The State of AI
2025-08-13 11:30 - 12:30 (America/Detroit) | Zoom
This 30-minute webinar with additional Q&A is designed specifically for tech entrepreneurs and small business owners looking to harness the potential of AI, with a special emphasis on generative models like ChatGPT.
With the AI landscape changing by the minute, be sure to come discover the latest insights, tools, and actionable strategies to start leveraging AI in your business today.
Join Bradley Reynolds of Expedient to learn:

The basics of AI, including generative models, and why they are relevant to tech entrepreneurs and small businesses
Real-world examples of how AI is being used by businesses of all sizes, with a focus on actionable strategies

Webinar attendees will leave with an understanding of:

Available tools that can be implemented immediately to leverage AI, particularly generative models like ChatGPT
Best practices for using AI in a responsible and ethical manner
How to confidently integrate AI into your business to enhance efficiency, innovation, and growth today

Webinars are open to all JumpStart clients, partners, and community businesses. Registration is required to receive the webinar link.

Recalibrating Your Business with Inclusive Strategy
2025-08-20 12:00 - 14:00 | Zoom Webinar
Building a resilient business isn’t just about reacting to change, it’s about leading with purpose. In this interactive webinar, Charesha Barrett, founder of CHARP EDucation Consulting, shares how small businesses can adapt to shifting economic and social landscapes without losing sight of their values.
You’ll learn how inclusive strategy can drive real business outcomes (from retaining top talent to building customer trust) all while strengthening your internal culture.
What You’ll Learn:

How to align business decisions with your company’s mission and values
Why inclusive practices are a competitive advantage in today’s market
Simple, practical ways to improve employee engagement and team culture
How to navigate change while staying grounded in purpose

You’ll Walk Away With:

A framework for using inclusive strategy to guide business pivots
Actionable tips for engaging your team and retaining talent
Insights on emerging trends that are reshaping how small businesses grow

If you’re looking to build a business that’s not just profitable, but also principled and prepared for change, this session is for you.
This webinar is open to all JumpStart clients, partners, and community businesses. Registration is required to receive the webinar link.

Customer Discovery with SurveyMonkey
2025-08-21 16:00 - 18:00 | Fulton Library Learning Center, 3545 Fulton Rd., Cleveland, OH, 44109, United States
Understand your customer base by designing effective surveys and gathering valuable insights using SurveyMonkey.
No registration required. Just show up!

Customer Discovery with SurveyMonkey
2025-08-22 17:00 - 19:00 | Union-Miles Learning Center, 11300 Miles Ave., Cleveland, OH, 44105, United States

Customer Discovery with SurveyMonkey
2025-08-27 17:00 - 19:00 | CSU Learning Center, 2485 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH, 44115, United States

Using Google Tools
2025-08-28 10:00 - 13:00 | Fulton Library Learning Center, 3545 Fulton Rd., Cleveland, OH, 44109, United States
Explore Google Workspace tools like Docs, Sheets, and Drive to improve collaboration and workflow.
No registration required. Just show up!

Cleveland Small Business Impact Program Showcase
2025-09-03 16:30 - 19:00 | Midtown Collaboration Center, 1974 East 66th Street, Cleveland, OH, 44103, United States
Friends and family are invited to celebrate the graduating cohort of JumpStart’s 24th Small Business Impact Program.
The event is a demo-day-style pitch competition where program participants will use their new knowledge and skills to present their business to a panel of judges for a chance to take home up to $10,000 to grow their business.
Don’t miss the chance to cheer them on as they compete for the top prize.

Savor Success Food Summit & Pitch Competition
2025-09-12 09:00 - 16:00 | 32121 Lorain Rd, 32121 Lorain Road, North Ridgeville, OH, 44039, United States
Join fellow Restaurant, Food Truck, and CPG entrepreneurs, experts, and others for a day of inspiration and growth! Whether you’re just starting out or have been in business for a while, there’s something here for everyone.
The event will feature:

Dedicated tracks with speakers and content tailored for pre-venture and existing businesses, specifically within the CPG and Restaurant/Food Truck industries.
A live pitch competition with exciting prizes.
Real-world insights to help you grow your business.

Curious about pitching? Learn more and apply now. Click Here.
This is the place to be if you’re looking for a valuable event, so mark your calendars and get ready to savor success!
Proud to partner with Verizon, JumpStart, Women’s Business Center of Northeast Ohio, Ohio Proud, and Wonder Women of Food
If selected to pitch, you are encouraged to attend the entire program

Plant! Pitch! Prosper! Celebration for Entrepreneurs
2025-09-12 10:00 - 14:00 | Urban League of Greater Cleveland, 2930 Prospect Avenue East, Cleveland, OH, 44115, United States
Join the Urban League for a dynamic event where entrepreneurs will showcase their green ideas and network with like-minded individuals. Doors open at 9:30

Dominando lo Básico de Canva y el Embudo de Ventas para el Crecimiento Empresarial
2025-09-24 12:00 - 14:00 | Zoom Webinar
JumpStart se complace en presentar a José Colón y Edward Valentín-Lugo en un webinar completamente en español que abordará lo esencial de usar Canva para diseñar contenido atractivo mientras alineas tus recursos visuales con la estrategia de tu negocio. Esta sesión guiará a los asistentes a través de herramientas y técnicas simples para crear diseños profesionales que fortalezcan tu marca, conecten con tu audiencia y respalden tus metas de marketing y financieras. Ya sea que estés promocionando productos, generando reconocimiento o aumentando tus ventas, saldrás con habilidades prácticas para convertir tus recursos creativos en resultados medibles.
Los facilitadores profundizarán en los siguientes temas:

Lo básico de Canva (volantes, tarjetas de presentación, publicaciones en redes sociales)
Otras plataformas reconocidas para el desarrollo de marketing
Embudo de ventas para conectar el marketing con los objetivos financieros del negocio

Los participantes del webinar saldrán con:

Cómo usar Canva como herramienta para aumentar las ventas y los esfuerzos de marketing
Cómo ayuda Canva en el embudo de ventas
Los detalles clave del embudo de ventas

Los webinars están abiertos a todos los clientes, socios y negocios comunitarios de JumpStart. Se requiere inscripción para recibir el enlace al webinar.

Communication Tools
2025-09-25 10:00 - 13:00 | Fulton Library Learning Center, 3545 Fulton Rd., Cleveland, OH, 44109, United States
Improve your communication with tools like email, messaging platforms, and virtual meeting apps.
No registration required. Just show up!

The Business Buzz: Fueling Small Business Growth
2025-09-30 16:00 - 19:30 | Midtown Collaboration Center, 1974 East 66th Street, Cleveland, OH, 44103, United States
Join us at the MidTown Collaboration Center for September’s Collaborative Conversation series in partnership with ECDI.
This month, we’re hosting a panel of resource providers and small business owners for a casual conversation about leveraging available resources in Northeast Ohio’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Featuring representatives from the Small Business Association, the Women’s Business Center and more, the conversation will include Randa Jackson, owner of Cleveland Cotton Candy Machines, who will share her first-hand experience utilizing resources to start and scale her business.
Immediately following the panel discussion will be a casual happy hour where attendees will be able to connect with other entrepreneurs as well as resource providers to keep the conversation and information sharing going.
Don’t miss this fun, free learning opportunity – with a side of networking.

AI Assistants for the Overworked Entrepreneur
2025-10-02 16:00 - 18:00 | Fulton Library Learning Center, 3545 Fulton Rd., Cleveland, OH, 44109, United States
Discover AI tools that automate tasks, streamline communication, and support your daily business operations.
No registration required. Just show up!

AI Assistants for the Overworked Entrepreneur
2025-10-03 17:00 - 19:00 | Union-Miles Learning Center, 11300 Miles Ave., Cleveland, OH, 44105, United States

AI Assistants for the Overworked Entrepreneur
2025-10-08 17:00 - 19:00 | CSU Learning Center, 2485 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH, 44115, United States

Unlocking Resources: How Entrepreneurs Can Use JumpStart’s Verizon Learning Centers
2025-10-22 12:00 - 14:00 | Zoom
JumpStart is excited to host a special webinar showcasing how entrepreneurs and small business owners can tap into the resources of the Verizon Community Forward Learning Centers. Through virtual tours and real-world examples, attendees will discover how these centers—and the dedicated team behind them—are designed to accelerate business growth, provide cutting-edge technology, and connect entrepreneurs to tailored support.
Whether you’re seeking a place to record your podcast, explore translation services, or learn how to apply JumpStart programming directly to your business, this session will highlight practical ways to get started and grow.
The facilitators will dive into the following topics:

Virtual tour of the Earl B. Turner, Clark Fulton, and Cleveland State University centers, including available resources, technology, programming, and services
• Podcast production resources for entrepreneurs
• Success stories and testimonials from local businesses who’ve leveraged the centers
• Step-by-step guidance on how to access the centers, programs, and team

Webinar attendees will leave with:

Clear understanding of what the Verizon Community Forward Learning Centers offer
• How the team and programming can support business growth
• Inspiration from real client success stories
• Easy next steps to access technology, space, and resources for your business

Webinars are open to all JumpStart clients, partners, and community businesses. Registration is required to receive the webinar link.

Resilience and Impact: How Small Businesses Turn Setbacks into Success
2025-10-24 16:00 - 18:00 | CentroVilla25, 3140 West 25th Street, Cleveland, OH, 44109, United States
In addition to ample time for networking, this session will explore the theme of setbacks. While setbacks are inevitable, they don’t define you or your business. Attendees will hear an inspiring keynote from Marcia Moreno, President & Founder of AmMore Consulting LLC, who will share strategies for turning challenges into wins that strengthen ventures and communities.
Join us for an inspiring and purposeful event! Connect with new friends, enjoy delicious food, and have a little fun while reflecting upon the opportunities to make your business even stronger. The Northeast Ohio Hispanic Center for Economic Development is proud to present this session at CentroVilla25.

Social Media Basics
2025-10-30 10:00 - 13:00 | Fulton Library Learning Center, 3545 Fulton Rd., Cleveland, OH, 44109, United States
An introduction to using social media platforms professionally for personal branding and business promotion.
No registration required. Just show up!

Entrepreneurial Readiness Workshop
2025-11-06 17:00 - 19:00 | CSE Federal Credit Union, 4104 Shuffel St. NW, Suite A, North Canton, OH, 44720, United States
Ready to take the first step toward launching your business? Join us for a hands-on, 90-minute workshop designed to help you assess your entrepreneurial readiness, sketch out your business idea, and connect with local resources. You’ll walk away with tangible resources, reflect on your strengths and challenges, and explore the tools and support JumpStart offers to new founders.
Whether you’re just exploring the idea of entrepreneurship or already have a concept you’d like to validate, this session gives you structure, clarity, and a roadmap forward. Walk away with practical action items, access to further learning modules, and the opportunity to meet advisors who can help you scale your next steps.

Creating Engaging Content with Canva
2025-11-13 16:00 - 18:00 | Fulton Library Learning Center, 3545 Fulton Rd., Cleveland, OH, 44109, United States
Master the basics of using Canva to create eye-catching marketing materials, social posts, and presentations.
No registration required. Just show up!

Creating Engaging Content with Canva
2025-11-14 17:00 - 19:00 | Union-Miles Learning Center, 11300 Miles Ave., Cleveland, OH, 44105, United States
Master the basics of using Canva to create eye-catching marketing materials, social posts, and presentations.

Creating Engaging Content with Canva
2025-11-19 16:00 - 18:00 | CSU Learning Center, 2485 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH, 44115, United States

Tech for Small Businesses
2025-12-03 16:00 - 18:00 | CSU Learning Center, 2485 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH, 44115, United States
An overview of digital tools every small business should be using for efficiency, marketing, and customer engagement.

Tech for Small Businesses
2025-12-05 17:00 - 19:00 | Union-Miles Learning Center, 11300 Miles Ave., Cleveland, OH, 44105, United States

Stark County Small Business Impact Program Showcase
2025-12-09 17:00 - 20:00 | Hall of Fame Village, 2101 Champions Gateway, Canton, OH, 44708, United States
You’re invited to meet the graduating cohort of JumpStart’s Stark County Small Business Impact Program at their showcase presentation.
This event will feature a live pitch competition as the five Impact Program participants present their businesses to a panel of judges for the chance to take home up to $10,000. All other participants will receive $2,500.
After 12 weeks of intensive learning and preparation, these entrepreneurs will take to the stage and show their stuff in the hopes of winning the grand prize.
Cheer on the participants and show your support for the local business owners whose shops and services strengthen our diverse communities.

Scaling Beyond Yourself: Staying Visible, Adaptive, and Sustainable
2025-12-11 08:00 - 17:00 | Zoom Webinar
As your business grows, sales challenges change with it. In this final session of our January series with Viking Sales Consultants, entrepreneurs will learn how to remain visible, flexible, and effective… even as markets shift, resources tighten, or new internal bottlenecks emerge.
This session focuses on the systems, partnerships, and alignment needed to sustain sales performance over time. Participants will explore practical strategies for navigating change, protecting revenue, and building a growth flywheel that strengthens both the business and the team behind it.
Topics Covered:

Aligning sales and marketing for greater impact
LinkedIn for sales (a strategic and counterintuitive approach)
Staying visible through market shifts
Why sales fail or stall
External sales vs. internal sales (battling for time and resources)
The Better Clients → Better Service → Better Staff flywheel
Strategies for navigating internal bottlenecks

Attendees Will Learn:

How to protect revenue during changing conditions
How to stay visible to buyers during quiet or difficult periods
How internal alignment improves sales outcomes
How to build a long-term flywheel for better clients and sustainable growth

This webinar is open to all JumpStart clients, partners, and community businesses. Registration is required to receive the Zoom link.

The Road You’re Really Driving On: Why Sales Work (or Don’t)
2026-01-14 12:00 - 13:30 | Zoom Webinar
Building a reliable sales engine isn’t just about scripts or pipelines, it starts with understanding how buyers think, behave, and make decisions. In this first session of our three-part January series with Viking Sales Consultants, we’ll explore the real forces that shape sales outcomes and why certain conversations create opportunity while others hit a dead end.
You’ll walk away with a clearer view of the emotional and strategic road they’re truly driving on… and a simple framework for generating momentum, even without a large pipeline or a dedicated sales team.
Topics Covered:

Why some sales conversations spark opportunity—and why others fall flat
Buyer motivation (Fear vs. FOMO)
The five buyer types
The Ping-Pong Conversation Method
The 50/50 Rule (instinct vs. data)
How to earn visibility with prospects who don’t know you yet
What actually happens inside a sales funnel (and why deals stall)
Keeping referral partners engaged and sending opportunities

Attendees Will Learn:

How buyers think, decide, and respond
Why clarity drives stronger conversions
How visibility fuels early-stage sales success
A simple approach to diagnosing and correcting stalled deals

This webinar is open to all JumpStart clients, partners, and community businesses. Registration is required to receive the Zoom link.

Building a System That Works Even on Your Worst Days
2026-01-21 12:00 - 13:30 | Zoom Webinar
Sales shouldn’t depend on having a “good day.” In this second session of our January series with Viking Sales Consultants, entrepreneurs will learn how to shift from reactive selling to a simple, reliable sales system that holds steady… even when time is tight, energy is low, or priorities are competing.
This session walks through the tools, structures, and daily rhythms that make sales repeatable. You will learn how to build a practical sales toolkit, develop outreach plans, manage conversations effectively, and keep pipeline momentum without overwhelm.
Topics Covered:

The standard Sales Toolkit every business needs
The 7 Ways to Reach a Buyer (+ the 10-step Attack Plan)
Time management and the 15-minute sales method
A simple structure for effective sales meetings
How to manage a sales funnel with confidence
The Need → Need → Want conversion
Advanced visibility strategies to reach the right buyers

Attendees Will Learn:

How to build a predictable, scalable sales workflow
How to reach and nurture buyers consistently
How to maintain a sustainable daily sales rhythm
How to use structure and tools to prevent stalled deals

This webinar is open to all JumpStart clients, partners, and community businesses. Registration is required to receive the Zoom link.

Get Ready, Stay Ready
2026-02-04 16:00 - 18:00 | CSU Learning Center, 2485 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH, 44115, United States
Preparation strategies for entrepreneurs to stay ready for pitch competitions, grant opportunities, and unexpected asks.

Old Brooklyn Commercial Corridor Collab
2026-02-18 18:00 - 20:00 | 787 Cafe, 6105 Memphis Ave,, Cleveland, 44144, United States
Connect with small businesses and commercial property owners of Old Brooklyn at OBCDC’s Commercial Corridor Collab hosted at 787 Market & Cafe!

Jose Colon from JumpStart will be sharing about their programs!
Share about your recent experiences as a business or property owner and see how the community can support you.
Learn from OBCDC about resources, events, grant opportunities, and other relevant information.
Network with your peers to build a deeper connection.
Stay tuned for more quarterly meetings in 2026.

The Commercial Corridor Collab is generously sponsored by Dollar Bank.
