For nearly a decade, JumpStart’s Small Business Impact Program has been a cornerstone of our support services for entrepreneurs in Cleveland. Across almost 10 years and 24 cohorts, this intensive 12-week experience has helped nearly 150 business owners lay strong foundations for growth – building financial fluency, refining their business models, and pitching their visions with confidence.
It’s been an incredible journey. We’ve celebrated big wins, learned countless lessons and watched bold ideas grow into thriving businesses. Thanks to the generous support of KeyBank, the Cleveland Browns, the City of Cleveland and so many others, we’ve been able to make the most of this program – and the investment has produced tangible results:
The Cleveland Small Business Impact Program was transformational, not just for the entrepreneurs who participated, but for JumpStart as an organization and perhaps even our entrepreneurial ecosystem as a whole. For JumpStart, it expanded our mission, moving us from a tech-focused investment entity to a broader economic development driver, committed to empowering startup founders and small business owners in the region.
Members of the Summer 2016 Core City Cleveland Impact Program Cohort React to Pitches
Speaking with Small Business Owners at an Impact Program Alumni Mixer
The Historic 20th Cohort of the Small Business Impact Program on Stage at the House of Blues
But as the needs of small business owners continue to evolve, so must we.
We are officially sunsetting the Cleveland Small Business Impact Program and launching something new, built directly from everything we’ve learned.
ScaleReady is a tactical, tool-forward education series designed for established small businesses that are ready to scale with intention — not just grow in size, but grow sustainably, profitably, and with the right people at the center.
This is not just a rebrand, it’s a reimagining. ScaleReady is about shifting the entrepreneurial mindset from working in the business to working on it, and equipping small business owners with the systems, metrics, leadership tools and capital strategies to support that evolution.
ScaleReady is just one of many resources available to small business owners through JumpStart. We’re committed to meeting entrepreneurs where ever they are – whether that’s refining financial strategy, planning a next hire or mapping out a growth trajectory. Within this reconfiguration, we’re expanding the continuum of education JumpStart offers entrepreneurs, identifying their specific needs and connecting them with the right programs and advisors to move forward.
As we turn this page, our hearts are full of gratitude. To every Cleveland Impact Program participant: thank you. You helped us build something meaningful.
Personally and professionally, I will never forget meeting each of you – often shy and unsure during those initial interviews only to watch you step into the spotlight, fully transformed, confidently pitching your businesses at the final showcase. From there, we’ve seen you grow even beyond the program, leveraging the ecosystem and resources available to you, and paying it forward in your communities. You will always have JumpStart in your corner, proudly cheering you on as your entrepreneurial journey continues to unfold.
