John Dearborn Email & Phone Number

Advise and Connect is a business acceleration firm working exclusively with early-stage and growth-infused companies in Northeast Ohio. Whether your company is bootstrapped or outside funded, Advise and Connect provides strategy and tactical perspectives to advance a business, while tapping its vast network of contacts for connections to accelerate growth. I am an entrepreneurial-driven, creative, pragmatic individual that has a passion to see companies form and succeed. After years at bootstrapped as well as angel and VC-backed companies, I’ve seen and participated in both significant exits as well as bunt singles. During the last decade, I’ve helped shape the startup environment in NE Ohio including being a past president of JumpStart as well as leading and enabling local companies. As a step towards the next chapter, I launched Advise and Connect to work with local business owners and entrepreneurs in the Northeast Ohio region. I help founders and executive teams solidify strategy, execute creative solutions and provide connections to outside resources. My experience and outside perspective are beneficial as the plan is discussed and refined. As additional resources (people and capital) and services (marketing, sales process, operations) are required, I seek to make connections and introductions of mutual benefit. Talent is not always readily available and engaging world-class people towards an outcome without hiring full-time can often be the key that unlocks potential. It’s tough creating a company. I’ve been there in both wildly successful environments as well as some of the most challenging, acquiring scar tissue along the way. To succeed you need passion, perseverance and a little bit of luck. It’s also helpful to have someone who’s been in your shoes providing outside perspective, experience and accountability. That’s where I fit. If I can help you on your business journey, please contact me. I’d love to hear what you’re up to!

M7 Holdings is a global investment office made up of passionate entrepreneurs committed to smart, diverse investments.

Akron, Ohio, Us

Drips is a rapidly growing mobile-marketing software company that provides an innovative software platform using chatbots, artificial intelligence and machine learning via SMS. Using Drips, brands increase lead conversion through automated (but humanized) conversational texting dramatically increasing contact and engagement rates.I joined Drips during a rapid growth trajectory. Like many early-stage companies that experience this kind of growth, sometimes getting to the next level is less about the next deal and more about building internal systems required to support the growth. The owners recognized this need and were receptive to tackling whatever was necessary to advance the business.Drips’ situation was one I’ve seen and experienced numerous times. It’s exactly the environment I love to get involved in, roll up my sleeves and get things accelerating again.I focused on the crucial elements essential for customer traction and success. I harnessed the skills of veterans of both marketing as startups. We implemented known SaaS methodologies and established new KPI’s to track and monitor results. Key management positions were established to execute the plan and fulfilled with local talent. We aligned the prospecting pipeline to target optimal customers with a small but very talented sales team. Pre-sale and post-sale expectations and implementation programs were adjusted to better serve our customers.It was gratifying to see the team embrace the changes, as the solution continued to exceed client expectations and revenue grew over 200% year over year.Along with the process and operational success, I worked closely with the CEO & founder in strategic business development and funding initiatives.

Cleveland, Oh, Us

StreamLink Software, based in Cleveland, OH is the leading software company provider of web-based Grant Management Software for nonprofit and public sector institutions. StreamLink had a good product proposition but needed executive leadership to develop its strategy and secure needed capital. I was familiar with the company from my previous position as a board member and advisor. The opportunity to join StreamLink was an ideal fit for me to get back “in the game”, running a growth company after being at JumpStart, a leading nonprofit where I was involved with startups but not hands-on.Through connections and experience of startup capital fundraising, I was able to partner with a very talented CEO to help raise significant VC, venture debt and angel funding. The added capital we were able to secure as a team provided essential financial stability. I further helped streamline the product focus by selling off a product line to a strategic buyer raising millions in additional capital in the process.Building out the management team and refining the company strategy, we embarked on a successful growth trajectory. StreamLink was recognized for numerous awards including Inner City Top 100 Award, Crane’s 52 Fastest Growing, and Weatherhead 100. It continues today to experience incredible market acceptance and growth.

Cleveland, Oh, Us

JumpStart is a venture development organization, combining the principles of (private) venture capital and (non-profit) economic development to help entrepreneurs start and grow companies—from venture capital-backed startups to traditional small businesses.Joining in its early years, I initially assisted in its fundraising and business development efforts. I then moved into the President’s role to spearhead its efforts to bring cohesiveness to the various entrepreneurial support organizations throughout NE Ohio. This led to a “networked” partnership model enabling better support and a unified approach for the startup community. Entrepreneurs were able to connect with both the right resources for their stage of development as well as their technology focus.Fast forward to today and collectively, these networks have engaged more than 10,000 clients who have created more than 10,000 jobs and contributed $5.6B to the Ohio economy since 2010. I’m proud to have been part of the team that helped form this approach, to the benefit of the entrepreneurs and their economic impact in the region.

My career has spanned sales, marketing and executive roles ranging from the co-founder of a bootstrapped startup to accelerating the growth of US software companies, to international experience as the #2 executive for a publicly-listed technology company. I’ve been on the front lines, and have a full appreciation for how hard many jobs can be, and what it takes to succeed.

Bs Administration

Executive Leadership Coursework, (Fontainebleau, France)