Flashstarts, Global Cleveland Announce Partnership

From Flashstarts, Global Cleveland: Flashstarts, a startup accelerator and venture fund focused on unique and disruptive uses of software and technology, today announced a new strategic partnership with Global Cleveland. The partnership will combine Flashstarts’ expertise in startup and innovation with Global Cleveland’s interest in having more talented global entrepreneurs succeed in Cleveland, and to deliver solutions for international entrepreneurs who are struggling with their immigration status.

The partnership between Flashstarts and Global Cleveland will mark the beginning of partnerships of regional organizations and universities with Flashstarts who come together for the same mission: bring and support world-changing startups through enabling immigrant founders to locate in the Northeast Ohio. The new partnership will be a stepping stone for setting up a Flashstarts Global Entrepreneur-In-Residence (GEIR) program with local universities in Northeast Ohio.

International entrepreneurs who are interested in Flashstarts Global EIR program in NEO will first apply to the program through Flashstarts. Through a competitive selection process, successful applicants will be selected and form a collaborative partnership with a partner university in exchange for a cap-exempt H-1B visa pathway. International Entrepreneurs will work on campus for 20 hours per week to serve school’s mission, while the remaining 20 hours per week they will work on their startups.

Jessica Whale, Global Cleveland’s Director of Global Talent and Economic Development, says “partnering with Flashstarts to bring more global talent to Cleveland and help more immigrant entrepreneurs grow their businesses will be very beneficial to our community. While Global Cleveland seeks to help talented immigrants thrive in the region, given current immigration policy, getting proper visa status can be challenging. This program aligns perfectly with Global Cleveland’s vision of transforming Cleveland into an international hub of innovation.”

“As we expand our startup accelerator program, we want to attract more innovative ideas from all around the globe. This program will allow us to draw talent from anywhere in the world” said the CEO of Flashstarts, Charles Stack. Flashstarts has expanded it’s global presence each year and had two startups from outside of U.S. last summer in its new Lab Program.

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