JumpStart CEO Ray Leach has been named to the board of the National Venture Capital Association. The NVCA serves as the voice of the United States venture capital community and advocates for policies that encourage innovation and reward long-term investment.

While most of the organization's 400 members represent venture capital firms on the East and West coasts, Leach is the only member representing the Midwest. "In order to be successful as a non-profit, we need healthy venture capital nationally," says Leach. "It's a great way to be there, convincing them they have to invest in the Midwest."

Northeast Ohio leads the Midwest in venture capital deal activity, second only to Chicago in the amount of capital raised by companies with $234 million.

Leach is one of six new NVCA members elected to a four-year term. He was nominated by former NVCA board chair David Morgenthaler of Morganthaler Ventures and member Ray Lane with Kleiner Perkins, who thought Leach would be a good advocate for JumpStart's missives.

"I'm excited to play a role in advancing venture capital nationally and to offer my viewpoint from a region that's reinvented itself with the assistance of innovative initiatives like Ohio's state-led Third Frontier," says Leach. "For example, entrepreneurs in Northeast Ohio have raised more than $1.1 billion in venture capital in the last five years. By serving on the NVCA's board, I hope to bring greater visibility to our region's activity to increase investments and ultimately job growth."


Source: Ray Leach
Writer: Karin Connelly