I am a recent graduate of the Arts Management & Entrepreneurship program at Baldwin Wallace University in Berea, Ohio. My time with JumpStart has shown me the value of supporting founders and organizations while also growing my own knowledge, skills and network for the future.
I am originally from the Dayton region and, aside from one summer spent out of state, have always lived in Ohio. Before beginning my internship, I knew of accelerators back home, such as Launch Dayton and the Flyer Pitch Competition at the University of Dayton, but I wasn’t familiar with JumpStart or Northeast Ohio’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. During the Fall 2025 semester, I met JumpStart Senior Director of Educational Services Lauren Smith-Petta through my entrepreneurship capstone course. Hearing her speak about the mission-driven organization and her own founder experiences gave me valuable real-world context for my class projects. Later that semester, I found an opportunity with JumpStart. I applied to be a Partnerships Intern, sent Lauren a note, and the rest is history!
From the beginning, what stood out most to me about the experience was entrepreneur support organization’s dedication to collective learning. I came in with limited experience in finance and little knowledge of venture capital, but the team really took the time to help me understand both what was expected of me and the larger context behind my work. Through resources, guidance and one-on-one conversations, they made the learning process approachable and meaningful.
As part of the Preferred Partnerships team under the direction of Zeenat Nadvi, I helped facilitate paid projects between scaling startups and external subject matter experts. This included drafting contracts, gathering service information and assisting with onboarding new vendors. This role helps ensure that partnerships meet organizational and state requirements while remaining mutually beneficial for everyone involved. It was especially rewarding to see vendors and clients happy with the resulting deliverables and anticipated growth.
My academic studies introduced me to fundraising and development for nonprofits, which is an area I have come to love. JumpStart is a 501(c)(3), so I have experienced how that works on a deeper level. The organization is able to make resources available and offer no- and low-cost services to growing businesses because of support from public, private and philanthropic partners. We must document our efforts diligently for compliance, which is why I have put so much care into every document I process. Strong documentation ensures the dollars are doing good work for everyone involved and allows JumpStart and its partners to devote more time to the entrepreneurs.
Something many people don’t know about me is that I am also a founder. I have been working on arts advocacy efforts through the nonprofit Disabled Music Fans Collective (DMFC) since high school, with the goal of building a more accessible and equitable music business. DMFC received its IRS nonprofit designation in 2024, just as I was transferring to Baldwin Wallace, so the timing of that learning experience felt especially meaningful. Balancing school and work, I haven’t had the capacity to do everything I’d like with DMFC, but my JumpStart experience definitely makes me feel more confident about dedicating time to that passion project. Though DMFC may not seek funding in the same way software and health tech founders do, many of the same concepts still apply. One of my biggest takeaways came from a conversation with Camille Heard, JumpStart’s Director of High Growth Services: As a founder, I cannot solve the entire problem of inaccessibility in live entertainment. It’s not realistic for me to carry that responsibility and see meaningful organizational growth and impact. Instead, I can focus on addressing one part of the problem well and invite others to become allies in the cause.
One thing I would pass on to other students or young entrepreneurs is to perfect the art of making the case. Whether your venture is for-profit or nonprofit, you will eventually need to persuade others to invest in your success, financially or otherwise, by helping them see your vision. You will not have every detail figured out right away, but it helps to reflect on why you want to start something and what outcomes you hope it will create. Talk about it with your friends, family and loved ones. Make a vision board or mind map. Most of all, keep that north star with you, even if it changes over time.
I am happy to say that what I learned over the course of my internship led me to a new role on the JumpStart Finance team as a full-time temporary Accounts Payable Specialist. Just a few months ago, I was unsure how I would fare in such an unfamiliar industry, so I am especially grateful for the chance to keep growing within this organization. I appreciate everyone on the JumpStart team who has supported me, and I am grateful for the vendors and the client companies who have allowed me to be part of their journeys.
