Organization Works to Ensure Access to Capital for Ohio Startups and Foster Statewide Collaboration

Ray Leach, CEO of Cleveland venture development organization JumpStart Inc., has been named to the board of VentureOhio, a statewide organization dedicated to ensuring adequate capital for startups and facilitating strong collaboration across Ohio.

“VentureOhio’s statewide mission aligns very closely with JumpStart’s mission in Northeast Ohio, which has always made us natural partners,” said Leach. “As a new board member, I look forward to helping build more collaborative relationships between Ohio’s regional entrepreneurial support organizations, so we can help even more entrepreneurs build the kinds of companies that will secure Ohio’s economic future.”

“Ray is an exceptional leader and has played an integral role in the growth of VentureOhio and the Ohio entrepreneurial ecosystem,” said VentureOhio CEO Falon Donohue. “He’s been a valuable member of our organization, and we’re honored to announce his appointment to the board of directors as we continue to showcase Ohio as the place to start and grow a company.”

“As VentureOhio seeks to connect the amazing resources in our community with each other and the world, it is great to have leaders like Ray that have been doing this for years to help shape the vision and execute,” added VentureOhio Board President Rich Langdale.

In addition to this new role with VentureOhio, Leach is also a past member of the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) board of directors, the current Chair of the NVCA Alumni Council and a founding member of the NVCA Diversity Task Force—positions that will allow him to help promote both VentureOhio’s important work, and Ohio’s entrepreneurial resurgence on the national stage.

Founded in 2014, VentureOhio works to advance entrepreneurship in the state through ensuring an abundance of capital for entrepreneurs, sharing Ohio’s successes with the world and shining a light on opportunities for investors to take part in that success. In 2017, the organization will continue to build upon the momentum established in 2016, while also focusing attention back to its roots of strong statewide collaboration. Plans include facilitating advisory committees and collaborative focus groups across the state, while actively supporting legislation that uplifts Ohio entrepreneurs and investors.

Founded in 2004, JumpStart provides investment capital and technical assistance to Ohio startups. The organization currently has three active venture capital funds, including one of the nation’s few funds dedicated specifically to female and minority entrepreneurs. JumpStart also manages the Northeast Ohio Entrepreneurial Signature Program (ESP) network, a collaborative group of 13 entrepreneurial support organizations who receive funding from the Ohio Third Frontier and have helped more than 1,150 early-stage entrepreneurs generate more than $3 billion in cumulative economic impact for the state of Ohio.

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JUMPSTART INC. unlocks the full potential of diverse and ambitious entrepreneurs to economically transform entire communities. For more information, follow @JumpStartInc on Twitter.

VENTUREOHIO serves as a resource for Ohio’s entrepreneurs, fosters collaboration statewide and acts as a megaphone to tell Ohio’s startup stories and elaborate on the state of the Ohio startup ecosystem. The organization is focused on attracting venture dollars—from seed to late-stage funding—to help Ohio’s entrepreneurs build high-growth, sustainable businesses. For more information, visit www.ventureohio.org and follow @VentureOhio on Twitter