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JumpStart Inc.

Impact sector(s)

Technology + Early Stage Venture

About

JumpStart is an active and proven venture capital investor, providing capital, services and connections to help entrepreneurs grow. We deploy pre-seed ($250K) through Series A ($3M+) funding to help tech founders throughout Ohio and the Midwest turn innovative ideas into high-growth enterprises in industries such as software, healthcare IT, biotechnology and more.

Facts & Stats

  • $140M+ under management including $70M in total new capital
  • $2B+ in exit value generated by our portfolio companies
  • $1.5B+ in follow-on funding raised by our portfolio companies
  • $70M invested into 140 companies

Notable Successes

JumpStart has a 20-year track record of investing in pre-seed through Series A-stage deal since 2004 as is considered the most prolific early-stage investor in Greater Cleveland. It has partnered with 100+ seed-stage companies with capital as well as a wide range of pro bono services which enable each firm to advance and develop more rapidly and cost effectively. While JumpStart’s investment activities have enabled startups to create significant economic development outcomes, it is also proud of the significant returns its investment activities have generated for its partners. Two notable successes are the generation of 6x cash-on-cash returns from pre-seed and seed-stage investments made by JumpStart in 2004-2011 and its very early-stage investment in CoverMyMeds which sold to McKesson nine-years post JumpStart’s investment for $1.4B+. Our portfolio companies have raised $1.5B in follow-on funding through our network of more than 100 active VC and CVC partners accelerating our portfolio companies to growth and meaningful exits, with $2B in exit value generated by our portfolio

Team

JumpStart’s investment team includes highly experienced and proven investors as well as subject matter and sector experts with a deep history related to helping entrepreneurs solve problems and create visionary companies.

Ray Leach, Managing Partner

Ray leads all investment activities at JumpStart, leveraging his 34 years of experience as a high-tech entrepreneur and venture capital...

Ray leads all investment activities at JumpStart, leveraging his 34 years of experience as a high-tech entrepreneur and venture capital investor. Ray served on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA), received the 2017 NVCA American Spirit award in recognition of his service to the venture capital industry and U.S. entrepreneurial economy, and is a founding board member of Venture Forward, a nonprofit created by the NVCA to advance diversity and equity in the venture capital industry. Ray is a graduate of MIT and the University of Akron.

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Jerry Frantz, Senior Partner

Jerry is a founding member of the JumpStart team and has served as a senior leader for 10+ years, including leading the ESP program in NEO...

Jerry is a founding member of the JumpStart team and has served as a senior leader for 10+ years, including leading the ESP program in NEO since 2013 and NWO since 2018. Jerry has been directly involved in managing and/or directing investments in 120+ startups since 2004 including significant experience in managing teams responsible for due diligence and providing post-investment support and governance. As a senior partner in the NEXT II Fund, Jerry helps identify promising portfolio companies and is responsible for the day-to-day interactions with one-third of the portfolio. Jerry has more than 25 years of consumer marketing and management experience with both corporate and entrepreneurial companies. His career began with J. Walter Thompson, New York, followed by eight years of brand management with Bristol-Myers Squibb. Jerry was vice president of marketing for venture-backed Classic Sports Network, which was acquired by ESPN. Jerry is a graduate of Columbia and the University of Michigan.

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Hardik Desai, Senior Partner

Hardik has 10+ years of experience first contributing and now leading JumpStart’s diligence and portfolio management activities for all...

Hardik has 10+ years of experience first contributing and now leading JumpStart’s diligence and portfolio management activities for all its funds and provides advisory assistance to JumpStart client and portfolio companies. Prior to joining JumpStart, Hardik was founder at IR Diagnostyx in Columbus, Ohio, and served as business analyst for Tech Columbus, now called Rev1 Ventures. Hardik also worked extensively in India and the UK as an engineer and analyst in the telecom field. Hardik is a graduate of Gujarat University in India, and Ohio State University.

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