For Startups: Resources, Community & Visibility in Ohio

Resources

Find the right door — for who you are and what you need.

Real Ohio organizations, sourced and tagged, including ones built specifically for underserved founders. Here's a first look; the full directory has search, filters, and founder recommendations.

JumpStart Inc.

Cleveland-based nonprofit backing early-stage Ohio tech founders with capital, 1:1 advising, and accelerator programs — Focus Fund II is built specifically for underserved leaders.

Funding & CapitalUnderserved Founders

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Rev1 Ventures

Columbus venture studio and fund pairing capital with hands-on operator support — its DE&I Grant Fund specifically expands mentoring and fellowships for women and founders of color.

Funding & CapitalUnderserved Founders

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ECDI — Economic & Community Development Institute

The nation's top SBA microlender, funding loans from $750 to $500K. Runs Ohio's only SBA-backed Women's Business Centers in Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati — about 80% of clients are minority-owned, 60% women-owned.

Funding & CapitalWomen-OwnedUnderserved Founders

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Ohio Minority Business Assistance Centers (MBAC)

Free, statewide network offering technical assistance, capital access, and contract-procurement help to minority-, women-, and veteran-owned businesses — offices in Columbus, Cleveland, Youngstown, and beyond.

Mentorship & AdvisingMinority-OwnedUnderserved Founders

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MORTAR

Cincinnati's 12-week accelerator built for nontraditional, underrepresented founders — 87% of participants are Black, including 67% Black women.

Accelerator & StudioMinority-OwnedUnderserved Founders

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Ohio Small Business Development Centers (SBDC)

No-cost, one-on-one business counseling through 20+ centers statewide — the default first call for financials, planning, and loan-readiness.

Mentorship & AdvisingState Program

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Programs

Ways to plug in directly.

Start with the Slack and the calendar, then ride the Bus, take the Hot Seat, or join us on a national stage.

Slack Community

Where the network happens daily.

Real-time answers, warm intros, and everything founders actually ask each other. Ohio founders, operators, and investors in one Slack. Free with registration.

Events Calendar

Every Ohio founder event, one calendar.

Our own pitch nights, takeovers and tapings, plus partner and community events from across the state. Follow it, add yours, or catch us at the Cleveland Entrepreneurs Meetup.

Open the Calendar →