On August 15, JumpStart will host its third annual Startup Scaleup event in Cleveland, Ohio — an event dedicated to providing entrepreneurs and small business owners with access to the resources they need to grow their businesses.
This year’s event has attracted top talent from Silicon Valley — including Rob Krolik, former CFO of Yelp, as well as private equity investors from various firms, such as Evolution Capital Partners and Redpoint Ventures.
In addition to accessibility to investors, attendees will have the opportunity to take part in collaborative workshops, panel discussions, and networking events. These events will touch aspects of business for every stage of a company’s lifecycle, from side hustle to IPO.
As such, the event has two distinct tracks, one for startups looking to get their venture off the ground, and another focused on growing existing small businesses. The event will focus specifically on growth, funding, and talent. Some of the sessions for each of the two tracks include:
Mastering The Side Hustle – Learn how to take your business from a side-gig to a full-time responsibility without sacrificing short-term responsibilities.
Strategic Money: Finding The Right Investors – Hear strategies about how to meet and network with potential investors, and perform due diligence to find the perfect investor for your business.
Taking Your Business 2X – Participate in a panel with experienced entrepreneurs to learn the keys to successful and rapid growth, elevating your business to the next level.
The Art of the Exit – Learn strategies to secure your company’s future through acquisition or IPO, as told by Rob Krolik, who helped take Yelp public in 2012.
Startup Stories: Life After Exit – Hear from various successful entrepreneurs about the transition of your role away from business owner that follows your company’s exit.
Silicon Valley Money, Midwest Zipcode – Discuss the unique opportunities and challenges faced by Midwestern companies and how those companies can secure investment by top Silicon Valley firms.
As previously covered by Tim Hinchliffe in The Sociable, Ohio has recently been experiencing a rapidly growing startup scene, and drawing interest from all over the country.
Keynote speaker Alex Bard of Redpoint Ventures expressed his personal interest in the event, and in Cleveland specifically, stating, “With increased access to information, talent and technology, it’s now possible to build great companies anywhere in the world — not just in the valley.” He added, “That’s why I’m very excited to be a part of Startup Scaleup and to come see what’s going on in Cleveland first-hand.”
Though interest in the Midwest has been growing, the state has yet to attract a significant amount of venture funding. In fact, the West Coast, New England, New York City and parts of Texas currently control 90 percent of VC funding in the United States, while the remainder is spread amongst the rest of the country. For this reason, sessions such as the one at the end of the list above will prove to be particularly useful for many of the young companies in attendance.
The event will be held in the Gordan Square Arts District, and tickets cost $20 (including two $5 snack tickets and one $10 lunch ticket). To register for the event and to see a full list of the workshops, discussions, and events planned for Startup Scaleup, visit http://startupscaleup.org/.
JumpStart was created in 2003 with the vision of fostering the entrepreneurial environment of Northeast Ohio through unique private and public partnerships.
