How poker shaped his approach to dealmaking, the problem with risk in Cleveland’s investor community and the one thing entrepreneurs get totally wrong when making a pitch to potential investors....
By Mark Scott
May 4, 2018
How M&A strengthens the entrepreneurial economy
JumpStart's Ray Leach is excited about the potential that exists in Cleveland’s entrepreneurial economy to make huge strides in the years ahead....
By Mark Scott
March 9, 2018
Zapis Capital Group's Lee Zapis
Lee Zapis has invested in more than 20 companies since 2003, but he knows it takes more than capital to build an outstanding business. That’s why Zapis Capital Group prefers to take an active role in its portfolio companies, providing strategic advice and resources....
By Brooke Bilyj
March 2, 2018
JumpStart's Ray Leach
A critical part of Ray Leach’s role at JumpStart is his ability to ID strong business builders. Just as important, however, is his ability to engage with established business leaders who can help his startups....
By Mark Scott
