Raising funds for your startup can feel overwhelming, but Cleveland’s vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem offers plenty of opportunities to help you succeed. From top venture capital firms to invaluable networking events and local resources, Cleveland has everything you need to grow your business.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the leading VCs in the area, key connections to make, and the tools available to support your journey. Whether you’re just starting out or ready to scale, this is your go-to resource for navigating Cleveland’s startup scene.
Top VCs in Cleveland
JumpStart
About: JumpStart Inc. is an Ohio-based non-profit organization that offers development assistance to entrepreneurs in Northeast Ohio.
Thesis: We invest in people. We look for entrepreneurs who demonstrate excellence in all that they do, have skin in the game and the ambition to grow aggressively. We’re also focused on funding diverse entrepreneurs to help us build a stronger portfolio and a stronger community.
Mutual Capital Partners
Sweetspot check size: $ 3M
Traction metrics requirements: Post-revenue
January Ventures
About: January Ventures (previously known as Jane VC) invests early and opens doors for the visionary founders of the future.
Thesis: We invest early and open the doors for the founders of the future.
North Coast Ventures
About: North Coast Ventures includes six contributed capital funds comprised of 250+ leading investors and entrepreneurs
Blue Point Capital Partners
About: Blue Point Capital Partners is principally focuses on investments in manufacturing, distribution and service businesses that address industrial and consumer markets. Blue Point has extensive experience in identifying, evaluating and successfully completing a variety of private equity investment transactions, including management buyouts, corporate divestitures, recapitalizations and industry consolidations.
Comeback Capital
About: Comeback Capital is a pre-seed stage venture fund.
Cleveland Avenue
About: Our mission is to foster growth for a new generation of lifestyle consumer brands and technology companies that positively disrupt large and growing markets. We provide the best financial resources, expertise, and individual support available.
Key Networking Opportunities for Cleveland Founders
Cleveland's startup ecosystem is thriving, offering numerous opportunities for founders to connect, collaborate, and grow their ventures. The city provides a robust support system for entrepreneurs, from events and meetups to accelerators and co-working spaces.
Local Events and Meetups
Cleveland hosts a variety of networking events and meetups tailored to startup founders and entrepreneurs. Some notable ones include:
- Cleveland Tech Week: A week-long festival celebrating innovation and technology in Cleveland. It features panels, workshops, and networking sessions focused on growth hacking, marketing, and startup scaling.
- The Cleveland Networking Mixer: Held at venues like the Karamu House Theatre, this event brings together professionals from various industries to foster connections and share insights.
- Creative Meetups CLE: Aimed at fostering creativity and collaboration, this meetup is perfect for founders looking to connect with like-minded individuals in the creative and tech industries.
- Tri-C Student Pitch Competition: Hosted by Cuyahoga Community College, this event allows founders to pitch their ideas, receive feedback, and network with investors and mentors.
Accelerators and Incubators
Cleveland is home to several accelerators and incubators that provide mentorship, funding, and resources to startups:
- JumpStart Inc.: A leading accelerator in Cleveland, JumpStart offers funding, mentorship, and networking opportunities to early-stage startups.
- Flashstarts: This startup accelerator and venture fund focuses on early-stage companies, providing seed funding and mentorship.
- LaunchHouse: A co-working space and incubator that supports startups through mentorship, funding, and community events.
Co-Working Spaces
Cleveland's co-working spaces are hubs for innovation and collaboration, offering founders a place to work and network:
- 78th Street Studios: Known for its creative environment, this space is ideal for startups in the arts and design industries.
- COhatch Beachwood: A modern co-working space that hosts networking events and workshops for entrepreneurs.
Resources for Cleveland Startups
Cleveland offers many resources to support startups, from funding and mentorship to legal, financial, and marketing assistance. These resources are designed to help entrepreneurs navigate the challenges of launching and scaling their businesses.
- BioEnterprise: This organization focuses specifically on the bioscience industry in Northeast Ohio. They offer resources, connections, and expertise to help biotech and healthcare startups thrive. BioEnterprise provides access to funding, talent, and market intelligence.
- MAGNET (Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network): While not exclusively for startups, MAGNET provides resources and support for manufacturing companies in Northeast Ohio, including startups in the manufacturing sector. They offer consulting services, innovation programs, and connections to industry partners.
- The Entrepreneurs Center (TEC): Although primarily serving the Dayton region, TEC offers resources that can be accessed by startups throughout Ohio, including those in Cleveland. They provide business planning assistance, mentorship, and access to capital.
- OhioMeansJobs Cleveland-Cuyahoga County: This resource helps startups find and recruit talent. They offer job postings, recruitment assistance, and training programs to help startups build their teams.
- Small Business Administration (SBA) Cleveland District Office: The SBA offers a variety of programs and services to support small businesses, including startups. They provide access to loans, grants, counseling, and training.
- COSE (Council of Smaller Enterprises): COSE is a small business advocacy organization that provides resources, networking opportunities, and cost-saving programs to its members. They offer a range of services, including healthcare benefits, legal assistance, and marketing support.
- The Urban League of Greater Cleveland: The Urban League provides resources and support to minority-owned businesses in Cleveland. They offer business counseling, access to capital, and networking opportunities.
- The Hispanic Business Center: This center provides resources and support to Hispanic-owned businesses in Cleveland. They offer business counseling, access to capital, and networking opportunities.
- The Women's Business Center of Northern Ohio: This center provides resources and support to women-owned businesses in Cleveland. They offer business counseling, access to capital, and networking opportunities.
Connect With Investors in Cleveland Using Visible
At Visible, we often times compare a fundraise to a B2B sales and marketing funnel. At the top of your funnel, you are finding new investors. In the middle, you are nurturing and pitching potential investors. At the bottom of the funnel, you are working through diligence and ideally closing new investors.
With the introduction of data rooms, you can now manage every aspect of your fundraising funnel with Visible.
- Find investors at the top of your funnel with our free investor database, Visible Connect and find a filtered list of Cleveland's investors here.
- Track your conversations and move them through your funnel with our Fundraising CRM
- Share your pitch deck and monthly updates with potential investors
- Organize and share your most vital fundraising documents with data rooms
Manage your fundraise from start to finish with Visible. Give it a free try for 14 days here.
