With a space inside the world-famous The WORD Church, this visionary duo transformed their combined zeal into a beacon of multimedia content creation: VARR Studios.

Together, they’ve not just built a business but have sculpted a legacy that melds personal commitment with professional brilliance. This harmonious blend of life and work makes their journey all the more captivating, as they push boundaries, constantly innovate and pen a story that exemplifies the power of partnership in every dimension. From video production and photography to web design, VARR Studios stands as a testament to their dedication and talent.

Watch episode seven of Small Business, Big Conversations featuring Ray and Anasja below.

The post Small Business, Big Conversations: Ray & Anasja Vernon of VARR Studios appeared first on JumpStart Inc..

Emily launched @artofsucre as an events-based business, spinning out-of-the-box flavors of cotton candy at weddings, parties and concerts. In 2020, Emily knew that she either had to pivot her business or lose everything that she worked so hard to build from the ground up.

Fast forward to today, and Emily has completely re-imagined Art of Sucre into an E-Commerce powerhouse (with a MASSIVE social following) offering hand-spun cotton candy and the oh-so-viral cotton candy glitter bombs in a variety of colors and flavors (like Island Punch, Peach Bellini and Strawberry Bubble Gum… just to name a few).

Watch episode five of Small Business, Big Conversations featuring Emily Harpel of Art of Sucre below.

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With locations in University Heights, Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse and Cleveland Browns Stadium, you’d think Sauce the City has been around for decades. On the contrary, Chef Vic launched (almost by accident) in 2018 when he won a location in the Ohio City Gallery.

At the time, Searcy was earning advanced degrees in organizational psychology and directing social services activities for a rehabilitation center. But his passion for cooking drove his destiny and the signature hot sauces he was concocting at Kent State sealed his fate.

Only five short years from launch, Chef Vic now has many claims to fame of his own, from selling 2,500 hot chicken sandwiches to MGK for peckish Ohio City residents to feeding thousands of hungry Cleveland sports fans at three stadium locations. It’s no wonder Sauce the City was voted Ohio’s #1 Chicken Sandwich.

Watch episode four of Small Business, Big Conversations featuring Vic Searcy of Sauce the City below.

Hosted by JumpStart’s resident digital marketing expert (and recovering small business owner) Freddie Coffey, Small Business, Big Conversations spotlights ambitious entrepreneurs as they discuss their struggles, successes and life lessons that are sure to motivate and inspire anyone who wants to start or grow their own business.

Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or a seasoned small business owner looking for new ideas, this show is for you. Tune in for a new episode each month to hear the stories, experiences, and invaluable insights of people just like you, working to start and grow their small businesses here in Ohio and beyond.

Subscribe to the show today on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Audible or iHeartRadio.

The post Small Business, Big Conversations: Vic Searcy of Sauce the City appeared first on JumpStart Inc..

A combination of their last names, Living Rich is a lifestyle streetwear brand boasting comfort, quality and style. They offer unique unisex pieces that promote confidence and individuality. The business was launched as an online retailer but quickly evolved to a pop-up and ultimately a brick-and-mortar. Today, Sharia and Sha’Miah are taking Cleveland’s fashion scene by storm.

Watch episode three of Small Business, Big Conversations featuring Sharia Livingston of Living Rich below.

Hosted by JumpStart’s resident digital marketing expert (and recovering small business owner) Freddie Coffey, Small Business, Big Conversations spotlights ambitious entrepreneurs as they discuss their struggles, successes and life lessons that are sure to motivate and inspire anyone who wants to start or grow their own business.

Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or a seasoned small business owner looking for new ideas, this show is for you. Tune in for a new episode each month to hear the stories, experiences, and invaluable insights of people just like you, working to start and grow their small businesses here in Ohio and beyond.

Subscribe to the show today on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Audible or iHeartRadio.

The post Small Business, Big Conversations: Sharia Livingston of Living Rich appeared first on JumpStart Inc..

They brought the proverbial schoolhouse down, and from there, more opportunities came rolling in. First $20, then an offer for $40, and by the end of the year the duo had worked their way up to $75 a gig and realized they had a full-fledged business.

More than 30 years later, LO-KEY Entertainment is one of Northeast Ohio’s elite and most reliable Entertainment Companies offering DJ Service, Uplighting, Photo Booths, Promotional Printing and and more.

LO-KEY Entertainment DJ’s have performed all over the country alongside famous entertainers such as Will.I.Am, Kevin Hart, Rickey Smiley, Russell Simmons, Deray Davis, D.L. Hughley and Outkast to name a few.

Watch the debut episode of Small Business, Big Conversations featuring DaRon Henderson of LO-KEY Entertainment below.

Hosted by JumpStart’s resident digital marketing expert (and recovering small business owner) Freddie Coffey, Small Business, Big Conversations spotlights ambitious entrepreneurs as they discuss their struggles, successes and life lessons that are sure to motivate and inspire anyone who wants to start or grow their own business.

Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or a seasoned small business owner looking for new ideas, this show is for you. Tune in for a new episode each month to hear the stories, experiences, and invaluable insights of people just like you, working to start and grow their small businesses here in Ohio and beyond.

Subscribe to the show today on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Audible or iHeartRadio.

The post Small Business, Big Conversations: DaRon Henderson of LO-KEY Entertainment appeared first on JumpStart Inc..

Community members and organizational leaders recently gathered to celebrate the opening of the Clark-Fulton Learning Center, located within the Fulton Branch of Cleveland Public Library. Attendees heard celebratory comments from community members and leaders, including Councilwoman Jasmine Santana, and participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony, center tour and technology demonstrations.

The learning center offers free technology-focused training to Cleveland residents for STEM learning, industry-specific job development and small business growth.

This is one of two centers to open in Cleveland as part of the Verizon Community Forward Initiative. The other center is located at the Earle B. Turner Recreation Center in the Union-Miles neighborhood. Both centers are made possible by Verizon in partnership with JumpStart.

To learn more about the Verizon Community Forward Learning Centers, visit CommunityForwardCLE.com.

The post VIDEO: Verizon And JumpStart Open Clark Fulton Learning Center Providing Free Tech-focused Training To Cleveland Residents appeared first on JumpStart Inc..

JumpStart’s Focus Fund recently led Inphlu’s $500K funding round, along with participation from angel investors.

Inphlu is a Dayton-based social media management platform that helps marketers automate content creation and posting as well as view real-time analytics.

The company was founded by Josh Reid, who ran his own digital marketing agency and knew there was a gap in the market his solution could fill.

We sat down with Josh to talk about his new AI-driven content curation and social marketing platform. Learn more about how the Inphlu team will use their investment and what the future holds for this exciting new startup.

Watch the video above to meet Josh and learn more about Inphlu.

The post [VIDEO] Portfolio Company Spotlight: Inphlu appeared first on JumpStart Inc..

On Wednesday, May 19, the eleventh cohort of the Cleveland Small Business Impact Program participated in a virtual version of their culminating showcase event.

This event was an online demo-day-style competition where program participants used their new knowledge and skills to present their pitch to a panel of judges for a chance to take home up to $10,000 to grow their business.

In the end, Sharia Livingston of Living Rich was awarded the top prize of $10,000. All other participants were awarded $2,500 in funding.

The post Video: Cleveland Small Business Impact Program Spring 2021 Entrepreneur Showcase appeared first on JumpStart Inc..

On Wednesday, December 3, Core City: Cleveland Impact Program participant Arleesha Wilson delivered the winning pitch for her business,  the Law Office of Arleesha Wilson, during the program’s culminating entrepreneur showcase—taking home the top prize of $10,000.

Known as “The People’s Esquire,” Arleesha launched her law firm three years ago with the goal of bridging the justice gap. The firm services clients in the areas of real estate, bankruptcy and family law.

After the competition, we caught up with Arleesha to discuss her showcase experience and what comes next for her business.

The post Arleesha Wilson Takes $10K Grand Prize At Core City: Cleveland Fall 2020 Entrepreneur Showcase appeared first on JumpStart Inc..

On Wednesday, December 2, the tenth cohort of the Core City: Cleveland Impact Program participated in a virtual version of their culminating showcase event.

This event was an online demo-day-style competition where the seven program participants used their new knowledge and skills to present their pitch to a panel of judges for a chance to take home crucial funding to grow their businesses.

In the end, Arleesha Wilson, also known as “The People’s Esquire” of the Law Office of Arleesha Wilson, was awarded the top prize of $10,000. All other participants were awarded $2,500 in funding.

Click here to learn about and apply to Cohort 11 of the Impact Program

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