The Software Center of Excellence offers robust support for tech startups at every stage of their journey.

JumpStart’s Trailblazer Software Accelerator is a free, three-month program provides pre-seed and seed-stage startups with up to $50,0000 in non-dilutive funding, expert advising, and a structured path to venture readiness.

Bounce Innovation Hub offers a Flywheel Continuum of Software Support with tailored guidance focused on setting milestones, driving traction, selling and iterating, and fundraising. This includes programs like Sales Ignition, which helps founders develop effective sales strategies.

YBI supports early-stage SaaS founders through its ENGINE Technology Incubation Program, making available Venture-Ready SaaS 1001 workshops and assisting with MVP development, customer discovery, and positioning startups for successful fundraising.

SUPPORT AT EVERY STAGE OF THE JOURNEY

Ideation: Exploring and shaping an idea

YBI Startups 101

Introductory sessions designed to guide students and early-stage founders through the basics of business creation, venture readiness, and regional resources.

YBI Shark Tank

A pitch event for early-stage startups, from ideation through Pre-Seed/Seed+, offering up to $50K in non-dilutive funding. The program helps founders strengthen their pitch materials, gain exposure through marketing and press, and connect with investors and potential customers.

YBI Early Stage Support

Guidance is provided with customer discovery and market research, using tools like TurboInnovate and Geoflow to identify customer needs, assess competitors, and uncover market opportunities, along with marketing, press, and advertising support to drive early lead generation.

Validation: Proving the Concept

YBI MVP Development

Founders can receive support developing and launching MVPs, including alpha/beta testing, customer validation, and post-launch review – all guided by experienced oversight to maintain quality while minimizing cost.

YBI Validation and Funding Assistance

Support for founders with product development, marketing, and legal. This can be paired with expert guidance to build investor-ready pitch decks, providing feedback and coaching to refine messaging and fundraising strategy.

Bounce Flywheel Continuum of Software Support

Software startups from validation through Series A are supported with tailored guidance focused on setting milestones, driving traction, selling and iterating, and fundraising. Founders work closely with experienced EIRs – many with deep technical and product expertise – to build, grow, and prepare for investment. 79% of Bounce software clients onboarded paid pilots, beta users, or new customer contracts last year.

Additional programs in this stage: YBI Shark Tank, YBI Early Stage Support

Traction: Early customers and measurable momentum

Bounce Revenue & Customer Acquisition

Through the Flywheel program, Bounce provides help for B2B SaaS founders moving from early revenue to scalable growth, offering targeted advising and services to refine pricing, build a repeatable sales pipeline, and strengthen go-to-market strategy.

Bounce Sales Ignition

In this hands-on, collaborative 4-week cohort program, founders actively use LinkedIn to generate sales leads, create prospect engagement questions and a pitch, and lead and control the sales process. This program has a bias for action and allows founders to learn from one another under the guidance of an entrepreneur-in-residence who has grown and scaled sales at multiple startups.

JumpStart's Burton D. Morgan Mentoring Program

Participants receive ongoing guidance from dedicated mentors who help them prepare for JumpStart’s Trailblazer, other accelerator programs, or funding. This support is geared towards founders with traction in need of additional diligence and growth before raising.

Additional programs in this stage: Bounce Flywheel Continuum of Software Support, YBI Shark Tank, YBI MVP Development, YBI Validation and Funding Assistance

Pre-Seed to Seed+: Securing early funding to scale

JumpStart Trailblazer HealthTech Accelerator

This program is for pre-seed and seed-stage SaaS startups with an MVP and market validation offering access to $50K in expert services, along with mentorship and a proven curriculum aimed at refining go-to-market strategies, advancing product development, and preparing for venture capital. The five-month Trailblazer program culminates in an investor showcase.

Additional programs in this stage: Bounce Flywheel Continuum of Software Support, Bounce Revenue & Customer Acquisition, JumpStart’s Burton D. Morgan Mentoring Program, YBI Shark Tank, YBI Validation and Funding Assistance

Series A: Accelerating growth with investment

Additional programs in this stage: Bounce Flywheel Continuum of Software Support, JumpStart’s Burton D. Morgan Mentoring Program

Get Connected

Fill out a form below to get connected with a Regional Startup Ambassador organization that can help you navigate the entrepreneurial support ecosystem! Together Bounce Innovation Hub, Braintree Business Development Center, JumpStart, GLIDE at Lorain County Community College, Lakeland Community College, University of Toledo Business Incubator, and Youngstown Business Incubator are ready to help support your journey.